MKS Instruments, Inc. (NASDAQ:MKSI) Receives $141.42 Average Price Target from Analysts

MKS Instruments, Inc. (NASDAQ:MKSI) has been given an average recommendation of “Moderate Buy” by the thirteen ratings firms that are covering the company, Marketbeat reports. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eight have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. The average 1-year target price among brokers that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $141.00.

Several analysts recently commented on the company. Morgan Stanley decreased their price target on MKS Instruments from $155.00 to $150.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research note on Monday. Cantor Fitzgerald started coverage on shares of MKS Instruments in a report on Tuesday, September 10th. They issued an “overweight” rating and a $140.00 target price on the stock. The Goldman Sachs Group assumed coverage on shares of MKS Instruments in a research report on Tuesday, September 3rd. They set a “neutral” rating and a $129.00 target price for the company. Citigroup lowered shares of MKS Instruments from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating and reduced their price target for the company from $145.00 to $120.00 in a research report on Monday, September 16th. Finally, Benchmark reiterated a “buy” rating and issued a $142.00 target price on shares of MKS Instruments in a research note on Monday, November 18th.

MKS Instruments Stock Down 1.6 %

MKSI opened at $102.52 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $6.90 billion, a P/E ratio of 227.82, a P/E/G ratio of 0.66 and a beta of 1.65. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.98, a current ratio of 3.42 and a quick ratio of 2.21. The firm’s fifty day moving average price is $108.60 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $116.44. MKS Instruments has a fifty-two week low of $94.31 and a fifty-two week high of $147.40.

MKS Instruments (NASDAQ:MKSI) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, November 6th. The scientific and technical instruments company reported $1.72 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.45 by $0.27. The business had revenue of $896.00 million for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $874.29 million. MKS Instruments had a net margin of 0.90% and a return on equity of 15.79%. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was down 3.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $1.46 earnings per share. On average, analysts anticipate that MKS Instruments will post 6.33 EPS for the current year.

MKS Instruments Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, December 6th. Shareholders of record on Monday, November 25th were given a dividend of $0.22 per share. This represents a $0.88 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.86%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, November 25th. MKS Instruments’s payout ratio is 195.56%.

Insider Transactions at MKS Instruments

In related news, Director Elizabeth Mora sold 275 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, December 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $113.41, for a total value of $31,187.75. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 17,659 shares in the company, valued at $2,002,707.19. This trade represents a 1.53 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, Director Jacqueline F. Moloney sold 300 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, December 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $114.80, for a total transaction of $34,440.00. Following the transaction, the director now owns 9,983 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,146,048.40. This represents a 2.92 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 825 shares of company stock worth $92,853 in the last three months. Insiders own 0.46% of the company’s stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On MKS Instruments

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. CWM LLC lifted its holdings in MKS Instruments by 23.0% during the second quarter. CWM LLC now owns 937 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock worth $122,000 after acquiring an additional 175 shares in the last quarter. SG Americas Securities LLC bought a new position in shares of MKS Instruments during the 2nd quarter valued at about $691,000. Nisa Investment Advisors LLC grew its position in shares of MKS Instruments by 1.0% in the 2nd quarter. Nisa Investment Advisors LLC now owns 19,685 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock valued at $2,570,000 after purchasing an additional 195 shares during the period. Fifth Third Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of MKS Instruments in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $249,000. Finally, Lecap Asset Management Ltd. bought a new stake in MKS Instruments during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $3,542,000. 99.79% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

About MKS Instruments

MKS Instruments, Inc provides foundational technology solutions to semiconductor manufacturing, electronics and packaging, and specialty industrial applications in the United States, Germany, China, South Korea, and internationally. It operates through Vacuum Solutions Division (VSD), Photonics Solutions Division (PSD), and Material Solutions Division (MSD) segments.