5 Best Semiconductor Equipment Stocks to Invest In

3. ASML Holding N.V. (NASDAQ:ASML)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 62

ASML Holding N.V. (NASDAQ:ASML) is a Dutch company that, through its subsidiaries, is engaged in the development, production, and marketing of semiconductor manufacturing equipment.

In the fourth quarter, the hedge fund sentiment was positive toward ASML Holding N.V. (NASDAQ:ASML) as 62 hedge funds had investments in the stock, compared to 57 funds in Q3. With 4.977 million company shares worth $3.767 billion, billionaire Ken Fisher’s Fisher Asset Management was the most significant stakeholder in the stock.

On January 24, ASML Holding N.V. (NASDAQ:ASML) announced net sales of €7.2 billion in the fourth quarter and €27.6 billion for the full year of 2023.

ClearBridge Investments stated the following regarding ASML Holding N.V. (NASDAQ:ASML) in its fourth quarter 2023 investor letter:

“Another welcome change has been the recognition of generative artificial intelligence (AI) opportunities for companies outside the U.S. While our IT holdings trailed their mega cap U.S. counterparts for most of the year, semiconductor equipment makers ASML Holding N.V. (NASDAQ:ASML) and Tokyo Electron, which we consider enablers of AI, as well as enterprise software maker SAP and IT consultant Accenture, which we see as facilitators of AI adoption in new product lines and/or enhanced business models, rose strongly in the quarter. These companies are rolling out new, AI-enhanced products at higher prices which should positively impact earnings in the near term.

On an individual stock basis, the largest contributors to absolute returns in the quarter included ASML and Tokyo Electron in the IT sector.”