Asio Capital LLC Invests in ASML Holding (NASDAQ:ASML)

Asio Capital LLC has made a significant move by acquiring a new position in ASML Holding, a prominent player in the semiconductor industry, as reported in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). In the third quarter, the fund purchased 3,647 shares of ASML, amounting to an estimated value of $3,039,000.

This purchase is part of a broader trend as other institutional investors and hedge funds have also been adjusting their holdings in ASML. For instance, Mercer Global Advisors Inc. ADV dramatically increased its stake by 4,379.6% during the second quarter, bringing its total ownership to 889,875 shares worth approximately $910.1 million after acquiring an additional 870,010 shares. Similarly, Jennison Associates LLC lifted its stake by 50% in the first quarter, now holding 1,719,153 shares valued at around $1.67 billion, following the purchase of 572,996 additional shares.

Moreover, Fayez Sarofim & Co made a new investment in ASML, valued at about $542.7 million in the first quarter. GQG Partners LLC also increased its position by 21.6%, now owning 1,657,878 shares worth roughly $1.61 billion after buying 294,784 shares. Another notable investment was made by 1832 Asset Management L.P., which grew its stake by a staggering 11,084.1%, holding a total of 246,050 shares valued at approximately $238.8 million after acquiring 243,850 additional shares. In total, institutional and hedge fund investors own about 26.07% of ASML’s stock.

ASML Stock Performance

As for ASML’s stock performance, it opened at $840.69 recently. The company exhibits various financial metrics: a quick ratio of 0.84, a current ratio of 1.52, and a manageable debt-to-equity ratio of 0.31. ASML has experienced a 52-week low of $573.86 and a high of $1,110.09. It carries a market capitalization of approximately $330.74 billion, with a P/E ratio standing at 45.37 and a net margin of 26.5%.

Recent Earnings Announcement

ASML declared its earnings results on July 17, reporting earnings per share (EPS) of $4.01, surpassing the consensus estimate of $3.87 by $0.14. The company's revenue for the quarter was $6.24 billion, outperforming expectations of $6 billion. Despite the success, ASML’s revenue decreased by 9.5% year-over-year. For the current fiscal year, analysts project an EPS of 20.38 for ASML.

Dividend Increase

In addition to its financial highlights, ASML recently announced an increase in its quarterly dividend. The latest dividend payment was made on August 7, amounting to $1.8732 per share, reflecting an annualized dividend of $7.49 and yielding 0.89%. This new rate represents a positive change from the previous dividend of $1.34

Analyst Ratings and Recommendations

Recent updates from financial analysts show mixed opinions on ASML’s stock. Wells Fargo & Company reduced its target price from $1,185.00 to $1,000.00 while maintaining an "overweight" rating. Conversely, Barclays upgraded ASML from "equal weight" to "overweight." Some analysts, like Morgan Stanley, revised their ratings from "overweight" to "equal weight". Meanwhile, Berenberg Bank emphasized a strong buy rating. Currently, the consensus rating stands at "Moderate Buy" with an average price target set at $1,071.80.

About ASML Holding

ASML Holding N.V. specializes in developing, producing, and marketing advanced semiconductor equipment systems for chip manufacturers. The company provides a variety of systems, including lithography, metrology, and inspection systems, along with solutions for both extreme ultraviolet and deep ultraviolet lithography technologies. ASML’s advanced technologies cater to a wide spectrum of semiconductor nodes and applications.

Investment, Stocks, Semiconductors