ASML (NASDAQ:ASML) Trading Up 0.7% – Should You Buy?

ASML Holding (NASDAQ:ASML) shares were up 0.7% during trading on Tuesday . The company traded as high as $724.11 and last traded at $719.22. Approximately 736,980 shares were traded during mid-day trading, a decline of 47% from the average daily volume of 1,381,247 shares. The stock had previously closed at $714.10.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of brokerages have issued reports on ASML. Morgan Stanley downgraded ASML from an “overweight” rating to an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Friday, September 20th. Berenberg Bank raised ASML to a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, October 2nd. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their target price on ASML from $1,000.00 to $790.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Thursday, October 17th. Susquehanna reduced their target price on ASML from $1,300.00 to $1,100.00 and set a “positive” rating for the company in a report on Friday, October 11th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their target price on ASML from $1,207.00 to $1,148.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Thursday, October 17th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nine have assigned a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $970.60.

ASML Stock Performance

The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $825.27 and a 200-day simple moving average of $910.74. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.31, a current ratio of 1.52 and a quick ratio of 0.84. The company has a market cap of $279.61 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 36.19, a PEG ratio of 2.08 and a beta of 1.48.

ASML Cuts Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, November 7th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, October 29th will be given a dividend of $1.407 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, October 29th. This represents a $5.63 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.79%. ASML’s dividend payout ratio is currently 28.70%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of ASML. Resources Management Corp CT ADV purchased a new position in shares of ASML during the second quarter worth $26,000. WD Rutherford LLC purchased a new position in ASML in the first quarter valued at $29,000. Triad Wealth Partners LLC acquired a new stake in ASML in the second quarter valued at $31,000. First Community Trust NA acquired a new stake in ASML in the second quarter valued at $34,000. Finally, POM Investment Strategies LLC acquired a new stake in ASML in the second quarter valued at $36,000. 26.07% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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.