MKS Instruments (NASDAQ:MKSI) Given New $147.00 Price Target at Morgan Stanley

MKS Instruments (NASDAQ:MKSI) had its target price cut by Morgan Stanley from $150.00 to $147.00 in a research report released on Friday morning,Benzinga reports. They currently have an overweight rating on the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock.

Several other research firms also recently issued reports on MKSI. JPMorgan Chase & Co. began coverage on MKS Instruments in a report on Friday, December 13th. They set an “overweight” rating and a $145.00 price objective on the stock. Needham & Company LLC lowered their target price on MKS Instruments from $156.00 to $145.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday. Benchmark reaffirmed a “buy” rating and set a $142.00 target price on shares of MKS Instruments in a research note on Monday, November 18th. The Goldman Sachs Group lifted their target price on MKS Instruments from $128.00 to $129.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Friday. Finally, Citigroup raised MKS Instruments from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $130.00 target price on the stock in a research note on Monday, January 6th. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nine have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $140.08.

MKS Instruments Price Performance

NASDAQ MKSI opened at $103.67 on Friday. The stock’s 50-day moving average price is $110.77 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $110.36. The company has a current ratio of 3.42, a quick ratio of 2.21 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.98. The company has a market cap of $6.98 billion, a PE ratio of 230.38, a PEG ratio of 0.55 and a beta of 1.66. MKS Instruments has a 1 year low of $97.54 and a 1 year high of $147.40.

MKS Instruments (NASDAQ:MKSI) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 12th. The scientific and technical instruments company reported $2.15 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.92 by $0.23. MKS Instruments had a return on equity of 15.79% and a net margin of 0.90%. On average, analysts predict that MKS Instruments will post 6.34 EPS for the current year.

MKS Instruments Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 7th. Investors of record on Monday, February 24th will be issued a $0.22 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Monday, February 24th. This represents a $0.88 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.85%. MKS Instruments’s dividend payout ratio is currently 195.56%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other MKS Instruments news, Director Elizabeth Mora sold 275 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, December 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $113.41, for a total transaction of $31,187.75. Following the transaction, the director now owns 17,659 shares in the company, valued at $2,002,707.19. This trade represents a 1.53 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, Director Jacqueline F. Moloney sold 300 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, December 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $114.80, for a total value of $34,440.00. Following the transaction, the director now owns 9,983 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,146,048.40. This trade represents a 2.92 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.46% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On MKS Instruments

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in MKSI. Madison Investment Advisors LLC acquired a new position in MKS Instruments during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $97,494,000. Norges Bank bought a new stake in shares of MKS Instruments in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $85,451,000. Barclays PLC boosted its position in shares of MKS Instruments by 108.6% in the third quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 1,019,134 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock valued at $110,789,000 after acquiring an additional 530,620 shares during the period. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. boosted its position in shares of MKS Instruments by 3,444.0% in the fourth quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. now owns 300,711 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock valued at $31,391,000 after acquiring an additional 292,226 shares during the period. Finally, Raymond James Financial Inc. bought a new stake in shares of MKS Instruments in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $28,312,000. 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.