MKS Instruments (NASDAQ:MKSI) Receives Overweight Rating from Cantor Fitzgerald

Cantor Fitzgerald reaffirmed their overweight rating on shares of MKS Instruments (NASDAQ:MKSI) in a research note published on Thursday morning,Benzinga reports. They currently have a $140.00 price target on the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock.

Several other research firms have also recently issued reports on MKSI. JPMorgan Chase & Co. started coverage on MKS Instruments in a report on Friday, December 13th. They issued an “overweight” rating and a $145.00 price target on the stock. Morgan Stanley cut their target price on MKS Instruments from $155.00 to $150.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, December 16th. The Goldman Sachs Group decreased their price target on MKS Instruments from $143.00 to $128.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, January 10th. Needham & Company LLC restated a “buy” rating and set a $156.00 price objective on shares of MKS Instruments in a report on Wednesday, January 15th. Finally, Benchmark reiterated a “buy” rating and issued a $142.00 target price on shares of MKS Instruments in a report on Monday, November 18th. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nine have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $141.75.

MKS Instruments Price Performance

NASDAQ:MKSI opened at $103.84 on Thursday. The company has a quick ratio of 2.21, a current ratio of 3.42 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.98. The business’s 50-day moving average price is $110.99 and its 200 day moving average price is $110.50. MKS Instruments has a 52-week low of $97.54 and a 52-week high of $147.40. The firm has a market cap of $6.99 billion, a P/E ratio of 230.76, a PEG ratio of 0.55 and a beta of 1.66.

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 for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate 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 predict that MKS Instruments will post 6.34 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

MKS Instruments Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 7th. Shareholders of record on Monday, February 24th will be given 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 payout ratio is 195.56%.

Insider Activity at MKS Instruments

In other news, Director Elizabeth Mora sold 275 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Monday, December 2nd. The shares were 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 position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Also, Director Jacqueline F. Moloney sold 300 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Tuesday, December 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $114.80, for a total transaction of $34,440.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 9,983 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,146,048.40. This represents a 2.92 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 0.46% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Trading of MKS Instruments

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC raised its stake in shares of MKS Instruments by 68.6% in the 4th quarter. Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC now owns 263 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock valued at $27,000 after acquiring an additional 107 shares in the last quarter. TD Private Client Wealth LLC acquired a new position in MKS Instruments during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $39,000. 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. Versant Capital Management Inc lifted its stake in shares of MKS Instruments by 58.0% in the fourth 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 last quarter. Finally, Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB bought a new stake in shares of MKS Instruments during the 3rd quarter worth $50,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds 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.