MKS Instruments (NASDAQ:MKSI) Price Target Raised to $129.00

MKS Instruments (NASDAQ:MKSI - Get Free Report) had its target price hoisted by The Goldman Sachs Group from $128.00 to $129.00 in a research note issued to investors on Friday,Benzinga reports. The firm presently has a "neutral" rating on the scientific and technical instruments company's stock. The Goldman Sachs Group's price target would indicate a potential upside of 22.31% from the stock's previous close.

A number of other research firms have also weighed in on MKSI. JPMorgan Chase & Co. initiated coverage on shares of MKS Instruments in a research report on Friday, December 13th. They issued an "overweight" rating and a $145.00 price target for the company. Morgan Stanley dropped 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. Needham & Company LLC lowered their price objective on shares of MKS Instruments from $156.00 to $145.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research report on Friday. Cantor Fitzgerald reiterated an "overweight" rating and set a $140.00 price objective on shares of MKS Instruments in a research report on Thursday, February 13th. Finally, Citigroup upgraded shares of MKS Instruments from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and set a $130.00 price objective for the company in a research report on Monday, January 6th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nine have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, MKS Instruments has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $140.08.

MKS Instruments Price Performance

Shares of MKSI traded up $1.80 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $105.47. The stock had a trading volume of 952,094 shares, compared to its average volume of 887,235. The firm has a market cap of $7.10 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 234.38, a PEG ratio of 0.55 and a beta of 1.66. MKS Instruments has a 12 month low of $97.54 and a 12 month high of $147.40. The business has a fifty day moving average of $110.45 and a 200 day moving average of $110.11. 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 (NASDAQ:MKSI - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 12th. The scientific and technical instruments company reported $2.15 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $1.92 by $0.23. MKS Instruments had a net margin of 0.90% and a return on equity of 15.79%. Equities analysts predict that MKS Instruments will post 6.34 EPS for the current year.

Insider Activity

In related news, Director Jacqueline F. Moloney sold 300 shares of the firm'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 owns 9,983 shares of the company's stock, valued at $1,146,048.40. This trade represents a 2.92 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. 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 transaction 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 represents a 1.53 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 0.46% of the company's stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Vanguard Group Inc. increased its stake in MKS Instruments by 1.3% in the 4th quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 7,445,956 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock worth $777,283,000 after buying an additional 97,392 shares during the period. Victory Capital Management Inc. increased its stake in MKS Instruments by 1.2% in the 4th quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. now owns 3,088,283 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock worth $322,386,000 after buying an additional 35,256 shares during the period. Nordea Investment Management AB increased its stake in MKS Instruments by 10.4% in the 4th quarter. Nordea Investment Management AB now owns 2,525,037 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock worth $265,874,000 after buying an additional 237,979 shares during the period. Wellington Management Group LLP increased its stake in MKS Instruments by 0.3% in the 4th quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 2,291,478 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock worth $239,207,000 after buying an additional 6,715 shares during the period. Finally, Invesco Ltd. increased its stake in MKS Instruments by 0.3% in the 4th quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 2,231,467 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock worth $232,943,000 after buying an additional 6,964 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.