Analysts Set MKS Instruments, Inc. (NASDAQ:MKSI) PT at $141.42

MKS Instruments, Inc. (NASDAQ:MKSI) has received a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” from the thirteen ratings firms that are currently covering the company, MarketBeat.com reports. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eight have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. The average 12 month price target among analysts that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $141.00.

Several analysts have weighed in on MKSI shares. Citigroup lowered shares of MKS Instruments from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating and lowered their target price for the company from $145.00 to $120.00 in a research note on Monday, September 16th. Benchmark restated a “buy” rating and set a $142.00 price objective on shares of MKS Instruments in a research note on Monday, November 18th. Mizuho upgraded MKS Instruments to a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Monday, October 7th. Morgan Stanley reduced their price objective on MKS Instruments from $155.00 to $150.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research report on Monday. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group started coverage on shares of MKS Instruments in a research note on Tuesday, September 3rd. They set a “neutral” rating and a $129.00 price objective on the stock.

Insider Transactions at MKS Instruments

In other news, Director Elizabeth Mora sold 275 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction 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 sale, the director now directly owns 17,659 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $2,002,707.19. This trade represents a 1.53 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, Director Jacqueline F. Moloney sold 250 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, October 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $108.90, for a total transaction of $27,225.00. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 10,283 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,119,818.70. This represents a 2.37 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 825 shares of company stock valued at $92,853 in the last quarter. 0.46% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On MKS Instruments

Hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the company. CWM LLC raised its stake in shares of MKS Instruments by 23.0% during the second quarter. CWM LLC now owns 937 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock worth $122,000 after acquiring an additional 175 shares in the last quarter. SG Americas Securities LLC bought a new stake in MKS Instruments in the second quarter worth $691,000. Nisa Investment Advisors LLC boosted its position in MKS Instruments by 1.0% during the second quarter. Nisa Investment Advisors LLC now owns 19,685 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock valued at $2,570,000 after buying an additional 195 shares during the period. Fifth Third Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of MKS Instruments during the second quarter valued at about $249,000. Finally, Lecap Asset Management Ltd. purchased a new position in shares of MKS Instruments in the second quarter worth about $3,542,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 99.79% of the company’s stock.

MKS Instruments Trading Down 0.9 %

Shares of NASDAQ:MKSI opened at $109.90 on Friday. The company has a market cap of $7.40 billion, a PE ratio of 244.22, a P/E/G ratio of 0.66 and a beta of 1.65. The company’s 50 day moving average is $108.79 and its two-hundred day moving average is $116.63. MKS Instruments has a 52 week low of $93.88 and a 52 week high of $147.40. The company has a current ratio of 3.42, a quick ratio of 2.21 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.98.

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

MKS Instruments Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, December 6th. Stockholders of record on Monday, November 25th were paid a $0.22 dividend. This represents a $0.88 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.80%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, November 25th. MKS Instruments’s dividend payout ratio is currently 195.56%.

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.