ASML (NASDAQ:ASML) Trading Up 2.6% – Should You Buy?

ASML Holding N.V. (NASDAQ:ASML) rose 2.6% during mid-day trading on Wednesday . The company traded as high as $1,371.00 and last traded at $1,360.09. Approximately 2,314,961 shares traded hands during trading, an increase of 6% from the average daily volume of 2,178,629 shares. The stock had previously closed at $1,326.07.

ASML News Roundup

Here are the key news stories impacting ASML this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Stronger end-market demand: TSMC announced higher, AI-focused capital expenditure plans, which lifted demand expectations for ASML’s EUV tools and helped push the stock up. TSMC capex lifts ASML
• Positive Sentiment: Analyst support: UBS reaffirmed a “buy” rating on ASML, signalling continued brokerage confidence in the company’s growth trajectory and valuation premium. UBS reaffirms buy
• Positive Sentiment: Earnings expectations/analyst sentiment: Zacks lists ASML among top-ranked tech names likely to beat Q4 estimates, which can lift near-term sentiment ahead of results. Zacks earnings preview
• Positive Sentiment: Structural moat reinforced: The Financial Times explains why neither Asia nor the U.S. has produced an ASML rival, underscoring the company’s long-term competitive advantage in EUV technology and pricing power. FT on ASML moat
• Neutral Sentiment: Earnings calendar: ASML is expected to report quarterly results on Wednesday — a routine catalyst that could increase volatility depending on guidance and order intake. Earnings timing
• Neutral Sentiment: Competitive comparison: A Zacks piece compares Applied Materials and ASML, highlighting different technology exposures (patterning vs. packaging/tools); useful for relative valuation and allocation decisions but not an immediate catalyst. AMAT vs ASML
• Neutral Sentiment: ETF flows/exposure: ASML is a notable holding in semiconductor and ESG-focused ETFs, which can provide steady passive demand but is not a direct earnings driver. (MarketBeat ETF coverage)
• Negative Sentiment: Regulatory/geopolitical risk: A Dutch think tank urged blocking U.S. access to EU markets and restricting ASML exports — highlighting ongoing geopolitical/regulatory risk that could pressure order flows or export permissions if acted upon. Think tank calls for export limits

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of analysts have weighed in on the company. Morgan Stanley restated an “overweight” rating on shares of ASML in a report on Friday, January 16th. UBS Group reissued a “buy” rating on shares of ASML in a research report on Tuesday. Sanford C. Bernstein restated a “buy” rating on shares of ASML in a research note on Friday, January 16th. Hsbc Global Res upgraded ASML to a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Monday, October 6th. Finally, New Street Research reiterated a “neutral” rating on shares of ASML in a report on Monday, October 6th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, nineteen have issued a Buy rating and eight have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, ASML has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $1,392.75.

ASML Stock Up 2.6%

The company has a 50-day moving average of $1,113.92 and a 200-day moving average of $951.54. The company has a current ratio of 1.31, a quick ratio of 0.70 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.14. The company has a market capitalization of $534.90 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 55.36, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.88 and a beta of 1.86.

Institutional Trading of ASML

Institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Fisher Asset Management LLC grew its holdings in shares of ASML by 2.6% during the third quarter. Fisher Asset Management LLC now owns 4,352,596 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock valued at $4,213,705,000 after buying an additional 108,342 shares during the last quarter. Capital International Investors lifted its position in ASML by 17.3% during the 3rd quarter. Capital International Investors now owns 3,919,154 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock worth $3,791,982,000 after acquiring an additional 577,448 shares during the period. Van ECK Associates Corp grew its stake in ASML by 16.6% during the 3rd quarter. Van ECK Associates Corp now owns 2,148,506 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock valued at $2,079,948,000 after purchasing an additional 305,435 shares during the last quarter. WCM Investment Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of ASML by 24.9% in the third quarter. WCM Investment Management LLC now owns 1,933,748 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock valued at $1,861,445,000 after purchasing an additional 385,502 shares during the period. Finally, Bank of America Corp DE raised its stake in shares of ASML by 8.3% in the third quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 1,865,254 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock worth $1,805,733,000 after purchasing an additional 142,763 shares during the last quarter. 26.07% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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.