MKS Instruments (NASDAQ:MKSI) Given Buy Rating at Benchmark

MKS Instruments (NASDAQ:MKSI - Get Free Report)'s stock had its "buy" rating reiterated by Benchmark in a research report issued on Friday, Benzinga reports. They presently have a $142.00 target price on the scientific and technical instruments company's stock. Benchmark's price objective would indicate a potential upside of 8.81% from the stock's previous close.

A number of other equities analysts have also weighed in on MKSI. Needham & Company LLC boosted their price target on shares of MKS Instruments from $125.00 to $145.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Friday. StockNews.com raised MKS Instruments from a "sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Thursday, February 15th. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price objective on MKS Instruments from $115.00 to $120.00 and gave the stock an "equal weight" rating in a research note on Tuesday, April 2nd. TheStreet raised MKS Instruments from a "d+" rating to a "c-" rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 23rd. Finally, KeyCorp lifted their price target on shares of MKS Instruments from $115.00 to $140.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research report on Friday, February 9th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $136.75.

MKS Instruments Stock Performance

MKSI traded up $2.88 on Friday, reaching $130.50. 640,678 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 635,338. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.90, a current ratio of 3.18 and a quick ratio of 2.01. The company's 50-day moving average price is $123.83 and its 200 day moving average price is $105.21. The firm has a market capitalization of $8.75 billion, a PE ratio of -4.68, a PEG ratio of 4.01 and a beta of 1.69. MKS Instruments has a fifty-two week low of $63.44 and a fifty-two week high of $135.51.

MKS Instruments (NASDAQ:MKSI - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, May 8th. The scientific and technical instruments company reported $1.18 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $0.75 by $0.43. The firm had revenue of $868.00 million for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $848.94 million. MKS Instruments had a positive return on equity of 9.95% and a negative net margin of 50.80%. The company's quarterly revenue was up 9.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the firm earned $0.48 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts forecast that MKS Instruments will post 4.54 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insider Transactions at MKS Instruments

In other MKS Instruments news, Director Elizabeth Mora sold 250 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Monday, April 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $133.00, for a total transaction of $33,250.00. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 16,862 shares in the company, valued at $2,242,646. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. In related news, CFO Seth H. Bagshaw sold 32,865 shares of MKS Instruments stock in a transaction that occurred 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 completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 1 shares in the company, valued at approximately $123.28. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, Director Elizabeth Mora sold 250 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, April 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $133.00, for a total value of $33,250.00. Following the sale, the director now owns 16,862 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,242,646. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 40,776 shares of company stock valued at $5,026,307 in the last ninety days. 0.51% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On MKS Instruments

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in MKSI. Atlas Capital Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of MKS Instruments during the first quarter worth about $25,000. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC purchased a new stake in shares of MKS Instruments during the 1st quarter valued at about $25,000. Rise Advisors LLC acquired a new position in MKS Instruments during the 1st quarter worth approximately $26,000. Mendota Financial Group LLC purchased a new position in MKS Instruments in the 4th quarter worth approximately $27,000. Finally, GAMMA Investing LLC acquired a new stake in MKS Instruments in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $35,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds 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.

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