MKS Instruments (NASDAQ:MKSI) Upgraded to “Buy” at Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft

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

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

MKS Instruments Stock Up 1.2%

MKSI 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 debt-to-equity ratio of 1.93, a quick ratio of 2.04 and a current ratio of 3.19. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $76.76 and a 200 day moving average price of $96.66. The firm 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.

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

MKS Instruments Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 6th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, May 27th will be given a $0.22 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, May 27th. This represents a $0.88 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.98%. MKS Instruments’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 26.27%.

Insider Transactions at MKS Instruments

In related news, Director Elizabeth Mora sold 275 shares of MKS Instruments stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 3rd. The stock was 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 directly owns 17,384 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,607,324.64. The trade was a 1.56% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Company insiders own 0.57% of the company’s stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On MKS Instruments

A number of institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of MKSI. Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC raised its position in 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 worth $27,000 after purchasing an additional 107 shares during the last quarter. Proficio Capital Partners LLC bought a new stake in shares of MKS Instruments during the fourth quarter worth $36,000. TD Private Client Wealth LLC acquired a new position in shares of MKS Instruments during the fourth quarter valued at $39,000. Optimum Investment Advisors boosted its holdings in MKS Instruments by 66.7% in the first quarter. Optimum Investment Advisors now owns 500 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock valued at $40,000 after acquiring an additional 200 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Blue Trust Inc. boosted its holdings in 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 acquiring an additional 335 shares during the last quarter. 99.79% of the stock is 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.