MKS Instruments (NASDAQ:MKSI) Earns Buy Rating from Needham & Company LLC

Needham & Company LLC restated their buy rating on shares of MKS Instruments (NASDAQ:MKSI - Free Report) in a research report report published on Wednesday,Benzinga reports. The brokerage currently has a $156.00 price objective on the scientific and technical instruments company's stock.

Several other analysts also recently issued reports on MKSI. Citigroup raised shares of MKS Instruments from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and set a $130.00 price target for the company in a research report on Monday, January 6th. Mizuho upgraded shares of MKS Instruments to a "strong-buy" rating in a report on Monday, October 7th. Morgan Stanley decreased their target price on shares of MKS Instruments from $155.00 to $150.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research report on Monday, December 16th. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their price target on shares of MKS Instruments from $120.00 to $110.00 and set an "equal weight" rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, October 3rd. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group cut their price target on MKS Instruments from $143.00 to $128.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a research note on Friday, January 10th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nine have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $141.75.

MKS Instruments Stock Up 3.2 %

Shares of NASDAQ MKSI traded up $3.51 during trading on Wednesday, hitting $114.62. 422,145 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 703,287. The firm has a market capitalization of $7.71 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 254.71, a P/E/G ratio of 0.66 and a beta of 1.66. The business's fifty day moving average is $110.59 and its 200 day moving average is $113.26. 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 fifty-two week low of $97.54 and a fifty-two week high of $147.40.

MKS Instruments (NASDAQ:MKSI - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, November 6th. The scientific and technical instruments company reported $1.72 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $1.45 by $0.27. MKS Instruments had a return on equity of 15.79% and a net margin of 0.90%. The business had revenue of $896.00 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $874.29 million. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $1.46 EPS. The firm's revenue for the quarter was down 3.9% on a year-over-year basis. Equities research analysts predict that MKS Instruments will post 6.33 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

MKS Instruments Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, December 6th. Investors of record on Monday, November 25th were issued a dividend of $0.22 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, November 25th. This represents a $0.88 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.77%. MKS Instruments's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 195.56%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other MKS Instruments news, Director Jacqueline F. Moloney sold 300 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, December 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $114.80, for a total value of $34,440.00. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 9,983 shares in the company, valued at $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 Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, Director Elizabeth Mora sold 275 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, December 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $113.41, for a total transaction of $31,187.75. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 17,659 shares of the company's stock, valued at $2,002,707.19. This represents a 1.53 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 0.46% of the company's stock.

Institutional Trading of MKS Instruments

Several hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Massmutual Trust Co. FSB ADV increased its holdings in MKS Instruments by 196.9% in the 3rd 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 during the last quarter. Quarry LP bought a new position in MKS Instruments during the second quarter worth about $39,000. BOKF NA purchased a new position in shares of MKS Instruments in the second quarter worth about $39,000. UMB Bank n.a. increased its stake in shares of MKS Instruments by 53.7% in the third quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 349 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock worth $38,000 after purchasing an additional 122 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Versant Capital Management Inc raised its position in shares of MKS Instruments by 58.0% in the fourth quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc now owns 433 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock valued at $45,000 after purchasing an additional 159 shares during the period. 99.79% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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.