ASML Holding (NASDAQ:ASML) Shares Bought by Legal & General Group Plc

Legal & General Group Plc raised its holdings in ASML Holding (NASDAQ:ASML) by 28.0% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund owned 24,554 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock after buying an additional 5,377 shares during the quarter. Legal & General Group Plc’s holdings in ASML were worth $17,018,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other large investors have also modified their holdings of the business. Kennebec Savings Bank boosted its stake in ASML by 227.3% in the 4th quarter. Kennebec Savings Bank now owns 36 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock worth $26,000 after purchasing an additional 25 shares in the last quarter. Wellington Shields & Co. LLC grew its holdings in shares of ASML by 740.0% during the fourth quarter. Wellington Shields & Co. LLC now owns 42 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock valued at $29,000 after buying an additional 37 shares during the last quarter. Halbert Hargrove Global Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of ASML in the 4th quarter valued at $31,000. Albion Financial Group UT raised its stake in ASML by 133.3% in the 4th quarter. Albion Financial Group UT now owns 56 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock worth $39,000 after acquiring an additional 32 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Roxbury Financial LLC acquired a new stake in ASML during the 4th quarter worth about $39,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 26.07% of the company’s stock.

ASML Stock Up 0.6 %

ASML stock opened at $672.87 on Tuesday. The firm’s fifty day moving average is $704.82 and its 200 day moving average is $716.86. The firm has a market cap of $264.72 billion, a PE ratio of 32.35, a P/E/G ratio of 1.62 and a beta of 1.67. ASML Holding has a one year low of $578.51 and a one year high of $1,110.09. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.20, a quick ratio of 0.99 and a current ratio of 1.53.

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

ASML Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, May 6th. Investors of record on Monday, April 28th will be issued a $1.5855 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Monday, April 28th. This is a positive change from ASML’s previous dividend of $1.08. ASML’s payout ratio is presently 31.35%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research analysts have recently issued reports on ASML shares. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their price objective on ASML from $1,148.00 to $1,100.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, January 30th. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price objective on shares of ASML from $790.00 to $860.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Monday, January 13th. Finally, DZ Bank upgraded shares of ASML from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, January 30th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eight have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $937.00.

ASML 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.