MKS Instruments (NASDAQ:MKSI) Price Target Lowered to $128.00 at The Goldman Sachs Group

MKS Instruments (NASDAQ:MKSI) had its price objective trimmed by The Goldman Sachs Group from $143.00 to $128.00 in a research note issued to investors on Friday,Benzinga reports. The brokerage currently has a neutral rating on the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock.

Several other research analysts have also recently issued reports on the stock. Mizuho upgraded shares of MKS Instruments to a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Monday, October 7th. Citigroup raised shares of MKS Instruments from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $130.00 price objective for the company in a research note on Monday, January 6th. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their target price on shares of MKS Instruments from $120.00 to $110.00 and set an “equal weight” rating for the company in a report on Thursday, October 3rd. Morgan Stanley reduced their price target on MKS Instruments from $155.00 to $150.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a report on Monday, December 16th. Finally, Benchmark reiterated a “buy” rating and issued a $142.00 price objective on shares of MKS Instruments in a report on Monday, November 18th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nine have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $141.75.

MKS Instruments Price Performance

Shares of MKS Instruments stock opened at $109.07 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.98, a quick ratio of 2.21 and a current ratio of 3.42. MKS Instruments has a 52-week low of $97.54 and a 52-week high of $147.40. The company has a fifty day moving average of $110.02 and a 200-day moving average of $113.91. The stock has a market capitalization of $7.34 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 242.38, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.66 and a beta of 1.66.

MKS Instruments (NASDAQ:MKSI) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, November 6th. The scientific and technical instruments company reported $1.72 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.45 by $0.27. MKS Instruments had a return on equity of 15.79% and a net margin of 0.90%. The firm had revenue of $896.00 million for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $874.29 million. During the same period last year, the firm earned $1.46 earnings per share. The company’s revenue for the quarter was down 3.9% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities research analysts expect that MKS Instruments will post 6.33 EPS for the current year.

MKS Instruments Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, December 6th. Shareholders of record on Monday, November 25th were paid a dividend of $0.22 per share. This represents a $0.88 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.81%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, November 25th. MKS Instruments’s payout ratio is 195.56%.

Insider Transactions at MKS Instruments

In related news, Director Elizabeth Mora sold 275 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, December 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $113.41, for a total value of $31,187.75. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 17,659 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $2,002,707.19. This represents a 1.53 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, Director Jacqueline F. Moloney sold 300 shares of MKS Instruments stock in a transaction on Tuesday, December 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $114.80, for a total value of $34,440.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now directly owns 9,983 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,146,048.40. The trade was a 2.92 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 0.51% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On MKS Instruments

Institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. Massmutual Trust Co. FSB ADV lifted its stake in MKS Instruments by 196.9% during the 3rd quarter. Massmutual Trust Co. FSB ADV now owns 288 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock valued at $31,000 after acquiring an additional 191 shares during the period. Quarry LP bought a new position in MKS Instruments during the second quarter valued at approximately $39,000. BOKF NA purchased a new stake in MKS Instruments in the second quarter worth approximately $39,000. Meeder Asset Management Inc. bought a new stake in MKS Instruments in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $43,000. Finally, UMB Bank n.a. raised its stake in MKS Instruments by 53.7% during the 3rd quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 349 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock valued at $38,000 after buying an additional 122 shares during the last quarter. 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.