MKS Inc. (NASDAQ:MKSI) Given Average Rating of "Moderate Buy" by Analysts

MKS Inc. (NASDAQ:MKSI - Get Free Report) has earned an average recommendation of "Moderate Buy" from the twelve research firms that are currently covering the stock, Marketbeat reports. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation, nine have issued a buy recommendation and one has assigned a strong buy recommendation to the company. The average twelve-month price target among brokers that have covered the stock in the last year is $130.82.

Several equities analysts have recently commented on the stock. Morgan Stanley upped their price target on shares of MKS from $93.00 to $100.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research report on Friday, May 23rd. Needham & Company LLC decreased their price target on MKS from $145.00 to $140.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research note on Friday, May 9th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upgraded shares of MKS from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating and set a $110.00 price objective on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, May 20th. Finally, Cantor Fitzgerald increased their target price on shares of MKS from $110.00 to $120.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research report on Tuesday, June 24th.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On MKS

Several hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of MKSI. eCIO Inc. acquired a new stake in MKS during the 1st quarter worth about $77,000. Strs Ohio purchased a new position in shares of MKS in the first quarter worth approximately $4,239,000. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC raised its holdings in shares of MKS by 3.6% during the first quarter. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC now owns 267,421 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock valued at $21,434,000 after acquiring an additional 9,170 shares during the period. United Services Automobile Association purchased a new stake in shares of MKS in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $342,000. Finally, Dynamic Technology Lab Private Ltd acquired a new position in MKS in the 1st quarter worth approximately $939,000. 99.79% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

MKS Stock Performance

MKSI traded up $0.15 on Thursday, hitting $104.77. 569,731 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,051,542. The company has a current ratio of 3.11, a quick ratio of 1.96 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.87. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $87.09 and a two-hundred day moving average of $92.32. MKS has a twelve month low of $54.84 and a twelve month high of $147.40. The firm has a market cap of $7.07 billion, a PE ratio of 31.27, a P/E/G ratio of 1.14 and a beta of 1.88.

MKS (NASDAQ:MKSI - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, May 7th. The scientific and technical instruments company reported $1.71 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $1.42 by $0.29. The business had revenue of $936.00 million for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $913.59 million. MKS had a return on equity of 20.67% and a net margin of 6.21%. The business's quarterly revenue was up 7.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $1.18 EPS. On average, research analysts anticipate that MKS will post 6.94 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

MKS Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, June 6th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, May 27th were given a $0.22 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, May 27th. This represents a $0.88 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.84%. MKS's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 26.27%.

MKS 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.