MKS Instruments (NASDAQ:MKSI) Upgraded at Citigroup

MKS Instruments (NASDAQ:MKSI) was upgraded by stock analysts at Citigroup from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report issued to clients and investors on Monday, Marketbeat reports. The brokerage currently has a $130.00 price target on the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock. Citigroup’s target price indicates a potential upside of 15.19% from the company’s current price.

Other analysts also recently issued research reports about the company. Mizuho upgraded MKS Instruments to a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Monday, October 7th. Cantor Fitzgerald assumed coverage on MKS Instruments in a research report on Tuesday, September 10th. They issued an “overweight” rating and a $140.00 price target for the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. began coverage on shares of MKS Instruments in a research note on Friday, December 13th. They set an “overweight” rating and a $145.00 price objective for the company. Benchmark reiterated a “buy” rating and issued a $142.00 target price on shares of MKS Instruments in a research note on Monday, November 18th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company decreased their price objective 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. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nine have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $141.83.

MKS Instruments Price Performance

MKSI stock opened at $112.86 on Monday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.98, a current ratio of 3.42 and a quick ratio of 2.21. MKS Instruments has a 1 year low of $97.54 and a 1 year high of $147.40. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $109.61 and a 200 day moving average of $113.95. The company has a market cap of $7.60 billion, a P/E ratio of 250.80, a PEG ratio of 0.66 and a beta of 1.66.

MKS Instruments (NASDAQ:MKSI) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, November 6th. The scientific and technical instruments company reported $1.72 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.45 by $0.27. MKS Instruments had a net margin of 0.90% and a return on equity of 15.79%. The firm had revenue of $896.00 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $874.29 million. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $1.46 EPS. The company’s revenue was down 3.9% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, sell-side analysts forecast that MKS Instruments will post 6.33 EPS for the current year.

Insider Buying and Selling at MKS Instruments

In related news, Director Elizabeth Mora sold 275 shares of MKS Instruments stock in a transaction on 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 directly owns 17,659 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,002,707.19. The trade was a 1.53 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, Director Jacqueline F. Moloney sold 300 shares of the company’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 completion of the sale, the director now 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. 0.51% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On MKS Instruments

A number of hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of MKSI. Massmutual Trust Co. FSB ADV boosted its holdings in MKS Instruments by 196.9% in the 3rd quarter. Massmutual Trust Co. FSB ADV now owns 288 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock worth $31,000 after buying an additional 191 shares during the period. Quarry LP bought a new stake in MKS Instruments during the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $39,000. BOKF NA purchased a new position in MKS Instruments in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $39,000. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC grew its holdings in MKS Instruments by 62.6% during the 2nd quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC now owns 309 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock valued at $40,000 after buying an additional 119 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Meeder Asset Management Inc. purchased a new position in shares of MKS Instruments in the second quarter worth $43,000. 99.79% of the stock is currently owned by 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.