ASML (NASDAQ:ASML) Shares Down 1.8% – Should You Sell?

ASML Holding (NASDAQ:ASML) was down 1.8% during trading on Friday . The stock traded as low as $742.21 and last traded at $744.53. Approximately 382,796 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 77% from the average daily volume of 1,655,159 shares. The stock had previously closed at $758.36.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research analysts have recently commented on ASML shares. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their price objective on ASML from $860.00 to $840.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, April 17th. DZ Bank raised ASML from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, January 30th. Susquehanna decreased their target price on ASML from $1,100.00 to $965.00 and set a “positive” rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, April 17th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their target price on ASML from $1,148.00 to $1,100.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, January 30th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, seven have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, ASML presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $906.00.

ASML Price Performance

The firm has a market cap of $294.32 billion, a PE ratio of 35.97, a PEG ratio of 1.62 and a beta of 1.75. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $683.78 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $703.59. 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, April 16th. The semiconductor company reported $6.31 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $6.12 by $0.19. The business had revenue of $8.77 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $7.90 billion. ASML had a return on equity of 47.73% and a net margin of 26.78%. Equities analysts predict that ASML Holding will post 25.17 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On ASML

Institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Kennebec Savings Bank grew its holdings in ASML by 227.3% during the 4th quarter. Kennebec Savings Bank now owns 36 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock valued at $26,000 after buying an additional 25 shares in the last quarter. Putney Financial Group LLC boosted its holdings in shares of ASML by 322.2% in the 1st quarter. Putney Financial Group LLC now owns 38 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock worth $25,000 after purchasing an additional 29 shares during the period. Banque Cantonale Vaudoise purchased a new position in shares of ASML in the 1st quarter worth approximately $27,000. Wellington Shields & Co. LLC boosted its holdings in shares of ASML by 740.0% in the 4th quarter. Wellington Shields & Co. LLC now owns 42 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock worth $29,000 after purchasing an additional 37 shares during the period. Finally, Halbert Hargrove Global Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of ASML in the 4th quarter worth approximately $31,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors 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.