ASML (NASDAQ:ASML) Trading Down 1.6% – Here’s Why

ASML Holding N.V. (NASDAQ:ASML) was down 1.6% during trading on Tuesday . The company traded as low as $1,017.78 and last traded at $1,022.42. Approximately 1,023,732 shares changed hands during trading, a decline of 39% from the average daily volume of 1,680,910 shares. The stock had previously closed at $1,038.79.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities analysts have weighed in on the company. Morgan Stanley raised ASML from an “equal weight” rating to an “overweight” rating in a research note on Monday, September 22nd. Redburn Partners set a $1,200.00 price objective on shares of ASML in a research note on Friday. Erste Group Bank upgraded shares of ASML from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Monday, September 22nd. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reiterated a “buy” rating on shares of ASML in a report on Thursday, October 16th. Finally, Sanford C. Bernstein reissued a “market perform” rating on shares of ASML in a research report on Wednesday, October 29th. Four analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seventeen have issued a Buy rating and six have given a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, ASML presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $1,076.33.

ASML Stock Performance

The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $958.45 and a 200-day moving average price of $820.81. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.14, a quick ratio of 0.70 and a current ratio of 1.31. The company has a market cap of $402.10 billion, a P/E ratio of 41.61, a P/E/G ratio of 1.76 and a beta of 1.88.

ASML (NASDAQ:ASML) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, October 15th. The semiconductor company reported $6.41 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $6.27 by $0.14. ASML had a return on equity of 47.74% and a net margin of 27.08%.The firm had revenue of $8.71 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $8.99 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $5.28 earnings per share. The company’s revenue was up .7% on a year-over-year basis. On average, research analysts predict that ASML Holding N.V. will post 25.17 EPS for the current year.

ASML Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, November 6th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, October 29th were given a $1.857 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, October 29th. This represents a $7.43 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.7%. This is an increase from ASML’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.86. ASML’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 25.76%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On ASML

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of ASML. T. Rowe Price Investment Management Inc. acquired a new stake in ASML in the 1st quarter worth $360,262,000. Regents of The University of California bought a new stake in shares of ASML in the third quarter valued at about $413,335,000. WCM Investment Management LLC grew its position in ASML by 24.9% during the third quarter. WCM Investment Management LLC now owns 1,933,748 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock worth $1,861,445,000 after buying an additional 385,502 shares in the last quarter. Invesco Ltd. grew its position in ASML by 101.0% during the first quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 731,271 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock worth $484,562,000 after buying an additional 367,505 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Amundi increased its stake in ASML by 91.6% during the first quarter. Amundi now owns 642,498 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock valued at $403,215,000 after acquiring an additional 307,214 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 26.07% of the company’s stock.

ASML Company Profile

ASML Holding N.V. develops, produces, markets, sells, and services advanced semiconductor equipment systems for chipmakers. It offers advanced semiconductor equipment systems, including lithography, metrology, and inspection systems. The company also provides extreme ultraviolet lithography systems; and deep ultraviolet lithography systems comprising immersion and dry lithography solutions to manufacture various range of semiconductor nodes and technologies.