LM Advisors LLC Increases Stake in ASML Holding Shares

LM Advisors LLC significantly increased its investment in ASML Holding (NASDAQ:ASML - Free Report) by 270.9% during the fourth quarter, based on the latest report submitted to the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm now holds 1,083 shares of the semiconductor company after acquiring an additional 791 shares in that period. As per the latest filing, LM Advisors LLC's stake in ASML is valued at approximately $751,000.

Institutional Investor Activity

Other institutional investors have also recently adjusted their holdings in ASML. For instance, Carnegie Investment Counsel raised its investment in ASML by 68.9% in the fourth quarter, now owning 2,128 shares worth $1,475,000 after buying an additional 868 shares. Central Pacific Bank Trust Division made a new investment in ASML, approximated at $1,174,000. State Street Corp increased its holdings by 5.2% during the third quarter, currently possessing 140,802 shares valued at $117,323,000 following an additional acquisition of 7,010 shares. Foundations Investment Advisors LLC also boosted its position by 36.7% to own 26,322 shares worth $18,243,000 after purchasing 7,073 shares. Additionally, Fifth Third Bancorp raised its stake in ASML by 12.2%, now owning 9,759 shares valued at approximately $6,764,000 after acquiring an extra 1,062 shares. Altogether, institutional investors and hedge funds own 26.07% of the company's stock.

ASML Trading Information

The shares of ASML opened at $705.76 on Thursday. The stock has a 1-year low of $645.45 and a 1-year high of $1,110.09, with a market capitalization of $277.66 billion. The company's price-to-earnings ratio stands at 33.93, with a PEG ratio of 1.62 and a beta of 1.54. The 50-day moving average price is $730.29, while the 200-day moving average price is $732.96. ASML has a current ratio of 1.53, a quick ratio of 0.99, and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.20.

Recent Earnings Report

ASML last reported its quarterly earnings data on January 29th, where it revealed earnings of $7.30 per share. This figure fell short of analysts' expectations, which estimated earnings of $7.67, reflecting a miss of $0.37. The company had a net margin of 26.78% and a return on equity of 47.73%. Analysts forecast that ASML Holding will achieve an EPS of 25.17 for the current year.

Dividend Increase

ASML recently announced a dividend, which was paid on February 19th. Shareholders recorded on February 11th received a dividend of $1.5855, up from the previous amount of $1.08. Currently, ASML's dividend payout ratio stands at 31.35%.

Analyst Ratings

Several research analysts have updated their views on ASML shares recently. Sanford C. Bernstein lowered its target price from $815.00 to $767.00 and maintained an "outperform" rating. BNP Paribas initiated coverage with an "outperform" rating and a $858.00 price target for ASML. DZ Bank upgraded its rating from "hold" to "buy." Wells Fargo raised its price objective from $790.00 to $860.00 with an "overweight" rating. However, JPMorgan Chase adjusted its price target down from $1,148.00 to $1,100.00 while retaining an "overweight" rating. Presently, analysts suggest a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" with an average price target of $937.00.

About ASML

ASML Holding N.V. specializes in developing, manufacturing, and selling advanced equipment systems used in semiconductor production. The company offers sophisticated equipment systems, including lithography, metrology, and inspection tools. ASML also provides advanced lithography systems for various semiconductor technologies.

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