ASML (NASDAQ:ASML) Trading Down 2.2% – Time to Sell?

ASML Holding N.V. (NASDAQ:ASML)’s share price dropped 2.2% during mid-day trading on Friday . The company traded as low as $1,416.01 and last traded at $1,423.00. Approximately 2,326,580 shares were traded during trading, a decline of 2% from the average daily volume of 2,372,560 shares. The stock had previously closed at $1,455.16.

Key Headlines Impacting ASML

Here are the key news stories impacting ASML this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Company raised 2026 guidance, reported record net bookings and a backlog that covers more than a year; management announced a dividend hike and a €12B+ share buyback plan — bolsters revenue visibility and cash-return story. Read More.
• Positive Sentiment: The Goldman Sachs Group initiated/issued a buy rating, signaling institutional conviction that demand for lithography (EUV/DUV) will persist. Read More.
• Positive Sentiment: Wells Fargo raised its price target to $1,650 and moved to overweight, reflecting upside potential from AI/memory-driven equipment demand. Read More.
• Positive Sentiment: Bernstein flagged robust China-related DUV demand and remained constructive on growth prospects tied to AI and memory capex cycles. Read More.
• Neutral Sentiment: ASML posted its Q4 results and published the earnings presentation — provides detail on bookings, backlog, margins and High-NA rollout that investors will parse for execution risk. Read More.
• Neutral Sentiment: Commentary pieces note excellent long-term monopoly in EUV but caution that outstanding results can still trigger short-term profit-taking given the stock’s rapid run-up. Read More.
• Negative Sentiment: Q4 EPS missed expectations despite revenue growth; Services weakness and higher costs weighed on profitability — a clear near-term headwind for sentiment. Read More.
• Negative Sentiment: Reporters and analysts flagged capacity constraints and whether ASML can fulfill record orders; those execution doubts contributed to intraday weakness. Read More.
• Negative Sentiment: Analyst caution/downgrade pieces and investor questions on the outlook have amplified volatility after the stock doubled from prior levels — underscores valuation risk. Read More.
• Negative Sentiment: ASML announced ~1,700 job cuts following record FY results — signals cost-structure adjustments but can be taken negatively by investors focused on execution/stability. Read More.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

ASML has been the topic of several recent research reports. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft restated a “buy” rating on shares of ASML in a research report on Thursday. TD Cowen restated a “buy” rating on shares of ASML in a research report on Wednesday. Zacks Research cut ASML from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Tuesday, December 9th. Barclays upgraded ASML from an “equal weight” rating to an “overweight” rating in a report on Monday. Finally, Hsbc Global Res raised shares of ASML to a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Monday, October 6th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty-one have assigned a Buy rating, seven have given a Hold rating and two have issued a Sell rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, ASML currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $1,475.00.

ASML Stock Down 2.2%

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.14, a quick ratio of 0.70 and a current ratio of 1.31. The company has a market cap of $559.64 billion, a P/E ratio of 55.11, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.93 and a beta of 1.86. The business’s fifty day moving average is $1,169.55 and its two-hundred day moving average is $979.35.

ASML Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, May 5th. Shareholders of record on Monday, April 27th will be issued a dividend of $3.1771 per share. This represents a $12.71 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.9%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, April 27th. This is an increase from ASML’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.88. ASML’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 25.80%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On ASML

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in ASML. Capstone Wealth Management Group LLC lifted its stake in ASML by 5.2% in the first quarter. Capstone Wealth Management Group LLC now owns 2,511 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock worth $1,664,000 after acquiring an additional 124 shares during the period. AQR Capital Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of ASML by 141.1% in the 1st quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 6,871 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock valued at $4,553,000 after purchasing an additional 4,021 shares in the last quarter. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC lifted its position in shares of ASML by 153.1% in the 1st quarter. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC now owns 17,210 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock worth $11,404,000 after purchasing an additional 10,411 shares during the period. Sivia Capital Partners LLC lifted its position in shares of ASML by 1.3% in the 2nd quarter. Sivia Capital Partners LLC now owns 1,168 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock worth $936,000 after purchasing an additional 15 shares during the period. Finally, Truist Financial Corp boosted its stake in shares of ASML by 0.8% during the second quarter. Truist Financial Corp now owns 60,378 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock valued at $48,387,000 after purchasing an additional 477 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 26.07% of the company’s stock.

About ASML

ASML Holding N.V. (NASDAQ: ASML) is a Dutch company that develops, manufactures and services advanced photolithography systems used to produce semiconductor chips. Headquartered in Veldhoven, Netherlands, ASML supplies capital equipment and associated software and services that enable semiconductor manufacturers to pattern the intricate circuits on silicon wafers. The company is widely recognized for its leadership in extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography as well as its deep ultraviolet (DUV) platforms used across multiple process nodes.

ASML’s product portfolio includes EUV and DUV lithography machines, light sources, imaging optics and control software, together with spare parts, upgrades and field services.