ASML (NASDAQ:ASML) Stock Price Up 3.4% – Time to Buy?

Shares of ASML Holding N.V. (NASDAQ:ASML) were up 3.4% during mid-day trading on Wednesday . The stock traded as high as $1,476.50 and last traded at $1,468.72. Approximately 1,332,088 shares traded hands during trading, a decline of 36% from the average daily volume of 2,073,731 shares. The stock had previously closed at $1,419.78.

Analyst Ratings Changes

ASML has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. Royal Bank Of Canada upped their target price on ASML from $1,550.00 to $1,625.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research report on Thursday, January 29th. Jefferies Financial Group reiterated a “neutral” rating on shares of ASML in a research note on Wednesday, January 28th. TD Cowen reissued a “buy” rating on shares of ASML in a report on Wednesday, January 28th. Zacks Research raised shares of ASML from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Friday, January 30th. Finally, KGI Securities set a $1,415.00 price target on shares of ASML and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Thursday, January 15th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty have assigned a Buy rating, six have assigned a Hold rating and two have given a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $1,475.00.

ASML Trading Up 3.4%

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.14, a quick ratio of 0.79 and a current ratio of 1.26. The stock has a market capitalization of $577.62 billion, a PE ratio of 56.88, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.60 and a beta of 1.89. The business’s 50-day moving average is $1,257.70 and its two-hundred day moving average is $1,044.44.

ASML Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, May 5th. Stockholders of record on Monday, April 27th will be paid a dividend of $3.1771 per share. This represents a $12.71 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.9%. This is a positive change from ASML’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.88. The ex-dividend date is Monday, April 27th. ASML’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 41.83%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On ASML

A number of hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Cornerstone Financial Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of ASML in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $26,000. Resources Management Corp CT ADV raised its position in ASML by 1,150.0% in the fourth quarter. Resources Management Corp CT ADV now owns 25 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock worth $27,000 after acquiring an additional 23 shares in the last quarter. Manning & Napier Advisors LLC purchased a new position in ASML in the third quarter worth $25,000. City Holding Co. acquired a new stake in ASML in the third quarter valued at $26,000. Finally, North Star Investment Management Corp. boosted its position in shares of ASML by 68.8% during the 4th quarter. North Star Investment Management Corp. now owns 27 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock worth $29,000 after purchasing an additional 11 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 26.07% of the company’s stock.

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.