Needham & Company LLC Cuts MKS Instruments (NASDAQ:MKSI) Price Target to $145.00

MKS Instruments (NASDAQ:MKSI - Get Free Report) had its price target decreased by equities research analysts at Needham & Company LLC from $156.00 to $145.00 in a note issued to investors on Friday,Benzinga reports. The firm presently has a "buy" rating on the scientific and technical instruments company's stock. Needham & Company LLC's target price points to a potential upside of 37.48% from the company's previous close.

Other analysts also recently issued reports about the stock. Benchmark reaffirmed a "buy" rating and set a $142.00 price objective on shares of MKS Instruments in a report on Monday, November 18th. Citigroup raised shares of MKS Instruments from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and set a $130.00 price objective for the company in a report on Monday, January 6th. Morgan Stanley dropped their price objective on shares of MKS Instruments from $155.00 to $150.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a report on Monday, December 16th. The Goldman Sachs Group dropped their price objective on shares of MKS Instruments from $143.00 to $128.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a report on Friday, January 10th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. initiated coverage on shares of MKS Instruments in a report on Friday, December 13th. They set an "overweight" rating and a $145.00 price objective for the company. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nine have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $140.08.

MKS Instruments Price Performance

NASDAQ:MKSI traded up $1.80 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $105.47. The stock had a trading volume of 952,094 shares, compared to its average volume of 887,235. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $110.45 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $110.11. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.98, a current ratio of 3.42 and a quick ratio of 2.21. MKS Instruments has a one year low of $97.54 and a one year high of $147.40. The firm has a market capitalization of $7.10 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 234.38, a P/E/G ratio of 0.55 and a beta of 1.66.

MKS Instruments (NASDAQ:MKSI - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 12th. The scientific and technical instruments company reported $2.15 EPS for the quarter, beating 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%. Research analysts forecast that MKS Instruments will post 6.34 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Insider Buying and Selling at MKS Instruments

In related news, Director Elizabeth Mora sold 275 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated 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 owns 17,659 shares in the company, valued at $2,002,707.19. The trade was a 1.53 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, 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 transaction of $34,440.00. Following the transaction, the director now owns 9,983 shares in the company, valued at $1,146,048.40. This represents a 2.92 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Corporate insiders own 0.46% of the company's stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On MKS Instruments

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC grew its holdings in MKS Instruments by 68.6% in the fourth quarter. Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC now owns 263 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock worth $27,000 after purchasing an additional 107 shares during the period. Proficio Capital Partners LLC purchased a new stake in MKS Instruments in the fourth quarter worth about $36,000. TD Private Client Wealth LLC purchased a new stake in MKS Instruments in the fourth quarter worth about $39,000. Versant Capital Management Inc grew its holdings in 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 worth $45,000 after purchasing an additional 159 shares during the period. Finally, Blue Trust Inc. grew its holdings in MKS Instruments by 424.1% in the fourth quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 414 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock worth $45,000 after purchasing an additional 335 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 99.79% of the company's stock.

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.