ASML (NASDAQ:ASML) Shares Down 0.2% – Here’s Why

ASML Holding (NASDAQ:ASML) shares were down 0.2% during trading on Friday . The company traded as low as $708.93 and last traded at $714.55. Approximately 322,488 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 78% from the average daily volume of 1,449,681 shares. The stock had previously closed at $715.86.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research firms recently weighed in on ASML. BNP Paribas began coverage on ASML in a research note on Tuesday, December 3rd. They set an “outperform” rating and a $858.00 target price for the company. Susquehanna reduced their price objective on shares of ASML from $1,300.00 to $1,100.00 and set a “positive” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, October 11th. Morgan Stanley downgraded ASML from an “overweight” rating to an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Friday, September 20th. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their target price on shares of ASML from $1,000.00 to $790.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, October 17th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their price target on shares of ASML from $1,207.00 to $1,148.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, October 17th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, ten have given a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, ASML has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $943.83.

ASML Stock Down 0.7 %

The company has a quick ratio of 0.84, a current ratio of 1.55 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.29. The firm’s fifty day simple moving average is $695.51 and its 200-day simple moving average is $833.46. The company has a market cap of $279.62 billion, a PE ratio of 37.21, a P/E/G ratio of 2.07 and a beta of 1.49.

ASML (NASDAQ:ASML) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, October 15th. The semiconductor company reported $5.80 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $5.24 by $0.56. The business had revenue of $8.21 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $7.66 billion. ASML had a return on equity of 47.61% and a net margin of 26.40%. As a group, equities research analysts expect that ASML Holding will post 20.68 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

ASML Cuts Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, November 7th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, October 29th were issued a dividend of $1.407 per share. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, October 29th. This represents a $5.63 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.79%. ASML’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 29.21%.

Institutional Trading of ASML

Hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Ameritas Advisory Services LLC lifted its stake in shares of ASML by 1.4% during the 2nd quarter. Ameritas Advisory Services LLC now owns 844 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock worth $863,000 after purchasing an additional 12 shares during the period. Armstrong Advisory Group Inc. boosted its stake in ASML by 24.5% in the 3rd quarter. Armstrong Advisory Group Inc. now owns 61 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock worth $51,000 after buying an additional 12 shares during the last quarter. Strategic Blueprint LLC grew its holdings in ASML by 3.5% in the 2nd quarter. Strategic Blueprint LLC now owns 382 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock valued at $391,000 after buying an additional 13 shares during the period. Matrix Private Capital Group LLC increased its stake in shares of ASML by 5.5% during the 2nd quarter. Matrix Private Capital Group LLC now owns 248 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock valued at $254,000 after acquiring an additional 13 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Private Ocean LLC lifted its holdings in shares of ASML by 58.3% during the 2nd quarter. Private Ocean LLC now owns 38 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock worth $39,000 after acquiring an additional 14 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds 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.