MKS Instruments, Inc. (NASDAQ:MKSI) Receives Consensus Recommendation of "Moderate Buy" from Analysts

Shares of MKS Instruments, Inc. (NASDAQ:MKSI - Get Free Report) have received a consensus recommendation of "Moderate Buy" from the thirteen analysts that are currently covering the firm, MarketBeat.com reports. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nine have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. The average twelve-month price target among brokers that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $140.08.

MKSI has been the topic of a number of recent research reports. Cantor Fitzgerald reaffirmed an "overweight" rating and set a $140.00 price target on shares of MKS Instruments in a research note on Thursday, February 13th. The Goldman Sachs Group upped their target price on shares of MKS Instruments from $128.00 to $129.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research report on Friday, February 14th. Citigroup raised MKS Instruments from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and set a $130.00 price objective on the stock in a research note on Monday, January 6th. Needham & Company LLC lowered their price objective on MKS Instruments from $156.00 to $145.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research note on Friday, February 14th. 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 report on Friday, February 14th.

Insider Transactions at MKS Instruments

In other news, Director Jacqueline F. Moloney sold 300 shares of MKS Instruments stock in a transaction that occurred 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 owns 9,983 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $1,146,048.40. The trade was a 2.92 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, Director Gerard G. Colella sold 8,000 shares of the business's stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, February 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $104.53, for a total value of $836,240.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 60,017 shares of the company's stock, valued at $6,273,577.01. The trade was a 11.76 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Company insiders own 0.46% of the company's stock.

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Institutional Investors Weigh In On MKS Instruments

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC increased its stake in shares of MKS Instruments by 277.0% during the third quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC now owns 1,165 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock valued at $127,000 after buying an additional 856 shares during the period. Private Advisor Group LLC increased its position in MKS Instruments by 22.5% during the 3rd quarter. Private Advisor Group LLC now owns 2,718 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock valued at $295,000 after purchasing an additional 499 shares during the period. International Assets Investment Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of MKS Instruments by 13,537.3% in the 3rd quarter. International Assets Investment Management LLC now owns 10,228 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock valued at $1,112,000 after purchasing an additional 10,153 shares in the last quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. purchased a new stake in shares of MKS Instruments in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $922,000. Finally, Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC lifted its position in shares of MKS Instruments by 59.3% in the 3rd quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC now owns 4,853 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock worth $528,000 after purchasing an additional 1,807 shares during the period. 99.79% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

MKS Instruments Price Performance

Shares of MKS Instruments stock traded down $6.33 during trading on Friday, reaching $85.49. 693,402 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 930,363. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.93, a current ratio of 3.19 and a quick ratio of 2.04. The company has a market capitalization of $5.76 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 30.53, a P/E/G ratio of 1.02 and a beta of 1.66. MKS Instruments has a 52-week low of $85.07 and a 52-week high of $147.40. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $108.93 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $109.56.

MKS Instruments (NASDAQ:MKSI - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 12th. The scientific and technical instruments company reported $2.15 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.92 by $0.23. MKS Instruments had a return on equity of 18.94% and a net margin of 5.30%. Sell-side analysts expect that MKS Instruments will post 6.94 EPS for the current year.

MKS Instruments Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 7th. Stockholders of record on Monday, February 24th will be given a dividend of $0.22 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, February 24th. This represents a $0.88 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.03%. MKS Instruments's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 31.43%.

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.