ASML (NASDAQ:ASML) Shares Down 1% – Time to Sell?

ASML Holding (NASDAQ:ASML)’s share price traded down 1% during mid-day trading on Thursday . The stock traded as low as $695.40 and last traded at $698.64. 341,840 shares changed hands during trading, a decline of 78% from the average session volume of 1,527,340 shares. The stock had previously closed at $705.76.

Analyst Ratings Changes

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

ASML Stock Down 2.3 %

The firm has a market capitalization of $265.39 billion, a PE ratio of 32.43, a P/E/G ratio of 1.62 and a beta of 1.54. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $727.46 and a 200-day simple moving average of $732.14. The company has a quick ratio of 0.99, a current ratio of 1.53 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.20.

ASML (NASDAQ:ASML) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, January 29th. The semiconductor company reported $7.30 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $7.67 by ($0.37). ASML had a net margin of 26.78% and a return on equity of 47.73%. Analysts forecast that ASML Holding will post 25.17 EPS for the current year.

ASML Increases Dividend

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

Institutional Investors Weigh In On ASML

Several institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. boosted its stake in ASML by 6.5% in the 3rd quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 49,472 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock worth $41,223,000 after purchasing an additional 3,000 shares during the period. D.A. Davidson & CO. lifted its holdings in shares of ASML by 8.9% in the third quarter. D.A. Davidson & CO. now owns 3,542 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock worth $2,951,000 after buying an additional 289 shares in the last quarter. Brooklyn Investment Group bought a new position in shares of ASML in the third quarter valued at approximately $43,000. Bridgewater Associates LP purchased a new position in ASML during the third quarter valued at approximately $13,854,000. Finally, Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan Trust Fund increased its holdings in ASML by 2.4% during the 3rd quarter. Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan Trust Fund now owns 21,608 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock worth $18,005,000 after acquiring an additional 502 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 26.07% of the company’s stock.

ASML Company Profile

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.