Washington Trust Co has increased its holdings in ASML Holding N.V. by 2.6% during the second quarter of 2023. According to a recent disclosure to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the firm now owns 19,954 shares of the semiconductor company, reflecting a purchase of an additional 498 shares during this period. As of the latest filing, these holdings are valued at approximately $15.99 million.
Several other institutional investors have also made significant adjustments to their ASML positions. Notably, T. Rowe Price Investment Management Inc. established a new stake in ASML valued at about $360.26 million in the first quarter of the year. Invesco Ltd. increased its holdings by an impressive 101%, acquiring an additional 367,505 shares, bringing its total ownership to 731,271 shares valued at approximately $484.56 million. Amundi’s position rose by 91.6% during the same period, while First Manhattan Co. LLC increased its holdings by 61%.
The institutional ownership of ASML now stands at 26.07% of the company’s stock.
Stock Performance and Dividend Increase
On Thursday, ASML’s shares traded down by $6.21, reaching $1,031.13. The trading volume was recorded at 219,981 shares, contrasting with an average volume of 1,670,403. Over the past year, ASML has experienced a low of $578.51 and a high of $1,086.11. The company currently has a market capitalization of $405.52 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 41.97, and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.14.
In a positive development for shareholders, ASML recently announced a quarterly dividend of $1.857, which was paid on November 6, 2023. This increase from the previous dividend of $1.86 translates to an annualized dividend of $7.43 and a dividend yield of 0.7%. The company’s current dividend payout ratio stands at 25.76%.
Analyst Ratings and Future Outlook
ASML has been the focus of numerous analyst evaluations recently. Mizuho upgraded the company from a “neutral” to an “outperform” rating in a report dated September 29, 2023. Other firms, including Berenberg Bank and Arete Research, have also reaffirmed their positive outlook, with ratings of “buy” and “strong-buy,” respectively.
Currently, the stock holds a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” from analysts, with a target price averaging $1,076.33. Four analysts have labeled ASML with a Strong Buy rating, while seventeen have indicated a Buy rating, and six have assigned a Hold rating.
ASML Holding N.V. specializes in developing and producing advanced semiconductor equipment systems for chip manufacturers. Its product offerings include lithography, metrology, and inspection systems, alongside extreme ultraviolet and deep ultraviolet lithography systems designed for various semiconductor technologies.
For those interested in tracking ASML’s stock performance further, detailed insights and updates are available through platforms like MarketBeat and HoldingsChannel.com.
