MKS Instruments (NASDAQ:MKSI) Shares Gap Down – Should You Sell?

MKS Instruments, Inc. (NASDAQ:MKSI)’s stock price gapped down before the market opened on Thursday . The stock had previously closed at $111.20, but opened at $105.10. MKS Instruments shares last traded at $105.60, with a volume of 257,039 shares traded.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research firms have commented on MKSI. Needham & Company LLC decreased their price target on MKS Instruments from $156.00 to $145.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday. JPMorgan Chase & Co. began coverage on MKS Instruments in a research note on Friday, December 13th. They set an “overweight” rating and a $145.00 price target on the stock. The Goldman Sachs Group upped their price target on MKS Instruments from $128.00 to $129.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research note on Friday. Cantor Fitzgerald restated an “overweight” rating and set a $140.00 price target on shares of MKS Instruments in a research note on Thursday. Finally, Benchmark decreased their price target on MKS Instruments from $142.00 to $135.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nine have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, MKS Instruments has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $140.08.

MKS Instruments Stock Performance

The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $110.77 and a 200-day simple moving average of $110.36. The company has a market cap of $6.98 billion, a PE ratio of 230.38, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.55 and a beta of 1.66. The company has a quick ratio of 2.21, a current ratio of 3.42 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.98.

MKS Instruments (NASDAQ:MKSI) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, February 12th. The scientific and technical instruments company reported $2.15 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.92 by $0.23. MKS Instruments had a net margin of 0.90% and a return on equity of 15.79%. On average, research analysts forecast that MKS Instruments, Inc. will post 6.34 EPS for the current fiscal year.

MKS Instruments Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 7th. Stockholders of record on Monday, February 24th will be paid a dividend of $0.22 per share. The ex-dividend date is Monday, February 24th. This represents a $0.88 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.85%. MKS Instruments’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 195.56%.

Insider Transactions at MKS Instruments

In other MKS Instruments news, Director Jacqueline F. Moloney sold 300 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, December 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $114.80, for a total value of $34,440.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 9,983 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,146,048.40. This trade represents a 2.92 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, Director Elizabeth Mora sold 275 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred 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 of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $2,002,707.19. This trade represents a 1.53 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 0.46% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of MKSI. CWM LLC increased its stake in shares of MKS Instruments by 470.8% during the 3rd quarter. CWM LLC now owns 5,348 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock worth $581,000 after purchasing an additional 4,411 shares in the last quarter. Creative Planning grew its stake in MKS Instruments by 5.8% in the 3rd quarter. Creative Planning now owns 33,675 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock worth $3,661,000 after acquiring an additional 1,832 shares during the period. Net Worth Advisory Group purchased a new stake in MKS Instruments in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $227,000. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC grew its stake in MKS Instruments by 277.0% in the 3rd quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC now owns 1,165 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock worth $127,000 after acquiring an additional 856 shares during the period. Finally, Private Advisor Group LLC grew its stake in MKS Instruments by 22.5% in the 3rd quarter. Private Advisor Group LLC now owns 2,718 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock worth $295,000 after acquiring an additional 499 shares during the period. 99.79% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other 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.