MKS Instruments (NASDAQ:MKSI) Upgraded to "Buy" at Citigroup

MKS Instruments (NASDAQ:MKSI - Get Free Report) was upgraded by investment analysts at Citigroup from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating in a report issued on Monday, Marketbeat Ratings reports. The brokerage currently has a $130.00 price objective on the scientific and technical instruments company's stock. Citigroup's target price would indicate a potential upside of 13.45% from the stock's previous close.

Several other equities analysts have also issued reports on MKSI. Wells Fargo & Company cut their price objective on shares of MKS Instruments from $120.00 to $110.00 and set an "equal weight" rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, October 3rd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. initiated coverage on MKS Instruments in a report on Friday, December 13th. They issued an "overweight" rating and a $145.00 price target on the stock. Cantor Fitzgerald assumed coverage on MKS Instruments in a research report on Tuesday, September 10th. They issued an "overweight" rating and a $140.00 price target for the company. Benchmark reaffirmed a "buy" rating and set a $142.00 price objective on shares of MKS Instruments in a research report on Monday, November 18th. Finally, Morgan Stanley reduced their target price 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. Four investment 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. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $141.83.

MKS Instruments Stock Up 5.8 %

NASDAQ MKSI traded up $6.30 on Monday, reaching $114.59. 1,202,526 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 884,703. MKS Instruments has a 12 month low of $97.54 and a 12 month high of $147.40. The company has a market cap of $7.71 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 254.64, a PEG ratio of 0.66 and a beta of 1.66. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $109.21 and a 200-day moving average price of $114.20. 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 released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, November 6th. The scientific and technical instruments company reported $1.72 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.45 by $0.27. MKS Instruments had a return on equity of 15.79% and a net margin of 0.90%. The firm had revenue of $896.00 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $874.29 million. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $1.46 earnings per share. The firm's quarterly revenue was down 3.9% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, research analysts forecast that MKS Instruments will post 6.33 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insider Transactions at MKS Instruments

In related news, Director Jacqueline F. Moloney sold 300 shares of MKS Instruments stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, December 10th. The stock was 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 $1,146,048.40. The trade was a 2.92 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, Director Elizabeth Mora sold 275 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on 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 owns 17,659 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,002,707.19. This trade 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 Trading of MKS Instruments

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Nordea Investment Management AB boosted its position 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 purchasing an additional 237,979 shares in the last quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC boosted its holdings in MKS Instruments by 46.5% during the fourth quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 1,131 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock worth $118,000 after buying an additional 359 shares in the last quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc boosted its holdings in MKS Instruments by 58.0% during the fourth quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc now owns 433 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock worth $45,000 after buying an additional 159 shares in the last quarter. Retirement Systems of Alabama grew its position in MKS Instruments by 2.5% during the third quarter. Retirement Systems of Alabama now owns 157,839 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock valued at $17,159,000 after buying an additional 3,779 shares during the period. Finally, Oddo BHF Asset Management Sas purchased a new position in MKS Instruments in the third quarter valued at $2,216,000. 99.79% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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.