MKS Instruments, Inc. provides instruments, systems, subsystems, and process control solutions that measure, monitor, deliver, analyze, power, and control critical parameters of manufacturing processes worldwide. Its Vacuum & Analysis segment offers pressure and vacuum control solutions, including direct and indirect pressure measurement; materials delivery solutions comprising flow and valve technologies, as well as integrated pressure measurement and control subsystems, which provide customers with precise control capabilities; power solutions products, such as microwave, power delivery systems, radio frequency matching networks, and metrology products used in providing energy to etching, stripping, and deposition processes; and plasma and reactive gas products. Its Light & Motion segment offers laser products, such as continuous wave and pulsed nanosecond, diode and diode-pumped solid-state, and fiber laser technologies; and photonics products comprising motion control, optical tables and vibration isolation systems, photonic instruments, optics and optical assemblies, opto-mechanical components, temperature sensing products for wafer fabrication systems, and laser and LED measurement products, including laser power and energy meters, laser beam profilers, and optical and photonic subsystems. Its Equipment & Solutions segment provides laser-based systems for printed circuit board (PCB) manufacturing, including flexible interconnect PCB processing systems and high-density interconnect solutions for rigid PCB manufacturing and substrate processing, and multi-layer ceramic capacitor test systems. It serves semiconductor, industrial technologies, life and health sciences, research, and defense markets. It sells its products and services through its direct sales organization, independent distributors, and sales representatives, as well as through its websites and product catalogs. The company was incorporated in 1961 and is headquartered in Andover, Massachusetts.
MKS Instruments Trading Up 4.4 %
Shares of NASDAQ:MKSI traded up $4.92 during midday trading on Wednesday, reaching $115.62. 26,046 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 577,485. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $108.65 and a 200 day simple moving average of $126.70. The stock has a market capitalization of $6.44 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.11 and a beta of 1.55. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.26, a quick ratio of 3.63 and a current ratio of 5.14. MKS Instruments has a twelve month low of $92.65 and a twelve month high of $181.03.
MKS Instruments (NASDAQ:MKSI - Get Rating) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, July 27th. The scientific and technical instruments company reported $2.59 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.31 by $0.28. MKS Instruments had a net margin of 18.44% and a return on equity of 21.04%. The firm had revenue of $765.00 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $733.55 million. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $3.02 EPS. The firm's revenue for the quarter was up 2.0% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities analysts expect that MKS Instruments will post 10.74 earnings per share for the current year.
MKS Instruments Announces Dividend
The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, September 9th. Investors of record on Monday, August 8th will be issued a $0.22 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, August 5th. This represents a $0.88 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.76%. MKS Instruments's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 8.84%.
Wall Street Analyst Weigh In
A number of equities analysts recently weighed in on the stock. StockNews.com lowered shares of MKS Instruments from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Friday, August 5th. TheStreet cut MKS Instruments from a "b-" rating to a "c+" rating in a report on Tuesday, July 12th. Citigroup reduced their price target on MKS Instruments from $170.00 to $140.00 in a report on Thursday, April 28th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft dropped their price objective on shares of MKS Instruments from $150.00 to $125.00 in a report on Monday, July 18th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus cut their price objective on shares of MKS Instruments from $242.00 to $230.00 in a research report on Thursday, July 28th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $163.57.
Insider Activity at MKS Instruments
In related news, Director Peter Cannone III bought 250 shares of the company's stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, August 1st. The stock was purchased at an average price of $120.06 per share, for a total transaction of $30,015.00. Following the acquisition, the director now owns 3,142 shares of the company's stock, valued at $377,228.52. The acquisition was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. 0.46% of the stock is owned by insiders.
