MKS Instruments, Inc. (NASDAQ:MKSI) Receives Average Recommendation of “Moderate Buy” from Brokerages

Shares of MKS Instruments, Inc. (NASDAQ:MKSI) have received a consensus recommendation of “Moderate Buy” from the thirteen research firms that are currently covering the stock, MarketBeat.com reports. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eight have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating on the company. The average 12 month target price among analysts that have covered the stock in the last year is $141.42.

Several brokerages have recently commented on MKSI. Citigroup downgraded MKS Instruments from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating and reduced their target price for the company from $145.00 to $120.00 in a research note on Monday, September 16th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. assumed coverage on MKS Instruments in a report on Friday. They set an “overweight” rating and a $145.00 price objective for the company. Cantor Fitzgerald assumed coverage on 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 started coverage on shares of MKS Instruments in a research note on Tuesday, September 3rd. They set a “neutral” rating and a $129.00 price target for the company. Finally, Benchmark reaffirmed a “buy” rating and issued a $142.00 price objective on shares of MKS Instruments in a research note on Monday, November 18th.

MKS Instruments Price Performance

Shares of MKSI opened at $112.55 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $7.57 billion, a PE ratio of 250.11, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.66 and a beta of 1.65. MKS Instruments has a 52-week low of $90.90 and a 52-week high of $147.40. The business’s 50 day moving average price is $108.65 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $116.95. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.98, a quick ratio of 2.21 and a current ratio of 3.42.

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

MKS Instruments Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, December 6th. Investors of record on Monday, November 25th were given a dividend of $0.22 per share. This represents a $0.88 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.78%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, November 25th. MKS Instruments’s payout ratio is currently 195.56%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, Director Elizabeth Mora sold 275 shares of MKS Instruments stock in a transaction on Monday, December 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $113.41, for a total transaction of $31,187.75. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 17,659 shares in the company, valued at $2,002,707.19. The trade was a 1.53 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, Director Jacqueline F. Moloney sold 250 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, October 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $108.90, for a total transaction 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 trade represents a 2.37 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last ninety days, insiders sold 825 shares of company stock valued at $92,853. Corporate insiders own 0.46% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in MKSI. Massmutual Trust Co. FSB ADV increased its stake in shares of MKS Instruments by 196.9% during the 3rd quarter. Massmutual Trust Co. FSB ADV now owns 288 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock worth $31,000 after purchasing an additional 191 shares during the last quarter. UMB Bank n.a. increased its position in MKS Instruments by 53.7% in the third quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 349 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock worth $38,000 after buying an additional 122 shares during the last quarter. Key Financial Inc bought a new stake in shares of MKS Instruments in the second quarter valued at $39,000. BOKF NA bought a new stake in shares of MKS Instruments in the second quarter valued at $39,000. Finally, Quarry LP purchased a new position in shares of MKS Instruments during the 2nd quarter valued at $39,000. 99.79% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other 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.