Analysts Set MKS Instruments, Inc. (NASDAQ:MKSI) Price Target at $141.09

Shares of MKS Instruments, Inc. (NASDAQ:MKSI) have earned a consensus recommendation of “Moderate Buy” from the twelve brokerages that are currently covering the stock, Marketbeat Ratings reports. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, seven have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. The average twelve-month price objective among brokers that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $141.09.

A number of equities research analysts have recently weighed in on MKSI shares. Mizuho raised MKS Instruments to a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Monday, October 7th. Citigroup downgraded MKS Instruments from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating and cut their target price for the company from $145.00 to $120.00 in a research note on Monday, September 16th. Benchmark reissued a “buy” rating and issued a $142.00 price target on shares of MKS Instruments in a research note on Monday, November 18th. Morgan Stanley started coverage on shares of MKS Instruments in a research note on Monday, August 5th. They set an “overweight” rating and a $155.00 price objective on the stock. Finally, Needham & Company LLC increased their target price on shares of MKS Instruments from $153.00 to $156.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, August 9th.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, Director Elizabeth Mora sold 275 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, September 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $115.97, for a total value of $31,891.75. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 17,934 shares in the company, valued at $2,079,805.98. This trade represents a 1.51 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, Director Jacqueline F. Moloney sold 250 shares of MKS Instruments stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, October 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $108.90, for a total value of $27,225.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 10,283 shares in the company, valued at $1,119,818.70. This represents a 2.37 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.46% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On MKS Instruments

Several hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the company. State Street Corp grew its position in MKS Instruments by 3.5% during the 3rd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 1,954,881 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock worth $212,515,000 after purchasing an additional 65,200 shares in the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC grew its holdings in shares of MKS Instruments by 4.6% during the third quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 1,172,517 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock valued at $127,496,000 after buying an additional 51,519 shares in the last quarter. Barclays PLC raised its position in MKS Instruments by 108.6% during the third quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 1,019,134 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock valued at $110,789,000 after buying an additional 530,620 shares during the period. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. lifted its stake in MKS Instruments by 7.4% in the 3rd quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 663,414 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock worth $72,120,000 after acquiring an additional 45,862 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Ceredex Value Advisors LLC lifted its stake in MKS Instruments by 17.8% in the 3rd quarter. Ceredex Value Advisors LLC now owns 509,883 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock worth $55,429,000 after acquiring an additional 77,025 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 99.79% of the company’s stock.

MKS Instruments Stock Performance

MKSI stock opened at $114.92 on Wednesday. MKS Instruments has a 1 year low of $77.25 and a 1 year high of $147.40. The stock has a market capitalization of $7.73 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 255.38, a PEG ratio of 0.64 and a beta of 1.63. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.98, a quick ratio of 2.21 and a current ratio of 3.42. The stock’s fifty day moving average is $107.01 and its two-hundred day moving average is $118.49.

MKS Instruments (NASDAQ:MKSI) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, November 6th. The scientific and technical instruments company reported $1.72 earnings per share for the quarter, topping 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 company’s revenue for the quarter was down 3.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $1.46 EPS. On average, research analysts predict that MKS Instruments will post 6.22 EPS for the current year.

MKS Instruments Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, December 6th. Investors of record on Monday, November 25th will be issued a $0.22 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Monday, November 25th. This represents a $0.88 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.77%. MKS Instruments’s payout ratio is currently 195.56%.

MKS Instruments Company Profile

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.