Optas LLC Reduces Stake in ASML Holding (NASDAQ:ASML)

Optas LLC decreased its holdings in shares of ASML Holding (NASDAQ:ASML) by 7.3% in the 3rd quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The firm owned 670 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock after selling 53 shares during the quarter. Optas LLC’s holdings in ASML were worth $558,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. KP Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of ASML by 66.7% in the 2nd quarter. KP Management LLC now owns 5,000 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock valued at $5,114,000 after buying an additional 2,000 shares in the last quarter. US Bancorp DE boosted its stake in ASML by 7.5% in the third quarter. US Bancorp DE now owns 47,601 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock valued at $39,664,000 after acquiring an additional 3,321 shares in the last quarter. Harvard Management Co. Inc. grew its holdings in shares of ASML by 239.8% during the second quarter. Harvard Management Co. Inc. now owns 93,519 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock worth $95,645,000 after purchasing an additional 66,000 shares during the last quarter. Pathway Financial Advisers LLC increased its position in shares of ASML by 97,001.7% during the third quarter. Pathway Financial Advisers LLC now owns 113,609 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock worth $94,665,000 after purchasing an additional 113,492 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Pictet North America Advisors SA lifted its holdings in shares of ASML by 15.0% in the 3rd quarter. Pictet North America Advisors SA now owns 5,929 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock valued at $4,940,000 after purchasing an additional 773 shares during the last quarter. 26.07% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

ASML Price Performance

Shares of NASDAQ:ASML opened at $674.73 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.84, a current ratio of 1.55 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.29. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $793.52 and a 200 day moving average price of $897.07. ASML Holding has a 52 week low of $627.09 and a 52 week high of $1,110.09. The company has a market cap of $265.45 billion, a P/E ratio of 35.33, a PEG ratio of 1.98 and a beta of 1.51.

ASML Cuts Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, November 7th. Investors of record on Tuesday, October 29th will be issued a dividend of $1.407 per share. This represents a $5.63 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.83%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, October 29th. ASML’s dividend payout ratio is presently 29.21%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research firms recently issued reports on ASML. JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their price target on ASML from $1,207.00 to $1,148.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, October 17th. Susquehanna cut their target price on shares of ASML from $1,300.00 to $1,100.00 and set a “positive” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, October 11th. Berenberg Bank upgraded shares of ASML to a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 2nd. Sanford C. Bernstein dropped their price objective on shares of ASML from $1,052.00 to $815.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, October 21st. Finally, UBS Group downgraded shares of ASML from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating in a research note on Wednesday, September 4th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nine have issued a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, ASML presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $970.60.

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.