MKS Instruments (NASDAQ:MKSI) Hits New 1-Year Low - Here's Why

Shares of MKS Instruments, Inc. (NASDAQ:MKSI - Get Free Report) reached a new 52-week low on Monday . The stock traded as low as $80.22 and last traded at $80.36, with a volume of 215846 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at $84.89.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities analysts have recently commented on MKSI shares. Needham & Company LLC cut their target price on shares of MKS Instruments from $156.00 to $145.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a report on Friday, February 14th. Cantor Fitzgerald reiterated an "overweight" rating and set a $140.00 target price on shares of MKS Instruments in a research note on Thursday, February 13th. Benchmark dropped their price target on MKS Instruments from $142.00 to $135.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock 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 target price on the stock in a report on Monday, January 6th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. initiated coverage on shares of MKS Instruments in a report on Friday, December 13th. They issued an "overweight" rating and a $145.00 target price on the stock. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nine have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $140.08.

MKS Instruments Stock Up 5.2 %

The firm has a market cap of $5.76 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 30.52, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.02 and a beta of 1.76. The stock's 50 day moving average is $105.26 and its 200 day moving average is $107.58. The company has a quick ratio of 2.04, a current ratio of 3.19 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.93.

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MKS Instruments (NASDAQ:MKSI - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 12th. The scientific and technical instruments company reported $2.15 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $1.92 by $0.23. MKS Instruments had a return on equity of 18.94% and a net margin of 5.30%. Analysts forecast that MKS Instruments, Inc. will post 6.94 EPS for the current year.

MKS Instruments Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 7th. Investors of record on Monday, February 24th were given a dividend of $0.22 per share. This represents a $0.88 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.03%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, February 24th. MKS Instruments's payout ratio is presently 31.43%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other MKS Instruments news, Director Gerard G. Colella sold 8,000 shares of the company's stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, February 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $104.53, for a total transaction 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. This represents a 11.76 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, Director Elizabeth Mora sold 275 shares of MKS Instruments stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $92.46, for a total transaction of $25,426.50. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 17,384 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,607,324.64. This represents a 1.56 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Company insiders own 0.51% of the company's stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On MKS Instruments

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of MKSI. Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC increased its stake in MKS Instruments by 68.6% during the fourth quarter. Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC now owns 263 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock valued at $27,000 after acquiring an additional 107 shares during the period. TD Private Client Wealth LLC acquired a new position in shares of MKS Instruments in the fourth quarter valued at $39,000. Blue Trust Inc. lifted its position 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. Versant Capital Management Inc increased its holdings in MKS Instruments by 58.0% in the 4th quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc now owns 433 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock valued at $45,000 after buying an additional 159 shares during the period. Finally, Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB acquired a new position in shares of MKS Instruments in the 3rd quarter valued at $50,000. 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.