ASML (NASDAQ:ASML) Shares Gap Up – Here’s Why

ASML Holding (NASDAQ:ASML) gapped up prior to trading on Wednesday . The stock had previously closed at $683.35, but opened at $727.16. ASML shares last traded at $724.88, with a volume of 1,850,986 shares trading hands.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities research analysts have weighed in on the company. Susquehanna decreased their price objective on ASML from $1,300.00 to $1,100.00 and set a “positive” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, October 11th. BNP Paribas started coverage on ASML in a research note on Tuesday, December 3rd. They issued an “outperform” rating and a $858.00 price target on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price objective on ASML from $790.00 to $860.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Monday, January 13th. DZ Bank upgraded shares of ASML from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday. Finally, Sanford C. Bernstein cut their price target on ASML from $815.00 to $767.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a report on Friday, November 29th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nine have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, ASML presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $937.00.

ASML Stock Performance

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.29, a current ratio of 1.55 and a quick ratio of 0.84. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $716.70 and a 200 day moving average price of $778.07. The company has a market cap of $289.95 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 38.59, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.39 and a beta of 1.47.

ASML (NASDAQ:ASML) last released its 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 net margin of 26.40% and a return on equity of 47.61%. As a group, analysts anticipate that ASML Holding will post 20.54 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On ASML

Several large investors have recently made changes to their positions in ASML. Sierra Ocean LLC acquired a new position in ASML during the fourth quarter worth approximately $89,000. J.W. Cole Advisors Inc. raised its position in shares of ASML by 1.0% in the fourth quarter. J.W. Cole Advisors Inc. now owns 1,730 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock valued at $1,199,000 after purchasing an additional 17 shares during the period. Csenge Advisory Group lifted its stake in shares of ASML by 2.6% during the 4th quarter. Csenge Advisory Group now owns 1,849 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock worth $1,282,000 after buying an additional 47 shares during the last quarter. Sheaff Brock Investment Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in shares of ASML by 12.7% during the 4th quarter. Sheaff Brock Investment Advisors LLC now owns 957 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock worth $663,000 after buying an additional 108 shares during the period. Finally, Strategic Financial Concepts LLC bought a new position in ASML in the 4th quarter valued at about $337,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds 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.