MKS Instruments (NASDAQ:MKSI) Coverage Initiated at JPMorgan Chase & Co.

JPMorgan Chase & Co. started coverage on shares of MKS Instruments (NASDAQ:MKSI) in a research report issued on Friday,Benzinga reports. The brokerage set an “overweight” rating and a $145.00 price target on the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co.‘s price target would indicate a potential upside of 28.43% from the stock’s current price.

Other analysts have also recently issued research reports about the stock. Mizuho raised shares of MKS Instruments to a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Monday, October 7th. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their target price on shares of MKS Instruments from $120.00 to $110.00 and set an “equal weight” rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, October 3rd. The Goldman Sachs Group assumed coverage on shares of MKS Instruments in a research note on Tuesday, September 3rd. They set a “neutral” rating and a $129.00 target price on the stock. Citigroup cut shares of MKS Instruments from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating and decreased their target price for the stock from $145.00 to $120.00 in a research note on Monday, September 16th. Finally, Cantor Fitzgerald began coverage on shares of MKS Instruments in a report on Tuesday, September 10th. They set an “overweight” rating and a $140.00 price target on the stock. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eight have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, MKS Instruments currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $141.42.

MKS Instruments Stock Down 0.6 %

Shares of MKSI opened at $112.90 on Friday. MKS Instruments has a 12 month low of $85.25 and a 12 month high of $147.40. The firm’s 50 day moving average is $108.52 and its 200-day moving average is $117.17. The stock has a market capitalization of $7.60 billion, a PE ratio of 250.89, a P/E/G ratio of 0.66 and a beta of 1.65. The company has a current ratio of 3.42, a quick ratio of 2.21 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.98.

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. The business had revenue of $896.00 million for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $874.29 million. MKS Instruments had a net margin of 0.90% and a return on equity of 15.79%. The firm’s quarterly revenue was down 3.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the firm posted $1.46 earnings per share. Equities research analysts forecast that MKS Instruments will post 6.33 EPS for the current year.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other MKS Instruments news, Director Elizabeth Mora sold 275 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, December 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $113.41, for a total value of $31,187.75. Following the transaction, the director now 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 legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, Director Jacqueline F. Moloney sold 250 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, October 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $108.90, for a total transaction of $27,225.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 10,283 shares in the company, valued at $1,119,818.70. The trade was a 2.37 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 825 shares of company stock worth $92,853 in the last 90 days. 0.46% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On MKS Instruments

Hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the company. Massmutual Trust Co. FSB ADV increased its position in shares of MKS Instruments by 196.9% in the third 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. UMB Bank n.a. boosted its stake in shares of 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 purchasing an additional 122 shares in the last quarter. Key Financial Inc bought a new stake in shares of MKS Instruments during the 2nd quarter valued at about $39,000. BOKF NA bought a new stake in shares of MKS Instruments during the 2nd quarter valued at about $39,000. Finally, Quarry LP bought a new stake in shares of MKS Instruments during the 2nd quarter valued at about $39,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 99.79% of the company’s stock.

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.