ASML (NASDAQ:ASML) Trading 2.1% Higher – Still a Buy?

ASML Holding N.V. (NASDAQ:ASML)’s stock price rose 2.1% during trading on Thursday . The stock traded as high as $1,873.69 and last traded at $1,847.90. Approximately 1,233,043 shares were traded during mid-day trading, a decline of 34% from the average daily volume of 1,874,060 shares. The stock had previously closed at $1,810.07.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research analysts have commented on the company. The Goldman Sachs Group restated a “buy” rating on shares of ASML in a research note on Thursday, June 11th. Citigroup reiterated a “buy” rating on shares of ASML in a report on Friday, July 17th. Barclays reissued an “overweight” rating on shares of ASML in a research report on Thursday, July 16th. Jefferies Financial Group restated a “neutral” rating on shares of ASML in a report on Monday, June 1st. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reaffirmed a “buy” rating on shares of ASML in a research report on Friday, July 10th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty-one have assigned a Buy rating, four have assigned a Hold rating and three have given a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, ASML currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $1,970.33.

ASML Price Performance

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.09, a quick ratio of 0.80 and a current ratio of 1.33. The stock has a market cap of $725.39 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 57.39, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.92 and a beta of 1.79. The business’s fifty day simple moving average is $1,781.65 and its 200 day simple moving average is $1,567.15.

ASML (NASDAQ:ASML) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Sunday, June 28th. The semiconductor company reported $8.65 earnings per share for the quarter. ASML had a net margin of 30.11% and a return on equity of 52.71%. The company had revenue of $10.64 billion during the quarter. Research analysts predict that ASML Holding N.V. will post 44.85 EPS for the current fiscal year.

ASML Cuts Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, August 5th. Investors of record on Tuesday, July 28th were issued a $2.1507 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, July 28th. This represents a $8.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.5%. ASML’s dividend payout ratio is currently 22.59%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On ASML

A number of hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Capstone Wealth Management Group LLC increased its stake in shares of ASML by 5.2% in the first quarter. Capstone Wealth Management Group LLC now owns 2,511 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock worth $1,664,000 after buying an additional 124 shares during the last quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC raised its holdings in ASML by 141.1% in the first quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 6,871 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock valued at $4,553,000 after acquiring an additional 4,021 shares in the last quarter. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC boosted its stake in ASML by 153.1% during the 1st quarter. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC now owns 17,210 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock valued at $11,404,000 after acquiring an additional 10,411 shares during the last quarter. Sivia Capital Partners LLC boosted its stake in ASML by 1.3% during the 2nd quarter. Sivia Capital Partners LLC now owns 1,168 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock valued at $936,000 after acquiring an additional 15 shares during the last quarter. Finally, NewEdge Advisors LLC grew its holdings in ASML by 5.2% during the 2nd quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 11,383 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock worth $9,122,000 after acquiring an additional 559 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 26.07% of the company’s stock.

About ASML

ASML Holding N.V. (NASDAQ: ASML) is a Dutch company that develops, manufactures and services advanced photolithography systems used to produce semiconductor chips. Headquartered in Veldhoven, Netherlands, ASML supplies capital equipment and associated software and services that enable semiconductor manufacturers to pattern the intricate circuits on silicon wafers. The company is widely recognized for its leadership in extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography as well as its deep ultraviolet (DUV) platforms used across multiple process nodes.

ASML’s product portfolio includes EUV and DUV lithography machines, light sources, imaging optics and control software, together with spare parts, upgrades and field services.