MKS Instruments (NASDAQ:MKSI) Price Target Cut to $135.00 by Analysts at Benchmark

MKS Instruments (NASDAQ:MKSI) had its price objective lowered by Benchmark from $142.00 to $135.00 in a report released on Friday,Benzinga reports. The firm currently has a “buy” rating on the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock. Benchmark’s price target would indicate a potential upside of 29.58% from the company’s current price.

Several other brokerages also recently commented on MKSI. The Goldman Sachs Group boosted their target price on MKS Instruments from $128.00 to $129.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a report on Friday. Needham & Company LLC reduced their price objective on MKS Instruments from $156.00 to $145.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday. Cantor Fitzgerald restated an “overweight” rating and set a $140.00 target price on shares of MKS Instruments in a report on Thursday. Morgan Stanley cut their price target on MKS Instruments from $150.00 to $147.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Friday. Finally, Citigroup raised shares of MKS Instruments from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $130.00 price objective on the stock in a report on Monday, January 6th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nine have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $140.08.

MKS Instruments Price Performance

MKS Instruments stock traded up $0.34 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $104.18. 343,623 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 865,128. The company has a market capitalization of $7.01 billion, a PE ratio of 231.75, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.55 and a beta of 1.66. The business has a fifty day moving average of $110.99 and a 200 day moving average of $110.50. MKS Instruments has a 1-year low of $97.54 and a 1-year high of $147.40. The company has a quick ratio of 2.21, a current ratio of 3.42 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.98.

MKS Instruments (NASDAQ:MKSI) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, February 12th. The scientific and technical instruments company reported $2.15 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.92 by $0.23. MKS Instruments had a net margin of 0.90% and a return on equity of 15.79%. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that MKS Instruments will post 6.34 earnings per share for the current year.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other MKS Instruments news, Director Elizabeth Mora sold 275 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated 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 approximately $2,002,707.19. This trade represents a 1.53 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, Director Jacqueline F. Moloney sold 300 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, December 10th. The stock was 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 of the company’s stock, valued at $1,146,048.40. The trade was a 2.92 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.46% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC raised its holdings in 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 worth $27,000 after purchasing an additional 107 shares during the period. Proficio Capital Partners LLC acquired a new position in shares of MKS Instruments in the 4th quarter valued at $36,000. TD Private Client Wealth LLC bought a new stake in shares of MKS Instruments in the 4th quarter valued at $39,000. Versant Capital Management Inc raised its stake in MKS Instruments by 58.0% during the 4th quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc now owns 433 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock worth $45,000 after buying an additional 159 shares during the period. Finally, Blue Trust Inc. lifted its holdings in MKS Instruments by 424.1% during the fourth quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 414 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock worth $45,000 after acquiring an additional 335 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors 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.