LM Advisors LLC Increases Stake in ASML Holding

LM Advisors LLC enhanced its ownership in ASML Holding (NASDAQ:ASML) by an impressive 270.9% during the fourth quarter, as revealed in its latest filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Following the acquisition of an additional 791 shares within the quarter, LM Advisors LLC now holds 1,083 shares, valued at approximately $751,000 according to their most recent report to the SEC.

In addition to LM Advisors, other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made significant adjustments to their ASML holdings. For instance, Carnegie Investment Counsel increased its stake by 68.9% during the fourth quarter, bringing its total to 2,128 shares worth about $1,475,000 after adding 868 shares. Central Pacific Bank Trust Division made its debut in ASML by purchasing a new stake worth around $1,174,000 in the same quarter. Meanwhile, State Street Corp raised its holdings by 5.2% in the third quarter, now owning 140,802 shares valued at $117,323,000 after acquiring 7,010 additional shares. Foundations Investment Advisors LLC boosted its position by 36.7% in the fourth quarter, now owning 26,322 shares worth $18,243,000 after buying 7,073 shares. Lastly, Fifth Third Bancorp increased its stake by 12.2% in the fourth quarter, resulting in total ownership of 9,759 shares valued at $6,764,000. Currently, institutional investors and hedge funds comprise approximately 26.07% of ASML's ownership.

ASML Stock Performance

ASML shares traded down by 2.9% and opened at $705.76 on Thursday. The stock has experienced fluctuations over the past year, with a low of $645.45 and a high of $1,110.09. ASML Holding boasts a substantial market capitalization of $277.66 billion and displays a price-to-earnings ratio of 33.93, along with a PEG ratio of 1.62 and a beta of 1.54. Its 50-day and 200-day moving averages are currently at $730.29 and $732.96, respectively. The firm maintains a current ratio of 1.53, a quick ratio of 0.99, and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.20.

Recent Financial Results

On January 29th, ASML reported its latest quarterly earnings, revealing earnings per share (EPS) of $7.30, which fell short of the consensus estimate of $7.67 by $0.37. The company posted a net margin of 26.78% and achieved a return on equity of 47.73%. Analysts predict that ASML Holding is likely to report an EPS of 25.17 for the current fiscal year.

Dividend Announcement

ASML has also disclosed a recent dividend payment made on February 19th. Shareholders on record as of February 11th received a dividend of $1.5855. This is an uptick from the previous dividend of $1.08, with the current dividend payout ratio (DPR) standing at 31.35%.

Analyst Ratings and Price Targets

Several analysts have recently updated their ratings and price targets for ASML shares. Sanford C. Bernstein reduced its target price from $815.00 to $767.00 while maintaining an "outperform" rating. BNP Paribas began coverage of ASML with an "outperform" rating and a price target of $858.00. DZ Bank upgraded ASML from a "hold" to a "buy" rating. Additionally, Wells Fargo increased its price objective for ASML from $790.00 to $860.00, assigning an "overweight" rating. Lastly, JPMorgan Chase & Co. adjusted its price target down from $1,148.00 to $1,100.00 while still rating the stock as "overweight." Presently, the consensus rating for ASML stands at "Moderate Buy", with an average price target set at $937.00.

About ASML Holding

ASML Holding N.V. specializes in developing, producing, marketing, selling, and servicing advanced semiconductor equipment systems for chip manufacturers. Their offerings include sophisticated systems such as lithography, metrology, and inspection, as well as ultra-advanced lithography equipment for various semiconductor manufacturing processes.

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