ASML (NASDAQ:ASML) Stock Price Down 1.8% - Should You Sell?

ASML Holding (NASDAQ:ASML) experienced a 1.8% decline in its share price during trading on Friday, reaching a low of $678.88 before closing at $677.87. The trading volume was about 306,811 shares, significantly lower than the average daily volume of 1,530,147 shares. The stock had closed the previous day at $690.63.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of analysts have recently made updates regarding ASML's stock. DZ Bank changed its rating from "hold" to "buy" in a report issued on January 30. Wells Fargo raised its price target for ASML shares from $790.00 to $860.00, giving the stock an "overweight" rating on January 13. On the other hand, JPMorgan Chase reduced its price target from $1,148.00 to $1,100.00, while maintaining an "overweight" rating on January 30. BNP Paribas started coverage on ASML on December 3, assigning it an "outperform" rating with a price target of $858.00. Meanwhile, Sanford C. Bernstein decreased their price objective from $815.00 to $767.00, also labeling the stock as "outperform." Currently, two analysts have a "hold" rating on ASML, while eight have rated it as a buy, and one has given it a strong buy rating. According to MarketBeat, ASML holds an average rating of "Moderate Buy" with a consensus target price of $937.00.

ASML Trading Down 1.8%

The stock is currently showing a fifty-day simple moving average of $729.10 and a 200-day simple moving average of $732.67. Financial metrics indicate that 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’s market capitalization stands at $266.73 billion, with a P/E ratio of 32.59, a PEG ratio of 1.62, and a beta of 1.54.

ASML Increases Dividend

The company recently announced an increase in its dividend, which was paid on February 19. Shareholders of record on February 11 received a dividend of $1.5855 per share, up from the previous dividend of $1.08. The ex-dividend date was also on February 11, with ASML’s current dividend payout ratio at 31.35%.

Institutional Trading of ASML

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have adjusted their holdings in ASML recently. Edgewood Management LLC increased its stake by 43.1% during the fourth quarter, now owning 3,186,667 shares worth approximately $2.21 billion after acquiring an additional 959,696 shares. Amundi raised its stake in the company by 4,880.5% in the fourth quarter, now holding 335,284 shares valued at $247 million following an additional purchase of 328,552 shares. Wellington Management Group LLP improved its position by 53.4% during the same quarter, acquiring 281,156 shares for a total of 807,257 shares at a value of roughly $559 million. Raymond James also entered a new position in ASML worth $175.26 million, and Fisher Funds Management LTD bought into ASML with a new stake valued at $137.39 million. Institutional ownership of ASML is currently 26.07%.

ASML Company Profile

ASML Holding N.V. specializes in the development, production, marketing, sales, and servicing of advanced semiconductor equipment systems for chip manufacturers. The company's offerings include advanced semiconductor equipment systems, such as lithography, metrology, and inspection systems. They also provide extreme ultraviolet and deep ultraviolet lithography systems for varying semiconductor technologies and nodes.

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