ASML (NASDAQ:ASML) Shares Up 2.2% – Should You Buy?

ASML Holding N.V. (NASDAQ:ASML)’s stock price traded up 2.2% during mid-day trading on Tuesday . The stock traded as high as $1,413.28 and last traded at $1,399.42. 1,743,115 shares traded hands during trading, a decline of 6% from the average session volume of 1,861,734 shares. The stock had previously closed at $1,369.62.

Key Headlines Impacting ASML

Here are the key news stories impacting ASML this week:

• Positive Sentiment: SK Hynix placed a record order for ASML’s high-end EUV systems worth about $7.97–8.0 billion, a multi-year commitment that materially strengthens ASML’s near-term backlog and revenue visibility. Reuters: SK Hynix to buy EUV scanners for $8 billion
• Positive Sentiment: The deal is the largest disclosed customer order for ASML and is being framed by analysts and media as confirmation of sustained AI/memory investment cycles, supporting higher revenue and EPS visibility. Yahoo: ASML Lands $7.97 Billion Record Order
• Positive Sentiment: ASML continues active capital return via share buybacks (recent daily repurchases disclosed), which reduces float and supports EPS — a technical and confidence booster for the stock. Yahoo: ASML reports transactions under buyback
• Positive Sentiment: Bank of America and other market checks in Asia remain constructive on memory demand into 1H27, reinforcing the narrative that equipment spend should stay elevated. Yahoo: BofA remains bullish
• Neutral Sentiment: Microsoft-backed startup Lace raised $40M to develop advanced lithography-adjacent tech — an early-stage signal of fresh innovation in equipment/software but not an immediate threat to ASML’s EUV monopoly. Yahoo: Microsoft-backed startup raises $40M
• Negative Sentiment: More than 1,000 employees staged a lunchtime walkout at ASML’s Veldhoven HQ in protest of plans to cut ~1,700 roles (~3.8% of staff); this creates short-term operational/PR risk and could complicate execution of ramp programs. Reuters: ASML employees join walkout
• Negative Sentiment: Valuation scrutiny: some analysts and articles question whether ASML’s rally (nearly +90% over 1 year) already prices in too much future growth, leaving the stock vulnerable to downside if cycles slow. Yahoo: Is ASML pricing in too much future growth?
• Negative Sentiment: Competitive/segment risk: some analysts highlight that DUV demand softness and growth in adjacent packaging/assembly areas could give peers (e.g., AMKR) relative near-term traction versus ASML’s DUV segment. Zacks: ASML vs. AMKR

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research analysts have commented on the company. Barclays upgraded ASML from an “equal weight” rating to an “overweight” rating in a research note on Monday, January 26th. Sanford C. Bernstein reiterated a “buy” rating on shares of ASML in a report on Wednesday, February 25th. Jefferies Financial Group reissued a “neutral” rating on shares of ASML in a research note on Wednesday, January 28th. Bank of America increased their price objective on ASML from $1,092.00 to $1,331.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, December 3rd. Finally, Morgan Stanley reaffirmed an “overweight” rating on shares of ASML in a research report on Friday, January 16th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty-one have issued a Buy rating, six have issued a Hold rating and two have assigned a Sell rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, ASML has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $1,475.00.

ASML Trading Up 2.2%

The stock has a market capitalization of $550.37 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 54.20, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.27 and a beta of 1.88. The company has a current ratio of 1.26, a quick ratio of 0.79 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.14. The company has a fifty day moving average of $1,394.91 and a two-hundred day moving average of $1,156.77.

ASML Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, May 5th. Stockholders of record on Monday, April 27th will be paid a $3.1771 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Monday, April 27th. This is a positive change from ASML’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.88. This represents a $12.71 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.9%. ASML’s dividend payout ratio is presently 41.83%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Manning & Napier Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of ASML during the 3rd quarter worth about $25,000. City Holding Co. acquired a new stake in ASML in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $26,000. Cornerstone Financial Management LLC bought a new position in ASML in the 4th quarter worth approximately $26,000. Binnacle Investments Inc increased its position in ASML by 78.9% in the 2nd quarter. Binnacle Investments Inc now owns 34 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock worth $27,000 after buying an additional 15 shares during the period. Finally, Resources Management Corp CT ADV lifted its holdings in shares of ASML by 1,150.0% during the fourth quarter. Resources Management Corp CT ADV now owns 25 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock worth $27,000 after buying an additional 23 shares during the last quarter. 26.07% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

ASML Company Profile

ASML Holding N.V. (NASDAQ: ASML) is a Dutch company that develops, manufactures and services advanced photolithography systems used to produce semiconductor chips. Headquartered in Veldhoven, Netherlands, ASML supplies capital equipment and associated software and services that enable semiconductor manufacturers to pattern the intricate circuits on silicon wafers. The company is widely recognized for its leadership in extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography as well as its deep ultraviolet (DUV) platforms used across multiple process nodes.

ASML’s product portfolio includes EUV and DUV lithography machines, light sources, imaging optics and control software, together with spare parts, upgrades and field services.