Short Interest in ASML Holding (NASDAQ:ASML) Expands By 73.2%

ASML Holding (NASDAQ:ASML) was the recipient of a significant increase in short interest during the month of September. As of September 15th, there was short interest totalling 1,120,000 shares, an increase of 73.2% from the August 31st total of 646,600 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 1,470,000 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 0.8 days. Approximately 0.3% of the shares of the stock are short sold.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of ASML. Resources Management Corp CT ADV acquired a new stake in shares of ASML in the second quarter valued at about $26,000. American Capital Advisory LLC acquired a new stake in ASML in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $26,000. WD Rutherford LLC bought a new position in ASML in the 1st quarter worth approximately $29,000. Triad Wealth Partners LLC acquired a new position in shares of ASML during the second quarter worth approximately $31,000. Finally, First Community Trust NA bought a new stake in shares of ASML in the second quarter valued at approximately $34,000. Institutional investors own 26.07% of the company’s stock.

ASML Stock Down 1.2 %

Shares of ASML traded down $9.97 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $842.47. 673,639 shares of the company’s stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,260,237. The company has a quick ratio of 0.84, a current ratio of 1.52 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.31. ASML has a twelve month low of $563.99 and a twelve month high of $1,110.09. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $856.91 and a two-hundred day moving average of $934.82. The stock has a market cap of $331.44 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 43.07, a P/E/G ratio of 1.97 and a beta of 1.49.

ASML (NASDAQ:ASML) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, July 17th. The semiconductor company reported $4.01 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $3.87 by $0.14. The company had revenue of $6.24 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $6 billion. ASML had a return on equity of 49.93% and a net margin of 26.50%. The business’s quarterly revenue was down 9.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $5.37 earnings per share. On average, sell-side analysts forecast that ASML will post 20.38 earnings per share for the current year.

ASML Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, August 7th. Investors of record on Monday, July 29th were issued a dividend of $1.8732 per share. This is an increase from ASML’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.34. This represents a $7.49 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.89%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, July 29th. ASML’s dividend payout ratio is currently 28.55%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities research analysts have recently commented on the company. Wells Fargo & Company upped their target price on ASML from $1,150.00 to $1,185.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Monday, June 17th. Morgan Stanley cut shares of ASML from an “overweight” rating to an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Friday, September 20th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their target price on ASML from $1,172.00 to $1,202.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Thursday, July 18th. UBS Group downgraded ASML from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating in a research note on Wednesday, September 4th. Finally, Barclays raised ASML from an “equal weight” rating to an “overweight” rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 30th. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nine have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $1,147.80.

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.