ASML (NASDAQ:ASML) Shares Down 1.3% – Here’s Why

Shares of ASML Holding N.V. (NASDAQ:ASML) dropped 1.3% on Friday . The stock traded as low as $736.66 and last traded at $745.15. Approximately 711,455 shares were traded during mid-day trading, a decline of 59% from the average daily volume of 1,742,466 shares. The stock had previously closed at $755.21.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

ASML has been the topic of a number of research analyst reports. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price target on shares of ASML from $840.00 to $890.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Tuesday, July 8th. DZ Bank lowered ASML from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 16th. Citigroup restated a “buy” rating on shares of ASML in a report on Monday, May 19th. Jefferies Financial Group downgraded shares of ASML from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Thursday, June 26th. Finally, Erste Group Bank restated a “hold” rating on shares of ASML in a report on Wednesday, July 23rd. Seven analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, six have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, ASML currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $923.80.

ASML Stock Performance

The company has a market capitalization of $291.98 billion, a P/E ratio of 30.97, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.51 and a beta of 1.76. The company’s 50 day moving average is $757.89 and its 200-day moving average is $725.57. The company has a current ratio of 1.43, a quick ratio of 0.81 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.21.

ASML (NASDAQ:ASML) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, July 16th. The semiconductor company reported $4.55 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $5.94 by ($1.39). ASML had a net margin of 26.95% and a return on equity of 49.47%. The business had revenue of $8.94 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $8.72 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $4.01 EPS. ASML’s revenue for the quarter was up 23.2% on a year-over-year basis. Equities analysts anticipate that ASML Holding N.V. will post 25.17 EPS for the current fiscal year.

ASML Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, August 6th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, July 29th were paid a $1.856 dividend. This is an increase from ASML’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.64. This represents a $7.42 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.0%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, July 29th. ASML’s payout ratio is currently 26.17%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On ASML

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Mcintyre Freedman & Flynn Investment Advisers Inc. purchased a new stake in ASML during the 2nd quarter valued at about $293,000. Evergreen Capital Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of ASML by 0.4% in the second quarter. Evergreen Capital Management LLC now owns 9,928 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock worth $7,956,000 after buying an additional 38 shares in the last quarter. MayTech Global Investments LLC grew its holdings in shares of ASML by 6.1% during the second quarter. MayTech Global Investments LLC now owns 38,823 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock valued at $30,360,000 after buying an additional 2,230 shares during the last quarter. 44 Wealth Management LLC grew its holdings in shares of ASML by 42.0% during the second quarter. 44 Wealth Management LLC now owns 656 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock valued at $526,000 after buying an additional 194 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Tower Research Capital LLC TRC raised its holdings in ASML by 8.9% in the 2nd quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC now owns 3,983 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock worth $3,192,000 after acquiring an additional 327 shares during the last quarter. 26.07% of the stock is currently owned by 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.