MKS Instruments (NASDAQ:MKSI) Downgraded to “Neutral” at Citigroup

Citigroup downgraded shares of MKS Instruments (NASDAQ:MKSI) from a buy rating to a neutral rating in a report published on Monday, MarketBeat reports. They currently have $120.00 price target on the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock, down from their previous price target of $145.00.

Several other research firms have also recently weighed in on MKSI. Morgan Stanley began coverage on shares of MKS Instruments in a research report on Monday, August 5th. They set an overweight rating and a $155.00 price objective for the company. 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 price target for the company. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft cut their price objective on shares of MKS Instruments from $140.00 to $120.00 and set a hold rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, August 9th. KeyCorp boosted their target price on MKS Instruments from $150.00 to $160.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Friday, July 12th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company cut their price target on MKS Instruments from $135.00 to $120.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a report on Friday, August 9th. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, MKS Instruments currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $142.00.

MKS Instruments Stock Down 3.2 %

Shares of NASDAQ:MKSI opened at $108.30 on Monday. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $119.10 and a 200 day simple moving average of $124.21. MKS Instruments has a 12-month low of $63.44 and a 12-month high of $147.40. The firm has a market cap of $7.26 billion, a P/E ratio of -4.06, a P/E/G ratio of 0.79 and a beta of 1.64. The company has a quick ratio of 2.31, a current ratio of 3.58 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.16.

MKS Instruments (NASDAQ:MKSI) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, August 7th. The scientific and technical instruments company reported $1.53 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.02 by $0.51. MKS Instruments had a return on equity of 14.91% and a net margin of 0.25%. The company had revenue of $887.00 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $866.38 million. During the same period last year, the company earned $1.32 earnings per share. The firm’s revenue was down 11.6% compared to the same quarter last year. Analysts predict that MKS Instruments will post 5.6 earnings per share for the current year.

MKS Instruments Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, September 6th. Investors of record on Monday, August 26th were given a dividend of $0.22 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, August 26th. This represents a $0.88 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.81%. MKS Instruments’s payout ratio is -3.30%.

Insider Activity at MKS Instruments

In other MKS Instruments news, EVP John Edward Williams sold 1,800 shares of MKS Instruments stock in a transaction on Friday, August 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $118.71, for a total transaction of $213,678.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 13 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,543.23. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. In other MKS Instruments news, EVP John Edward Williams sold 1,800 shares of MKS Instruments stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, August 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $118.71, for a total transaction of $213,678.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 13 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,543.23. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, Director Jacqueline F. Moloney sold 250 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, August 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $123.46, for a total value of $30,865.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 10,533 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,300,404.18. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last three months, insiders sold 2,325 shares of company stock valued at $276,435. 0.46% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On MKS Instruments

A number of hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in MKSI. Atlas Capital Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in MKS Instruments during the first quarter worth about $25,000. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC purchased a new stake in shares of MKS Instruments during the 1st quarter worth approximately $25,000. Rise Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of MKS Instruments in the 1st quarter worth approximately $26,000. Quest Partners LLC purchased a new position in MKS Instruments in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $37,000. Finally, Key Financial Inc bought a new position in MKS Instruments during the second quarter valued at $39,000. 99.79% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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.