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

Lazard Asset Management LLC lessened its position in ASML Holding (NASDAQ:ASML) by 15.1% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 131,123 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock after selling 23,386 shares during the quarter. Lazard Asset Management LLC’s holdings in ASML were worth $90,877,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Graypoint LLC increased its holdings in ASML by 21.2% during the 4th quarter. Graypoint LLC now owns 394 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock worth $273,000 after purchasing an additional 69 shares during the period. Paragon Advisors LLC increased its holdings in ASML by 36.7% during the 4th quarter. Paragon Advisors LLC now owns 9,524 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock worth $6,601,000 after purchasing an additional 2,557 shares during the period. Aprio Wealth Management LLC increased its holdings in ASML by 7.5% during the 4th quarter. Aprio Wealth Management LLC now owns 713 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock worth $494,000 after purchasing an additional 50 shares during the period. Threadgill Financial LLC purchased a new stake in ASML during the 4th quarter worth about $265,000. Finally, Capital Investment Advisors LLC increased its holdings in ASML by 306.1% during the 4th quarter. Capital Investment Advisors LLC now owns 1,661 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock worth $1,151,000 after purchasing an additional 1,252 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 26.07% of the company’s stock.

ASML Stock Up 6.2%

ASML stock opened at $750.20 on Tuesday. ASML Holding has a twelve month low of $578.51 and a twelve month high of $1,110.09. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $679.40 and a two-hundred day moving average of $701.99. The company has a current ratio of 1.53, a quick ratio of 0.99 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.20. The stock has a market capitalization of $295.15 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 36.07, a PEG ratio of 1.62 and a beta of 1.75.

ASML (NASDAQ:ASML) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, April 16th. The semiconductor company reported $6.31 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $6.12 by $0.19. ASML had a return on equity of 47.73% and a net margin of 26.78%. The company had revenue of $8.77 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $7.90 billion. As a group, research analysts expect that ASML Holding will post 25.17 earnings per share for the current year.

Analyst Ratings Changes

ASML has been the subject of several analyst reports. Susquehanna lowered their price objective on ASML from $1,100.00 to $965.00 and set a “positive” rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, April 17th. DZ Bank raised ASML from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, January 30th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their price objective on ASML from $1,148.00 to $1,100.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, January 30th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company lowered their price objective on ASML from $860.00 to $840.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, April 17th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, seven 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 currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $906.00.

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.