ASML (NASDAQ:ASML) Trading Up 1.3% – Still a Buy?

ASML Holding N.V. (NASDAQ:ASML)’s share price rose 1.3% during mid-day trading on Monday . The company traded as high as $1,025.00 and last traded at $1,020.00. Approximately 1,688,597 shares were traded during mid-day trading, an increase of 1% from the average daily volume of 1,674,743 shares. The stock had previously closed at $1,006.98.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities research analysts have recently commented on ASML shares. Erste Group Bank raised ASML from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Monday, September 22nd. Morningstar cut ASML to a “hold” rating in a report on Thursday, September 18th. The Goldman Sachs Group reissued a “buy” rating on shares of ASML in a report on Friday, October 10th. Rothschild & Co Redburn raised ASML from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, November 7th. Finally, Hsbc Global Res upgraded shares of ASML to a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Monday, October 6th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seventeen have given a Buy rating and six have assigned a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $1,076.33.

ASML Price Performance

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 firm has a market capitalization of $408.75 billion, a PE ratio of 42.30, a P/E/G ratio of 1.76 and a beta of 1.88. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $988.68 and a 200-day moving average price of $835.38.

ASML (NASDAQ:ASML) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, October 15th. The semiconductor company reported $6.41 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $6.27 by $0.14. The firm had revenue of $8.71 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $8.99 billion. ASML had a return on equity of 47.74% and a net margin of 27.08%.The firm’s quarterly revenue was up .7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $5.28 EPS. Sell-side analysts forecast that ASML Holding N.V. will post 25.17 EPS for the current year.

ASML Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, November 6th. Investors of record on Wednesday, October 29th were paid a dividend of $1.857 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, October 29th. This is a positive change from ASML’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.86. This represents a $7.43 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.7%. ASML’s payout ratio is currently 25.76%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On ASML

Several institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in ASML. Manning & Napier Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in ASML in the 3rd quarter valued at about $25,000. City Holding Co. acquired a new stake in shares of ASML in the third quarter worth approximately $26,000. Princeton Global Asset Management LLC grew its holdings in ASML by 153.8% in the second quarter. Princeton Global Asset Management LLC now owns 33 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock valued at $26,000 after purchasing an additional 20 shares during the period. Binnacle Investments Inc increased its position in ASML by 78.9% during the second quarter. Binnacle Investments Inc now owns 34 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock worth $27,000 after purchasing an additional 15 shares during the last quarter. Finally, JPL Wealth Management LLC purchased a new position in ASML during the third quarter worth approximately $34,000. 26.07% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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.