MKS (NASDAQ:MKSI) Issues Q1 2026 Earnings Guidance

MKS (NASDAQ:MKSI) updated its first quarter 2026 earnings guidance on Tuesday. The company provided earnings per share guidance of 1.720-2.280 for the period, compared to the consensus earnings per share estimate of 1.880. The company issued revenue guidance of $1.0 billion-$1.1 billion, compared to the consensus revenue estimate of $1.0 billion.

MKS Stock Up 0.8%

NASDAQ MKSI traded up $2.20 during trading on Tuesday, reaching $262.94. 3,494,198 shares of the company’s stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,651,667. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $197.54 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $152.24. The stock has a market cap of $17.66 billion, a P/E ratio of 63.82, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.81 and a beta of 1.95. MKS has a 1 year low of $54.84 and a 1 year high of $269.91. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.64, a quick ratio of 1.81 and a current ratio of 2.86.

MKS (NASDAQ:MKSI) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 17th. The scientific and technical instruments company reported $2.47 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.25 by $0.22. MKS had a net margin of 7.25% and a return on equity of 20.80%. MKS has set its Q1 2026 guidance at 1.720-2.280 EPS. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that MKS will post 6.94 EPS for the current fiscal year.

MKS Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 6th. Stockholders of record on Monday, February 23rd will be given a dividend of $0.25 per share. This represents a $1.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.4%. This is an increase from MKS’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.22. The ex-dividend date is Monday, February 23rd. MKS’s payout ratio is presently 24.27%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

MKSI has been the topic of several research analyst reports. Citigroup lifted their price target on MKS from $122.00 to $185.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, November 12th. Morgan Stanley upped their price target on shares of MKS from $187.00 to $258.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Thursday, January 22nd. Weiss Ratings reiterated a “hold (c)” rating on shares of MKS in a research note on Thursday, January 22nd. Benchmark lifted their price objective on shares of MKS from $135.00 to $180.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, November 7th. Finally, Mizuho set a $260.00 target price on shares of MKS in a report on Wednesday, January 28th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, ten have given a Buy rating, two have issued a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $231.50.

Insider Transactions at MKS

In related news, Director Elizabeth Mora sold 300 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, December 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $158.81, for a total value of $47,643.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director owned 18,963 shares in the company, valued at $3,011,514.03. This trade represents a 1.56% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. 0.57% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Trading of MKS

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of MKSI. Global Retirement Partners LLC boosted its position in shares of MKS by 560.0% in the fourth quarter. Global Retirement Partners LLC now owns 165 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock worth $26,000 after acquiring an additional 140 shares during the last quarter. Danske Bank A S purchased a new position in MKS in the third quarter valued at about $37,000. Kestra Advisory Services LLC purchased a new position in shares of MKS during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $41,000. CIBC Private Wealth Group LLC grew its holdings in MKS by 55.2% during the 4th quarter. CIBC Private Wealth Group LLC now owns 256 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock worth $41,000 after acquiring an additional 91 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Los Angeles Capital Management LLC acquired a new position in MKS in the fourth quarter worth about $47,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 99.79% of the company’s stock.

MKS Company Profile

MKS Instruments, Inc (NASDAQ: MKSI) designs, manufactures and markets technology solutions that enable advanced processes in a variety of high‐technology and industrial markets. The company’s core offerings include vacuum and gas delivery systems, pressure and flow measurement instruments, optical metrology tools, photonics subsystems and critical components for manufacturing processes. These products support the precise control and monitoring needs of semiconductor, industrial manufacturing, life and health sciences, and research applications.

The company’s product portfolio features mass flow controllers, pressure transducers, vacuum gauges, gas purity monitors, laser-based metrology systems and photonic devices such as lasers and detectors.