MKS Instruments (NASDAQ:MKSI) Earns "Overweight" Rating from Cantor Fitzgerald

MKS Instruments (NASDAQ:MKSI - Get Free Report)'s stock had its "overweight" rating reiterated by equities researchers at Cantor Fitzgerald in a note issued to investors on Thursday,Benzinga reports. They currently have a $140.00 target price on the scientific and technical instruments company's stock. Cantor Fitzgerald's price target would indicate a potential upside of 35.04% from the stock's current price.

MKSI has been the topic of several other reports. The Goldman Sachs Group dropped their price target on shares of MKS Instruments from $143.00 to $128.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, January 10th. 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. Citigroup upgraded MKS Instruments from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and set a $130.00 price target on the stock in a research note on Monday, January 6th. Morgan Stanley dropped their target price on MKS Instruments from $155.00 to $150.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a report on Monday, December 16th. Finally, Needham & Company LLC reissued a "buy" rating and issued a $156.00 target price on shares of MKS Instruments in a report on Wednesday, January 15th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nine have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, MKS Instruments has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $140.08.

MKS Instruments Trading Down 0.2 %

MKS Instruments stock traded down $0.17 during midday trading on Thursday, reaching $103.67. The stock had a trading volume of 915,761 shares, compared to its average volume of 822,865. The stock's 50-day simple moving average is $110.77 and its 200 day simple moving average is $110.19. The stock has a market capitalization of $6.98 billion, a PE ratio of 230.38, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.55 and a beta of 1.66. 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 has a twelve month low of $97.54 and a twelve month high of $147.40.

MKS Instruments (NASDAQ:MKSI - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 12th. The scientific and technical instruments company reported $2.15 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.92 by $0.23. MKS Instruments had a net margin of 0.90% and a return on equity of 15.79%. Analysts expect that MKS Instruments will post 6.34 EPS for the current year.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, Director Elizabeth Mora sold 275 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred 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 completion of the sale, the director now directly owns 17,659 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $2,002,707.19. This represents a 1.53 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Also, Director Jacqueline F. Moloney sold 300 shares of the business's stock in a transaction 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 completion of the sale, the director now directly owns 9,983 shares in the company, valued at $1,146,048.40. This represents a 2.92 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Company insiders own 0.46% of the company's stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On MKS Instruments

Hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the business. ProShare Advisors LLC boosted its position in MKS Instruments by 1.0% during the fourth quarter. ProShare Advisors LLC now owns 11,943 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock valued at $1,247,000 after purchasing an additional 123 shares during the last quarter. Quantinno Capital Management LP increased its holdings in shares of MKS Instruments by 196.4% in the fourth quarter. Quantinno Capital Management LP now owns 20,734 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock valued at $2,164,000 after purchasing an additional 13,739 shares during the last quarter. Man Group plc raised its position in shares of MKS Instruments by 274.3% in the fourth quarter. Man Group plc now owns 31,432 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock valued at $3,281,000 after purchasing an additional 23,035 shares during the period. Nomura Holdings Inc. lifted its stake in shares of MKS Instruments by 5.3% during the 4th quarter. Nomura Holdings Inc. now owns 419,347 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock worth $43,776,000 after buying an additional 21,256 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Needham Investment Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of MKS Instruments by 3.6% during the 4th quarter. Needham Investment Management LLC now owns 129,000 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock worth $13,466,000 after buying an additional 4,500 shares during the period. 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.