Lazard Asset Management LLC Cuts Stock Position in ASML Holding (NASDAQ:ASML)

Lazard Asset Management LLC cut its holdings in shares of ASML Holding (NASDAQ:ASML) by 4.7% during the first quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 83,604 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock after selling 4,112 shares during the period. Lazard Asset Management LLC’s holdings in ASML were worth $81,135,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the company. American Capital Advisory LLC purchased a new stake in ASML during the first quarter worth about $26,000. WD Rutherford LLC purchased a new stake in shares of ASML during the first quarter worth approximately $29,000. Beaird Harris Wealth Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of ASML during the fourth quarter worth approximately $34,000. ZRC Wealth Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of ASML during the first quarter worth approximately $39,000. Finally, Rocky Mountain Advisers LLC increased its stake in shares of ASML by 110.0% during the first quarter. Rocky Mountain Advisers LLC now owns 42 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock worth $41,000 after buying an additional 22 shares during the period. 26.07% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

ASML Stock Performance

Shares of ASML traded up $25.76 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $888.39. 1,681,620 shares of the company’s stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,398,346. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.31, a current ratio of 1.52 and a quick ratio of 0.84. The stock has a market capitalization of $350.55 billion, a PE ratio of 45.37, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.88 and a beta of 1.49. The business’s fifty day simple moving average is $1,003.90 and its 200-day simple moving average is $944.80. ASML Holding has a 52-week low of $563.99 and a 52-week high of $1,110.09.

ASML (NASDAQ:ASML) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, July 17th. The semiconductor company reported $4.01 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $3.87 by $0.14. The business had revenue of $6.24 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6 billion. ASML had a net margin of 26.50% and a return on equity of 49.93%. The company’s revenue for the quarter was down 9.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the firm posted $5.37 earnings per share. On average, equities research analysts expect that ASML Holding will post 20.3 earnings per share for the current year.

ASML Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, August 7th. Stockholders of record on Monday, July 29th will be given a dividend of $1.8732 per share. The ex-dividend date is Monday, July 29th. This is a positive change from ASML’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.34. This represents a $7.49 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.84%. ASML’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 32.53%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

ASML has been the topic of a number of recent research reports. Susquehanna upped their target price on shares of ASML from $1,200.00 to $1,300.00 and gave the stock a “positive” rating in a research note on Thursday, July 11th. Evercore ISI began coverage on shares of ASML in a research note on Tuesday, April 16th. They set an “outperform” rating on the stock. Sanford C. Bernstein lowered their price target on ASML from $1,072.00 to $1,052.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a report on Friday, April 12th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price target on shares of ASML from $1,172.00 to $1,202.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Thursday, July 18th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company increased their price target on shares of ASML from $1,150.00 to $1,185.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Monday, June 17th. Two 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 company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $1,147.80.

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.