ASML Holding (NASDAQ:ASML) Sees Large Decline in Short Interest

ASML Holding (NASDAQ:ASML) was the target of a large drop in short interest in February. As of February 15th, there was short interest totalling 1,430,000 shares, a drop of 14.4% from the January 31st total of 1,670,000 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 1,650,000 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 0.9 days. Approximately 0.4% of the shares of the stock are sold short.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On ASML

Several institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. Edgewood Management LLC increased its holdings in ASML by 43.1% during the 4th quarter. Edgewood Management LLC now owns 3,186,667 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock worth $2,208,615,000 after purchasing an additional 959,696 shares during the period. Amundi lifted its stake in ASML by 4,880.5% in the fourth quarter. Amundi now owns 335,284 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock worth $247,019,000 after acquiring an additional 328,552 shares during the last quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP grew its holdings in ASML by 53.4% during the 4th quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 807,257 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock worth $559,494,000 after acquiring an additional 281,156 shares in the last quarter. Raymond James Financial Inc. acquired a new position in ASML during the 4th quarter worth approximately $175,257,000. Finally, Fisher Funds Management LTD acquired a new position in shares of ASML during the fourth quarter worth $137,386,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 26.07% of the company’s stock.

ASML Stock Up 1.2 %

Shares of NASDAQ ASML opened at $708.22 on Wednesday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.99, a current ratio of 1.53 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.20. The business’s 50 day moving average is $732.50 and its two-hundred day moving average is $750.10. ASML has a 52-week low of $645.45 and a 52-week high of $1,110.09. The firm has a market cap of $278.63 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 34.05, a PEG ratio of 1.62 and a beta of 1.47.

ASML (NASDAQ:ASML) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, January 29th. The semiconductor company reported $7.30 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $7.67 by ($0.37). ASML had a return on equity of 47.73% and a net margin of 26.78%. Research analysts predict that ASML will post 25.17 EPS for the current year.

ASML Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, February 19th. Investors of record on Tuesday, February 11th were paid a dividend of $1.5855 per share. This is an increase from ASML’s previous dividend of $1.08. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, February 11th. ASML’s dividend payout ratio is presently 31.35%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities research analysts have recently issued reports on ASML shares. JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their price target on ASML from $1,148.00 to $1,100.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, January 30th. DZ Bank upgraded ASML from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday, January 30th. Wells Fargo & Company upped their price objective on shares of ASML from $790.00 to $860.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Monday, January 13th. BNP Paribas assumed coverage on shares of ASML in a research note on Tuesday, December 3rd. They set an “outperform” rating and a $858.00 target price on the stock. Finally, Sanford C. Bernstein dropped their price target on shares of ASML from $815.00 to $767.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research note on Friday, November 29th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eight have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $937.00.

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.