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

MKS Instruments, Inc. (NASDAQ:MKSI - Get Free Report) has received an average rating of "Moderate Buy" from the thirteen brokerages that are covering the stock, MarketBeat.com reports. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, ten have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating on the company. The average twelve-month price target among analysts that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $134.92.

A number of research analysts recently issued reports on MKSI shares. Benchmark reduced their price objective on MKS Instruments from $142.00 to $135.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research report on Friday, February 14th. Cantor Fitzgerald restated an "overweight" rating and set a $140.00 price objective on shares of MKS Instruments in a research report on Thursday, February 13th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upgraded MKS Instruments from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating and set a $110.00 price target for the company in a research report on Tuesday, May 20th. Needham & Company LLC reduced their price target on MKS Instruments from $145.00 to $140.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research report on Friday, May 9th. Finally, Morgan Stanley boosted their price target on MKS Instruments from $93.00 to $100.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research report on Friday, May 23rd.

MKS Instruments Stock Performance

NASDAQ:MKSI traded down $0.48 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $93.67. 925,166 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,056,785. MKS Instruments has a twelve month low of $54.84 and a twelve month high of $147.40. The firm has a market capitalization of $6.32 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 33.45, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.02 and a beta of 1.84. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.93, a current ratio of 3.19 and a quick ratio of 2.04. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $77.84 and a 200 day moving average price of $94.22.

MKS Instruments (NASDAQ:MKSI - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, May 7th. The scientific and technical instruments company reported $1.71 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $1.42 by $0.29. MKS Instruments had a return on equity of 18.94% and a net margin of 5.30%. The business had revenue of $936.00 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $913.59 million. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $1.18 EPS. The business's revenue for the quarter was up 7.8% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, analysts expect that MKS Instruments will post 6.94 EPS for the current fiscal year.

MKS Instruments Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, June 6th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, May 27th were paid a $0.22 dividend. This represents a $0.88 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.94%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, May 27th. MKS Instruments's dividend payout ratio is presently 26.27%.

Institutional Trading of MKS Instruments

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC raised its stake in shares of MKS Instruments by 68.6% in the 4th quarter. Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC now owns 263 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock worth $27,000 after buying an additional 107 shares in the last quarter. Proficio Capital Partners LLC bought a new stake in shares of MKS Instruments in the 4th quarter worth $36,000. TD Private Client Wealth LLC bought a new stake in shares of MKS Instruments in the 4th quarter worth $39,000. Optimum Investment Advisors raised its stake in shares of MKS Instruments by 66.7% in the 1st quarter. Optimum Investment Advisors now owns 500 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock worth $40,000 after buying an additional 200 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Blue Trust Inc. raised its stake in shares of MKS Instruments by 424.1% in the 4th quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 414 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock worth $45,000 after buying an additional 335 shares in the last quarter. 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.