ASML Holding Launches EUR6 Billion Share-Buyback Program

By Anthony O. Goriainoff

ASML Holding NV (ASML.AE) said Wednesday that it was launching a three-year share-buyback program of up to 6 billion euros ($6.66 billion), and that profit rose for the fourth quarter of 2019.

The Dutch semiconductor equipment maker said that for the three months ended Dec. 31 net profit rose to EUR1.13 billion compared with EUR787.5 million in the year-earlier period.

Net sales in the quarter rose to EUR4.04 billion, compared with EUR3.14 billion the year before, ASML said.

Net bookings for the quarter were EUR2.40 billion.

Total net sales for 2019 rose to EUR11.82 billion, compared with EUR10.94 billion in 2018.

ASML Holding proposed a full-year dividend of EUR2.40, up from EUR2.10 in 2018.

The company said it expects 2020 to be another growth year both in sales and profitability, and said it expects net sales in the first quarter to be between EUR3.1 billion and EUR3.3 billion, forecasting a gross margin in the 46% to 47% range.

"The Logic market is expected to remain strong in 2020, due to investments in 5G and high performance compute applications," the company said.

Write to Anthony O. Goriainoff at [e-mail]

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

January 22, 2020 01:40 ET (06:40 GMT)

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