ASML (NASDAQ:ASML) Trading Up 1% on Strong Earnings

ASML Holding (NASDAQ:ASML)’s share price was up 1% during mid-day trading on Thursday following a stronger than expected earnings report. The stock traded as high as $646.35 and last traded at $641.46. Approximately 524,726 shares changed hands during trading, a decline of 68% from the average daily volume of 1,635,978 shares. The stock had previously closed at $634.93.

The semiconductor company reported $6.31 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $6.12 by $0.19. ASML had a net margin of 26.78% and a return on equity of 47.73%. The business had revenue of $8.77 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $7.90 billion.

ASML Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, May 6th. Shareholders of record on Monday, April 28th will be issued a $1.5855 dividend. This is a positive change from ASML’s previous dividend of $1.08. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, April 28th. ASML’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 31.35%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of brokerages have recently issued reports on ASML. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their price target on ASML from $860.00 to $840.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a report on Thursday. Susquehanna lowered their target price on shares of ASML from $1,100.00 to $965.00 and set a “positive” rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday. DZ Bank upgraded shares of ASML from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, January 30th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their price objective on shares of ASML from $1,148.00 to $1,100.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, January 30th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, seven have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, ASML currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $906.00.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On ASML

A number of large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Morse Asset Management Inc bought a new position in ASML in the third quarter worth approximately $52,000. Geode Capital Management LLC lifted its position in ASML by 4.0% during the third quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 80,290 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock valued at $66,902,000 after purchasing an additional 3,100 shares in the last quarter. Advisory Resource Group grew its holdings in ASML by 21.7% during the third quarter. Advisory Resource Group now owns 1,191 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock valued at $992,000 after purchasing an additional 212 shares during the period. Chelsea Counsel Co. purchased a new stake in ASML in the third quarter worth about $417,000. Finally, Anchor Investment Management LLC raised its stake in shares of ASML by 12.6% in the third quarter. Anchor Investment Management LLC now owns 1,375 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock worth $1,146,000 after buying an additional 154 shares during the period. 26.07% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

ASML Trading Up 0.8 %

The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $697.51 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $713.47. The stock has a market capitalization of $251.85 billion, a PE ratio of 30.78, a PEG ratio of 1.62 and a beta of 1.67. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.20, a quick ratio of 0.99 and a current ratio of 1.53.

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.