MKS Instruments (NASDAQ:MKSI) Price Target Raised to $100.00

MKS Instruments (NASDAQ:MKSI) had its target price raised by Morgan Stanley from $93.00 to $100.00 in a report released on Friday morning,Benzinga reports. Morgan Stanley currently has an overweight rating on the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock.

Other research analysts have also recently issued reports about the stock. Needham & Company LLC reduced their price objective on shares of MKS Instruments from $145.00 to $140.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Friday, May 9th. Benchmark cut their price target on shares of MKS Instruments from $142.00 to $135.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, February 14th. The Goldman Sachs Group boosted their price target on shares of MKS Instruments from $128.00 to $129.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a report on Friday, February 14th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upgraded shares of MKS Instruments from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $110.00 price target on the stock in a report on Tuesday, May 20th. Finally, Cantor Fitzgerald restated an “overweight” rating and set a $140.00 price target on shares of MKS Instruments in a report on Thursday, February 13th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, ten have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, MKS Instruments presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $134.92.

MKS Instruments Stock Down 1.3%

Shares of NASDAQ MKSI opened at $83.82 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $5.65 billion, a P/E ratio of 29.94, a P/E/G ratio of 1.02 and a beta of 1.80. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $76.58 and a 200-day moving average price of $96.17. MKS Instruments has a 1 year low of $54.84 and a 1 year high of $147.40. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.93, a current ratio of 3.19 and a quick ratio of 2.04.

MKS Instruments (NASDAQ:MKSI) last issued 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. The firm had revenue of $936.00 million during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $913.59 million. MKS Instruments had a net margin of 5.30% and a return on equity of 18.94%. The business’s revenue was up 7.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the company earned $1.18 earnings per share. On average, equities research analysts forecast that MKS Instruments will post 6.94 EPS for the current fiscal year.

MKS Instruments Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 6th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, May 27th will be given a $0.22 dividend. This represents a $0.88 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.05%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, May 27th. MKS Instruments’s dividend payout ratio is 26.27%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, Director Elizabeth Mora sold 275 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $92.46, for a total value of $25,426.50. Following the sale, the director now owns 17,384 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,607,324.64. The trade was a 1.56% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Insiders own 0.57% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Trading of MKS Instruments

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of MKSI. Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC raised its position in shares of MKS Instruments by 68.6% in the fourth quarter. Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC now owns 263 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock valued at $27,000 after purchasing an additional 107 shares during the period. Proficio Capital Partners LLC bought a new stake in shares of MKS Instruments in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $36,000. TD Private Client Wealth LLC bought a new stake in shares of MKS Instruments in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $39,000. Optimum Investment Advisors raised its position in shares of MKS Instruments by 66.7% in the first quarter. Optimum Investment Advisors now owns 500 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock valued at $40,000 after purchasing an additional 200 shares during the period. Finally, Blue Trust Inc. raised its position in shares of MKS Instruments by 424.1% in the fourth quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 414 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock valued at $45,000 after purchasing an additional 335 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 99.79% of the company’s stock.

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.