Brokerages Set MKS Instruments, Inc. (NASDAQ:MKSI) Price Target at $141.09

MKS Instruments, Inc. (NASDAQ:MKSI - Get Free Report) has received an average rating of "Moderate Buy" from the twelve analysts that are covering the company, Marketbeat Ratings reports. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, seven have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. The average 12-month price target among analysts that have covered the stock in the last year is $141.09.

MKSI has been the subject of a number of recent research reports. Cantor Fitzgerald assumed coverage on MKS Instruments in a research report on Tuesday, September 10th. They set an "overweight" rating and a $140.00 price objective for the company. Mizuho raised shares of MKS Instruments to a "strong-buy" rating in a research report on Monday, October 7th. The Goldman Sachs Group initiated coverage on shares of MKS Instruments in a research note on Tuesday, September 3rd. They set a "neutral" rating and a $129.00 price objective on the stock. Morgan Stanley began coverage on MKS Instruments in a report on Monday, August 5th. They issued an "overweight" rating and a $155.00 price target for the company. Finally, Citigroup cut MKS Instruments from a "buy" rating to a "neutral" rating and decreased their price objective for the stock from $145.00 to $120.00 in a report on Monday, September 16th.

Insider Buying and Selling at MKS Instruments

In other MKS Instruments news, Director Elizabeth Mora sold 275 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, September 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $115.97, for a total transaction of $31,891.75. Following the transaction, the director now owns 17,934 shares in the company, valued at $2,079,805.98. The trade was a 1.51 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, Director Jacqueline F. Moloney sold 250 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, October 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $108.90, for a total value of $27,225.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now directly owns 10,283 shares of the company's stock, valued at $1,119,818.70. The trade was a 2.37 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.51% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On MKS Instruments

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC purchased a new position in MKS Instruments in the first quarter valued at about $25,000. Massmutual Trust Co. FSB ADV boosted 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 valued at $31,000 after buying an additional 191 shares during the last quarter. Key Financial Inc acquired a new stake in shares of MKS Instruments during the second quarter worth approximately $39,000. Quarry LP bought a new stake in shares of MKS Instruments in the second quarter worth $39,000. Finally, BOKF NA acquired a new stake in MKS Instruments in the second quarter valued at $39,000. 99.79% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

MKS Instruments Price Performance

NASDAQ:MKSI traded down $1.99 during mid-day trading on Wednesday, hitting $106.39. 115,940 shares of the company's stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 824,970. 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 $7.16 billion, a PE ratio of 240.84, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.63 and a beta of 1.63. The firm's 50 day simple moving average is $106.92 and its 200 day simple moving average is $118.67. MKS Instruments has a 1 year low of $75.58 and a 1 year high of $147.40.

MKS Instruments (NASDAQ:MKSI - Get Free Report) last posted 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 firm had revenue of $896.00 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $874.29 million. MKS Instruments had a return on equity of 15.79% and a net margin of 0.90%. MKS Instruments's revenue was down 3.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $1.46 EPS. Sell-side analysts expect that MKS Instruments will post 6.22 EPS for the current year.

MKS Instruments Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, December 6th. Investors of record on Monday, November 25th will be issued a $0.22 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Monday, November 25th. This represents a $0.88 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.83%. MKS Instruments's payout ratio is 195.56%.

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.