MKS Instruments, Inc. (NASDAQ:MKSI) Plans $0.22 Quarterly Dividend

MKS Instruments, Inc. (NASDAQ:MKSI - Get Free Report) declared a quarterly dividend on Monday, February 10th,RTT News reports. Investors of record on Monday, February 24th will be paid a dividend of 0.22 per share by the scientific and technical instruments company on Friday, March 7th. This represents a $0.88 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.85%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, February 24th.

MKS Instruments has increased its dividend payment by an average of 0.8% per year over the last three years. MKS Instruments has a payout ratio of 9.4% indicating that its dividend is sufficiently covered by earnings. Research analysts expect MKS Instruments to earn $7.48 per share next year, which means the company should continue to be able to cover its $0.88 annual dividend with an expected future payout ratio of 11.8%.

MKS Instruments Trading Down 0.2 %

Shares of MKS Instruments stock traded down $0.23 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $103.61. 520,709 shares of the company's stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 870,866. 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 company has a market cap of $6.97 billion, a PE ratio of 230.12, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.55 and a beta of 1.66. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $110.99 and a 200-day moving average of $110.50. MKS Instruments has a 12 month low of $97.54 and a 12 month high of $147.40.

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

Insider Buying and Selling at MKS Instruments

In other news, Director Jacqueline F. Moloney sold 300 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, December 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $114.80, for a total value of $34,440.00. Following the transaction, the director now owns 9,983 shares of the company's stock, valued at $1,146,048.40. This trade represents a 2.92 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, Director Elizabeth Mora sold 275 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated Monday, December 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $113.41, for a total value of $31,187.75. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 17,659 shares in the company, valued at $2,002,707.19. This trade represents a 1.53 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.46% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities research analysts recently weighed in on the company. The Goldman Sachs Group upped their price target on MKS Instruments from $128.00 to $129.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research note on Friday. Citigroup raised 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. JPMorgan Chase & Co. assumed coverage on MKS Instruments in a research note on Friday, December 13th. They issued an "overweight" rating and a $145.00 target price on the stock. Needham & Company LLC cut their target price on MKS Instruments from $156.00 to $145.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research note on Friday. Finally, Morgan Stanley cut their target price on MKS Instruments from $150.00 to $147.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research note on Friday. Four investment 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 stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, MKS Instruments presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $140.08.

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.