Talos Asset Management LP Acquires New Holdings in ASML Holding (NASDAQ:ASML)

Talos Asset Management LP purchased a new position in shares of ASML Holding (NASDAQ:ASML) in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor purchased 31,700 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock, valued at approximately $21,971,000. ASML comprises about 5.2% of Talos Asset Management LP’s portfolio, making the stock its 7th biggest position.

A number of other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of ASML. Principal Financial Group Inc. boosted its position in ASML by 104.4% during the 3rd quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. now owns 7,009 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock worth $5,840,000 after acquiring an additional 3,580 shares during the last quarter. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans raised its stake in shares of ASML by 34.8% during the 3rd quarter. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans now owns 3,108 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock worth $2,589,000 after purchasing an additional 802 shares in the last quarter. Pathstone Holdings LLC raised its stake in shares of ASML by 4.7% during the 3rd quarter. Pathstone Holdings LLC now owns 28,785 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock worth $23,985,000 after purchasing an additional 1,284 shares in the last quarter. Prospera Private Wealth LLC raised its stake in shares of ASML by 542.2% during the 3rd quarter. Prospera Private Wealth LLC now owns 1,766 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock worth $1,472,000 after purchasing an additional 1,491 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Commerce Bank raised its stake in shares of ASML by 6.6% during the 3rd quarter. Commerce Bank now owns 3,589 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock worth $2,991,000 after purchasing an additional 222 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 26.07% of the company’s stock.

ASML Stock Up 0.5 %

ASML opened at $734.91 on Thursday. ASML Holding has a 1-year low of $645.45 and a 1-year high of $1,110.09. The stock’s fifty day simple moving average is $731.54 and its 200 day simple moving average is $736.45. The company has a current ratio of 1.53, a quick ratio of 0.99 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.20. The stock has a market cap of $289.13 billion, a PE ratio of 35.33, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.62 and a beta of 1.54.

ASML (NASDAQ:ASML) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, January 29th. The semiconductor company reported $7.30 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $7.67 by ($0.37). ASML had a return on equity of 47.73% and a net margin of 26.78%. As a group, research analysts expect that ASML Holding will post 25.17 earnings per share for the current year.

ASML Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, February 19th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, February 11th were given a dividend of $1.5855 per share. This is a boost from ASML’s previous dividend of $1.08. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, February 11th. ASML’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 31.35%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

ASML has been the topic of a number of analyst reports. DZ Bank upgraded ASML from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, January 30th. Wells Fargo & Company upped their price objective on ASML from $790.00 to $860.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Monday, January 13th. BNP Paribas initiated coverage on ASML in a research note on Tuesday, December 3rd. They set an “outperform” rating and a $858.00 price objective on the stock. Sanford C. Bernstein dropped their price objective on ASML from $815.00 to $767.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, November 29th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their price target 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, eight have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target 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.