Morgan Stanley Issues Positive Forecast for MKS (NASDAQ:MKSI) Stock Price

MKS (NASDAQ:MKSI - Free Report) had its target price increased by Morgan Stanley from $100.00 to $112.00 in a research report sent to investors on Tuesday morning,Benzinga reports. They currently have an overweight rating on the scientific and technical instruments company's stock.

Several other equities analysts have also issued reports on the company. Mizuho raised their price target on MKS from $105.00 to $118.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research report on Monday, July 14th. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their target price on shares of MKS from $85.00 to $100.00 and gave the stock an "equal weight" rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 8th. Cantor Fitzgerald increased their price target 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. Needham & Company LLC cut their price target on shares of MKS from $145.00 to $140.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a report on Friday, May 9th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised shares of MKS from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating and set a $110.00 price objective for the company in a research note on Tuesday, May 20th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has issued a hold rating and eight have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $120.00.

MKS Stock Performance

MKSI traded down $0.10 during trading hours on Tuesday, hitting $99.44. The stock had a trading volume of 215,982 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,198,343. The stock has a market cap of $6.71 billion, a PE ratio of 29.65, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.12 and a beta of 1.88. MKS has a 1 year low of $54.84 and a 1 year high of $128.20. The company has a quick ratio of 1.96, a current ratio of 3.11 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.87. The company's fifty day simple moving average is $95.09 and its 200 day simple moving average is $92.00.

MKS (NASDAQ:MKSI - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, May 7th. The scientific and technical instruments company reported $1.71 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.42 by $0.29. The firm 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 company's revenue was up 7.8% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $1.18 EPS. Equities analysts anticipate that MKS will post 6.94 earnings per share for the current year.

MKS Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, June 6th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, May 27th were issued a dividend of $0.22 per share. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, May 27th. This represents a $0.88 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.88%. MKS's payout ratio is presently 26.27%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, EVP David Philip Henry sold 2,000 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, July 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $105.00, for a total value of $210,000.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president owned 20,571 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,159,955. This trade represents a 8.86% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Corporate insiders own 0.57% of the company's stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On MKS

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the company. Pictet Asset Management Holding SA grew its stake in shares of MKS by 1.0% during the 4th quarter. Pictet Asset Management Holding SA now owns 9,748 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock valued at $1,018,000 after purchasing an additional 94 shares during the period. Avantax Advisory Services Inc. raised its stake in shares of MKS by 4.7% in the fourth quarter. Avantax Advisory Services Inc. now owns 2,143 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock worth $224,000 after buying an additional 97 shares during the period. ProShare Advisors LLC lifted its position in shares of MKS by 1.0% during the 4th quarter. ProShare Advisors LLC now owns 11,943 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock valued at $1,247,000 after buying an additional 123 shares in the last quarter. Treasurer of the State of North Carolina grew its stake in shares of MKS by 0.6% during the 4th quarter. Treasurer of the State of North Carolina now owns 29,392 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock valued at $3,068,000 after acquiring an additional 180 shares during the period. Finally, Optimum Investment Advisors raised its stake in MKS by 66.7% during the 1st quarter. Optimum Investment Advisors now owns 500 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock worth $40,000 after acquiring an additional 200 shares during the period. 99.79% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

About MKS

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.