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

Shares of MKS Instruments, Inc. (NASDAQ:MKSI) have been given a consensus recommendation of “Moderate Buy” by the twelve research firms that are currently covering the firm, MarketBeat Ratings reports. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, seven have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating on the company. The average twelve-month price target among analysts that have covered the stock in the last year is $141.09.

A number of analysts recently weighed in on MKSI shares. Benchmark reissued a “buy” rating and issued a $142.00 price objective on shares of MKS Instruments in a research report on Thursday, August 8th. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their price target on MKS Instruments from $120.00 to $110.00 and set an “equal weight” rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, October 3rd. Citigroup downgraded MKS Instruments from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating and cut their price objective for the company from $145.00 to $120.00 in a research report on Monday, September 16th. Mizuho upgraded MKS Instruments to a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Monday, October 7th. Finally, Needham & Company LLC upped their price target on shares of MKS Instruments from $153.00 to $156.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, August 9th.

MKS Instruments Price Performance

NASDAQ:MKSI opened at $102.32 on Friday. The firm has a market capitalization of $6.86 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -3.83, a PEG ratio of 0.70 and a beta of 1.63. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.16, a current ratio of 3.58 and a quick ratio of 2.31. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $108.48 and a 200-day simple moving average of $119.49. MKS Instruments has a 1 year low of $63.44 and a 1 year high of $147.40.

MKS Instruments (NASDAQ:MKSI) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, August 7th. The scientific and technical instruments company reported $1.53 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.02 by $0.51. The company had revenue of $887.00 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $866.38 million. MKS Instruments had a net margin of 0.25% and a return on equity of 14.91%. MKS Instruments’s quarterly revenue was down 11.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $1.32 earnings per share. Equities analysts forecast that MKS Instruments will post 5.61 EPS for the current year.

MKS Instruments Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, September 6th. Investors of record on Monday, August 26th were paid a $0.22 dividend. This represents a $0.88 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.86%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, August 26th. MKS Instruments’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is -3.30%.

Insider Buying and Selling at MKS Instruments

In other news, EVP John Edward Williams sold 1,800 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Friday, August 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $118.71, for a total value of $213,678.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 13 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,543.23. The trade was a 0.00 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. In other news, Director Elizabeth Mora sold 275 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, September 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $115.97, for a total value of $31,891.75. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 17,934 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,079,805.98. This trade represents a 0.00 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, EVP John Edward Williams sold 1,800 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, August 16th. The stock was 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. This trade represents a 0.00 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last 90 days, insiders have sold 2,325 shares of company stock valued at $272,795. 0.46% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On MKS Instruments

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Atlas Capital Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of MKS Instruments during the 1st quarter valued at $25,000. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC purchased a new stake in MKS Instruments in the first quarter valued at about $25,000. Massmutual Trust Co. FSB ADV boosted its holdings in MKS Instruments by 196.9% in the third quarter. Massmutual Trust Co. FSB ADV now owns 288 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock worth $31,000 after acquiring an additional 191 shares in the last quarter. Key Financial Inc purchased a new stake in shares of MKS Instruments during the second quarter worth about $39,000. Finally, Quarry LP acquired a new position in shares of MKS Instruments during the second quarter valued at about $39,000. 99.79% of the stock is 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.