ASML (NASDAQ:ASML) Trading Up 2.1% Following Analyst Upgrade

Shares of ASML Holding N.V. (NASDAQ:ASML) shot up 2.1% during mid-day trading on Monday after Rothschild Redb upgraded the stock from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating. The company traded as high as $1,042.79 and last traded at $1,038.79. 968,435 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 42% from the average session volume of 1,683,573 shares. The stock had previously closed at $1,016.96.

A number of other research analysts also recently weighed in on the company. Citigroup reissued a “buy” rating on shares of ASML in a report on Tuesday, October 7th. Morningstar downgraded shares of ASML to a “hold” rating in a research note on Thursday, September 18th. Zacks Research raised shares of ASML from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Friday, October 17th. Mizuho upgraded ASML from a “neutral” rating to an “outperform” rating in a report on Monday, September 29th. Finally, New Street Research reaffirmed a “neutral” rating on shares of ASML in a research report on Monday, October 6th. Four analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seventeen have given a Buy rating and six have issued a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $1,076.33.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the company. HBK Sorce Advisory LLC boosted its holdings in shares of ASML by 1.0% during the third quarter. HBK Sorce Advisory LLC now owns 1,057 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock worth $1,067,000 after purchasing an additional 10 shares during the last quarter. Albion Financial Group UT grew its stake in shares of ASML by 27.8% during the third quarter. Albion Financial Group UT now owns 46 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock valued at $45,000 after acquiring an additional 10 shares in the last quarter. Global Assets Advisory LLC increased its holdings in ASML by 2.3% during the 3rd quarter. Global Assets Advisory LLC now owns 452 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock worth $438,000 after purchasing an additional 10 shares during the last quarter. State of Wyoming increased its position in shares of ASML by 4.2% in the 3rd quarter. State of Wyoming now owns 247 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock worth $239,000 after purchasing an additional 10 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Wealthcare Advisory Partners LLC raised its stake in ASML by 3.0% during the third quarter. Wealthcare Advisory Partners LLC now owns 345 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock valued at $334,000 after buying an additional 10 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 26.07% of the company’s stock.

ASML Stock Up 2.1%

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 stock has a fifty day moving average price of $952.53 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $818.25. The firm has a market capitalization of $408.54 billion, a P/E ratio of 42.28, a P/E/G ratio of 1.76 and a beta of 1.88.

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

ASML Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, November 6th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, October 29th were paid a dividend of $1.857 per share. This represents a $7.43 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.7%. 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. ASML’s dividend payout ratio is 25.76%.

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.