MKS Instruments (NASDAQ:MKSI) Coverage Initiated at Cantor Fitzgerald

Cantor Fitzgerald assumed coverage on shares of MKS Instruments (NASDAQ:MKSI) in a report released on Tuesday morning, MarketBeat.com reports. The brokerage issued an overweight rating and a $140.00 price objective on the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock. Cantor Fitzgerald also issued estimates for MKS Instruments’ FY2024 earnings at $5.67 EPS.

Several other equities research analysts have also recently issued reports on MKSI. Needham & Company LLC lifted their price objective on shares of MKS Instruments from $153.00 to $156.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Friday, August 9th. TD Cowen lifted their price target on MKS Instruments from $150.00 to $160.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, June 12th. The Goldman Sachs Group began coverage on MKS Instruments in a report on Tuesday, September 3rd. They issued a neutral rating and a $129.00 price objective on the stock. KeyCorp boosted their target price on MKS Instruments from $150.00 to $160.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Friday, July 12th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft dropped their price target on shares of MKS Instruments from $140.00 to $120.00 and set a hold rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, August 9th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have given a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $144.20.

MKS Instruments Trading Down 3.8 %

NASDAQ:MKSI opened at $107.85 on Tuesday. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $120.10 and a 200 day moving average price of $124.30. The company has a current ratio of 3.58, a quick ratio of 2.31 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.16. MKS Instruments has a 12-month low of $63.44 and a 12-month high of $147.40. The firm has a market cap of $7.23 billion, a PE ratio of -4.04, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.73 and a beta of 1.64.

MKS Instruments (NASDAQ:MKSI) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, August 7th. The scientific and technical instruments company reported $1.53 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.02 by $0.51. The business had revenue of $887.00 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $866.38 million. MKS Instruments had a return on equity of 14.91% and a net margin of 0.25%. The business’s revenue for the quarter was down 11.6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $1.32 earnings per share. Sell-side analysts anticipate that MKS Instruments will post 5.58 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

MKS Instruments Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, September 6th. Shareholders of record on Monday, August 26th were paid a $0.22 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, August 26th. This represents a $0.88 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.82%. MKS Instruments’s dividend payout ratio is presently -3.30%.

Insider Activity

In related news, Director Jacqueline F. Moloney sold 250 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, August 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $123.46, for a total transaction of $30,865.00. Following the transaction, the director now owns 10,533 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,300,404.18. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. In other news, Director Elizabeth Mora sold 275 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Tuesday, September 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $115.97, for a total value of $31,891.75. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 17,934 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,079,805.98. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, Director Jacqueline F. Moloney sold 250 shares of MKS Instruments stock in a transaction dated Thursday, August 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $123.46, for a total transaction of $30,865.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now directly owns 10,533 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,300,404.18. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last three months, insiders sold 2,325 shares of company stock valued at $276,435. Insiders own 0.46% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in MKSI. Sanctuary Advisors LLC acquired a new position in MKS Instruments during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $1,288,000. Teachers Retirement System of The State of Kentucky boosted its stake in shares of MKS Instruments by 14.8% in the second quarter. Teachers Retirement System of The State of Kentucky now owns 32,231 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock valued at $4,209,000 after buying an additional 4,163 shares in the last quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers grew its holdings in MKS Instruments by 16.5% during the second quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 12,921 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock worth $1,687,000 after acquiring an additional 1,827 shares during the period. Point72 Asset Management L.P. acquired a new position in MKS Instruments during the second quarter worth $1,599,000. Finally, Quarry LP purchased a new position in MKS Instruments in the second quarter worth $39,000. 99.79% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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.