ASML (NASDAQ:ASML) Trading Down 3.4% – Here’s Why

ASML Holding N.V. (NASDAQ:ASML)’s stock price dropped 3.4% on Tuesday . The stock traded as low as $1,028.83 and last traded at $1,030.14. Approximately 1,730,920 shares were traded during mid-day trading, an increase of 2% from the average daily volume of 1,690,026 shares. The stock had previously closed at $1,066.82.

Analyst Ratings Changes

ASML has been the topic of several research analyst reports. Citigroup reaffirmed a “buy” rating on shares of ASML in a research note on Tuesday, October 7th. New Street Research restated a “neutral” rating on shares of ASML in a research report on Monday, October 6th. Bank Degroof downgraded ASML to a “hold” rating in a research report on Friday, October 10th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reiterated a “buy” rating on shares of ASML in a research report on Wednesday, October 15th. Finally, UBS Group reiterated a “buy” rating on shares of ASML in a research report on Wednesday, October 15th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, sixteen have issued a Buy rating and six have given a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $1,051.60.

ASML Stock Down 3.4%

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.14, a current ratio of 1.31 and a quick ratio of 0.70. The company has a market capitalization of $405.14 billion, a P/E ratio of 41.93, a P/E/G ratio of 1.76 and a beta of 1.87. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $930.91 and a 200-day moving average price of $807.27.

ASML (NASDAQ:ASML) last issued its quarterly earnings data 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 company had revenue of $8.71 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $8.99 billion. During the same period last year, the company earned $5.28 earnings per share. The firm’s revenue was up .7% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, research analysts predict that ASML Holding N.V. will post 25.17 EPS for the current fiscal year.

ASML Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, November 6th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, October 29th will be paid a $1.857 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, October 29th. This represents a $7.43 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.7%. This is a positive change from ASML’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.86. ASML’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 25.76%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On ASML

A number of hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in ASML. T. Rowe Price Investment Management Inc. bought a new stake in ASML in the first quarter worth approximately $360,262,000. WCM Investment Management LLC increased its holdings in ASML by 24.9% in 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 purchasing an additional 385,502 shares in the last quarter. Invesco Ltd. increased its holdings in ASML by 101.0% in the first quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 731,271 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock worth $484,562,000 after purchasing an additional 367,505 shares in the last quarter. Amundi increased its holdings in ASML by 91.6% in the first quarter. Amundi now owns 642,498 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock worth $403,215,000 after purchasing an additional 307,214 shares in the last quarter. Finally, First Manhattan CO. LLC. increased its holdings in ASML by 61.0% in the first quarter. First Manhattan CO. LLC. now owns 708,062 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock worth $469,183,000 after purchasing an additional 268,172 shares in the last quarter. 26.07% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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.