MKS Instruments (NASDAQ:MKSI) Shares Gap Up on Earnings Beat

MKS Instruments, Inc. (NASDAQ:MKSI - Get Free Report) gapped up before the market opened on Thursday following a better than expected earnings announcement. The stock had previously closed at $123.38, but opened at $129.75. MKS Instruments shares last traded at $124.16, with a volume of 46,696 shares changing hands.

The scientific and technical instruments company reported $1.18 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.75 by $0.43. The company had revenue of $868.00 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $848.94 million. MKS Instruments had a negative net margin of 50.80% and a positive return on equity of 9.95%. The firm's quarterly revenue was up 9.3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $0.48 earnings per share.

MKS Instruments Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 7th. Investors of record on Tuesday, May 28th will be given a dividend of $0.22 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, May 24th. This represents a $0.88 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.69%. MKS Instruments's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently -3.19%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities analysts have issued reports on the stock. TheStreet upgraded shares of MKS Instruments from a "d+" rating to a "c-" rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 23rd. StockNews.com raised shares of MKS Instruments from a "sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Thursday, February 15th. Benchmark boosted their target price on shares of MKS Instruments from $85.00 to $130.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research note on Friday, February 9th. KeyCorp raised their price target on MKS Instruments from $115.00 to $140.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research note on Friday, February 9th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company increased their target price on MKS Instruments from $115.00 to $120.00 and gave the company an "equal weight" rating in a report on Tuesday, April 2nd. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $128.75.

Insider Transactions at MKS Instruments

In related news, CFO Seth H. Bagshaw sold 32,865 shares of MKS Instruments stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $123.28, for a total transaction of $4,051,597.20. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 1 shares in the company, valued at $123.28. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. In other MKS Instruments news, CFO Seth H. Bagshaw sold 32,865 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $123.28, for a total transaction of $4,051,597.20. Following the sale, the chief financial officer now owns 1 shares in the company, valued at approximately $123.28. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, Director Gerard G. Colella sold 10,000 shares of the company's stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $120.00, for a total transaction of $1,200,000.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 68,017 shares of the company's stock, valued at $8,162,040. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 50,776 shares of company stock worth $6,226,307 in the last three months. Corporate insiders own 0.51% of the company's stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On MKS Instruments

A number of institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of MKSI. SG Americas Securities LLC bought a new stake in MKS Instruments during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $131,000. Xponance Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of MKS Instruments by 5.3% in the third quarter. Xponance Inc. now owns 7,673 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock worth $664,000 after buying an additional 389 shares in the last quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp grew its stake in MKS Instruments by 3.8% during the third quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 1,215,195 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock valued at $105,163,000 after acquiring an additional 44,775 shares in the last quarter. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank grew its stake in MKS Instruments by 11.3% during the third quarter. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank now owns 11,333 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock valued at $981,000 after acquiring an additional 1,147 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Strs Ohio lifted its stake in MKS Instruments by 31.9% in the 3rd quarter. Strs Ohio now owns 95,414 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock worth $8,257,000 after purchasing an additional 23,082 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 99.79% of the company's stock.

MKS Instruments Price Performance

The firm has a market cap of $8.56 billion, a P/E ratio of -4.48, a P/E/G ratio of 4.01 and a beta of 1.69. The firm's fifty day simple moving average is $123.74 and its 200 day simple moving average is $105.06. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.90, a quick ratio of 2.01 and a current ratio of 3.18.

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.