Citigroup upgraded shares of MKS Instruments (NASDAQ:MKSI – Free Report) from a neutral rating to a buy rating in a research report released on Monday, Marketbeat Ratings reports. Citigroup currently has $130.00 price target on the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock.
Several other brokerages have also issued reports on MKSI. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their target price on MKS Instruments from $120.00 to $110.00 and set an “equal weight” rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, October 3rd. Cantor Fitzgerald started coverage on MKS Instruments in a research report on Tuesday, September 10th. They set an “overweight” rating and a $140.00 price objective for the company. Mizuho upgraded MKS Instruments to a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Monday, October 7th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. assumed coverage on shares of MKS Instruments in a report on Friday, December 13th. They set an “overweight” rating and a $145.00 price target for the company. Finally, Morgan Stanley reduced their price objective on shares of MKS Instruments from $155.00 to $150.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, December 16th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nine have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, MKS Instruments presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $141.83.
Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on MKSI
MKS Instruments Price Performance
MKS Instruments (NASDAQ:MKSI – Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, November 6th. The scientific and technical instruments company reported $1.72 EPS 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 for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $874.29 million. During the same period last year, the company earned $1.46 EPS. The firm’s revenue was down 3.9% compared to the same quarter last year. Analysts expect that MKS Instruments will post 6.33 EPS for the current year.
MKS Instruments Dividend Announcement
The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, December 6th. Stockholders of record on Monday, November 25th were paid a $0.22 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, November 25th. This represents a $0.88 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.77%. MKS Instruments’s dividend payout ratio is presently 195.56%.
Insiders Place Their Bets
In other news, Director Elizabeth Mora sold 275 shares of the company’s 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 transaction, the director now directly owns 17,659 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $2,002,707.19. This represents a 1.53 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Also, Director Jacqueline F. Moloney sold 300 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, December 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $114.80, for a total value of $34,440.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 9,983 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,146,048.40. This represents a 2.92 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. 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 large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in MKSI. Barclays PLC raised its stake in shares of MKS Instruments by 108.6% in the third quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 1,019,134 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock worth $110,789,000 after purchasing an additional 530,620 shares during the last quarter. Shellback Capital LP purchased a new stake in MKS Instruments in the 2nd quarter valued at $34,541,000. Millennium Management LLC lifted its stake in MKS Instruments by 219.5% during the 2nd quarter. Millennium Management LLC now owns 348,024 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock valued at $45,445,000 after acquiring an additional 239,099 shares in the last quarter. Nordea Investment Management AB boosted its holdings in MKS Instruments by 10.4% during 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 acquiring an additional 237,979 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Artemis Investment Management LLP bought a new stake in shares of MKS Instruments in the 3rd quarter worth $21,690,000. Institutional investors own 99.79% of the company’s stock.
About MKS Instruments
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.
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