MKS Instruments (NASDAQ:MKSI) Price Target Lowered to $120.00 at Wells Fargo & Company

MKS Instruments (NASDAQ:MKSI) had its price objective trimmed by Wells Fargo & Company from $135.00 to $120.00 in a research report released on Friday morning, Benzinga reports. The firm currently has an equal weight rating on the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock.

Several other equities research analysts have also commented on MKSI. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft restated a hold rating and set a $140.00 price target on shares of MKS Instruments in a research note on Thursday, June 20th. Bank of America began coverage on MKS Instruments in a report on Wednesday, July 10th. They set a buy rating and a $160.00 target price on the stock. KeyCorp lifted their price objective on shares of MKS Instruments from $150.00 to $160.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Friday, July 12th. Needham & Company LLC lifted their price objective on shares of MKS Instruments from $153.00 to $156.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Friday. Finally, Benchmark reiterated a buy rating and set a $142.00 price objective on shares of MKS Instruments in a research note on Thursday. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have issued a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $146.63.

MKS Instruments Price Performance

Shares of NASDAQ:MKSI traded down $1.84 on Friday, hitting $108.13. The company had a trading volume of 830,675 shares, compared to its average volume of 822,260. The company has a current ratio of 3.69, a quick ratio of 2.34 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.94. MKS Instruments has a 52-week low of $63.44 and a 52-week high of $147.40. The business has a 50 day moving average of $128.44 and a 200 day moving average of $124.57. The company has a market cap of $7.25 billion, a PE ratio of -4.05, a PEG ratio of 1.18 and a beta of 1.65.

MKS Instruments (NASDAQ:MKSI) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, August 7th. The scientific and technical instruments company reported $1.53 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.02 by $0.51. MKS Instruments had a positive return on equity of 13.90% and a negative net margin of 48.24%. The firm had revenue of $887.00 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $866.38 million. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $1.32 earnings per share. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was down 11.6% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that MKS Instruments will post 4.98 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

MKS Instruments Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, September 6th. Shareholders of record on Monday, August 26th will be issued a $0.22 dividend. This represents a $0.88 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.81%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, August 26th. MKS Instruments’s dividend payout ratio is presently -3.30%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other MKS Instruments news, Director Jacqueline F. Moloney sold 250 shares of MKS Instruments stock in a transaction on Thursday, August 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $123.46, for a total value of $30,865.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 10,533 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,300,404.18. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. In related news, Director Elizabeth Mora sold 275 shares of MKS Instruments stock in a transaction dated Monday, June 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $129.41, for a total transaction of $35,587.75. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 18,209 shares in the company, valued at $2,356,426.69. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, Director Jacqueline F. Moloney sold 250 shares of MKS Instruments stock in a transaction dated Thursday, August 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $123.46, for a total transaction of $30,865.00. Following the sale, the director now owns 10,533 shares in the company, valued at $1,300,404.18. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.46% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On MKS Instruments

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of MKSI. Atlas Capital Advisors LLC bought a new stake in MKS Instruments in the first quarter worth about $25,000. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC purchased a new position in MKS Instruments in the 1st quarter worth about $25,000. Rise Advisors LLC purchased a new position in MKS Instruments in the 1st quarter worth about $26,000. GAMMA Investing LLC purchased a new position in MKS Instruments in the 4th quarter worth about $35,000. Finally, Quest Partners LLC purchased a new position in MKS Instruments in the 4th quarter worth about $37,000. 99.79% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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.