MKS Instruments (NASDAQ:MKSI) Stock Rating Upgraded by Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft

Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upgraded shares of MKS Instruments (NASDAQ:MKSI) from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report report published on Tuesday morning, Marketbeat Ratings reports. They currently have $110.00 target price on the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock.

MKSI has been the subject of a number of other research reports. The Goldman Sachs Group boosted their price objective on shares of MKS Instruments from $128.00 to $129.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a report on Friday, February 14th. Morgan Stanley increased their target price on shares of MKS Instruments from $85.00 to $93.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Friday, May 9th. Cantor Fitzgerald reissued an “overweight” rating and issued a $140.00 price target on shares of MKS Instruments in a report on Thursday, February 13th. Benchmark dropped their price objective on MKS Instruments from $142.00 to $135.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, February 14th. Finally, Needham & Company LLC decreased their target price on MKS Instruments from $145.00 to $140.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Friday, May 9th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, ten have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $134.33.

MKS Instruments Stock Performance

MKSI stock opened at $89.56 on Tuesday. MKS Instruments has a twelve month low of $54.84 and a twelve month high of $147.40. The company has a quick ratio of 2.04, a current ratio of 3.19 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.93. The company has a market cap of $6.04 billion, a P/E ratio of 31.99, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.02 and a beta of 1.80. The business’s fifty day moving average is $76.76 and its 200-day moving average is $96.66.

MKS Instruments (NASDAQ:MKSI) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, May 7th. The scientific and technical instruments company reported $1.71 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.42 by $0.29. The firm had revenue of $936.00 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $913.59 million. MKS Instruments had a return on equity of 18.94% and a net margin of 5.30%. The company’s quarterly revenue was up 7.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $1.18 earnings per share. Equities research analysts forecast that MKS Instruments will post 6.94 EPS for the current year.

MKS Instruments Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 6th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, May 27th will be given a dividend of $0.22 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, May 27th. This represents a $0.88 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.98%. MKS Instruments’s dividend payout ratio is currently 26.27%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, Director Elizabeth Mora sold 275 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Monday, March 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $92.46, for a total value of $25,426.50. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 17,384 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,607,324.64. This trade represents a 1.56% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. 0.57% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On MKS Instruments

Large investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC raised its holdings in MKS Instruments by 3.6% during the first quarter. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC now owns 267,421 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock worth $21,434,000 after acquiring an additional 9,170 shares in the last quarter. United Services Automobile Association acquired a new position in shares of MKS Instruments during the 1st quarter worth approximately $342,000. Dynamic Technology Lab Private Ltd bought a new stake in shares of MKS Instruments during the 1st quarter worth approximately $939,000. NFJ Investment Group LLC grew its stake in shares of MKS Instruments by 344.5% in the first quarter. NFJ Investment Group LLC now owns 60,094 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock valued at $4,817,000 after buying an additional 46,575 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Nissay Asset Management Corp Japan ADV increased its holdings in MKS Instruments by 8.6% during the first quarter. Nissay Asset Management Corp Japan ADV now owns 40,366 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock worth $3,235,000 after buying an additional 3,210 shares during the last quarter. 99.79% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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.