ASML (NASDAQ:ASML) Trading Up 3.2%

ASML Holding (NASDAQ:ASML)’s share price rose 3.2% during mid-day trading on Friday . The company traded as high as $902.07 and last traded at $898.50. Approximately 378,242 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 69% from the average daily volume of 1,217,040 shares. The stock had previously closed at $870.28.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities research analysts have recently commented on the company. Redburn Atlantic raised ASML from a “sell” rating to a “neutral” rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 20th. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their target price on ASML from $1,050.00 to $1,150.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Tuesday, April 2nd. HSBC began coverage on ASML in a report on Thursday, February 22nd. They issued a “buy” rating on the stock. Kepler Capital Markets upgraded shares of ASML from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Monday, January 8th. Finally, Evercore ISI started coverage on shares of ASML in a research note on Tuesday, April 16th. They issued an “outperform” rating on the stock. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nine have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, ASML presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $1,036.00.

ASML Price Performance

The company has a market capitalization of $355.77 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 46.05, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.17 and a beta of 1.49. The company has a quick ratio of 0.88, a current ratio of 1.54 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.33. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $951.12 and a 200 day simple moving average of $814.09.

ASML Cuts Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, May 7th. Shareholders of record on Monday, April 29th will be paid a dividend of $1.343 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, April 26th. This represents a $5.37 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.60%. ASML’s dividend payout ratio is currently 32.53%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On ASML

A number of hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the business. First PREMIER Bank increased its holdings in ASML by 4.2% in the 1st quarter. First PREMIER Bank now owns 273 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock valued at $265,000 after purchasing an additional 11 shares in the last quarter. Investment Partners LTD. grew its stake in shares of ASML by 1.2% in the first quarter. Investment Partners LTD. now owns 898 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock valued at $871,000 after buying an additional 11 shares in the last quarter. Toth Financial Advisory Corp raised its holdings in shares of ASML by 11.5% during the 4th quarter. Toth Financial Advisory Corp now owns 126 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock valued at $95,000 after buying an additional 13 shares during the period. Slow Capital Inc. lifted its position in ASML by 0.3% during the 4th quarter. Slow Capital Inc. now owns 4,407 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock worth $3,336,000 after acquiring an additional 13 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Miracle Mile Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in ASML by 4.7% in the 1st quarter. Miracle Mile Advisors LLC now owns 287 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock worth $279,000 after acquiring an additional 13 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 26.07% of the company’s stock.

About ASML

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.