MKS Instruments, Inc. (NASDAQ:MKSI) Announces $0.22 Quarterly Dividend

MKS Instruments, Inc. (NASDAQ:MKSI) declared a quarterly dividend on Tuesday, August 6th, Zacks reports. Shareholders of record on Monday, August 26th will be paid a dividend of 0.22 per share by the scientific and technical instruments company on Friday, September 6th. This represents a $0.88 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.80%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, August 26th.

MKS Instruments has raised its dividend payment by an average of 3.2% per year over the last three years. MKS Instruments has a payout ratio of 11.7% indicating that its dividend is sufficiently covered by earnings. Equities analysts expect MKS Instruments to earn $7.14 per share next year, which means the company should continue to be able to cover its $0.88 annual dividend with an expected future payout ratio of 12.3%.

MKS Instruments Trading Up 2.8 %

MKSI stock traded up $2.93 during mid-day trading on Wednesday, hitting $109.35. 51,433 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 807,639. The company has a quick ratio of 2.34, a current ratio of 3.69 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.94. The firm has a market capitalization of $7.33 billion, a P/E ratio of -3.99, a PEG ratio of 1.18 and a beta of 1.65. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $129.66 and a 200-day simple moving average of $124.74. MKS Instruments has a 12-month low of $63.44 and a 12-month high of $147.40.

MKS Instruments (NASDAQ:MKSI) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, May 8th. The scientific and technical instruments company reported $1.18 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.75 by $0.43. The company had revenue of $868.00 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $848.94 million. MKS Instruments had a negative net margin of 48.24% and a positive return on equity of 13.90%. MKS Instruments’s revenue was up 9.3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $0.48 earnings per share. On average, equities research analysts predict that MKS Instruments will post 4.98 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Insider Activity at MKS Instruments

In related 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 transaction, the director now directly owns 10,533 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,300,404.18. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. In related news, Director Elizabeth Mora sold 275 shares of MKS Instruments stock in a transaction on Monday, June 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $129.41, for a total value of $35,587.75. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 18,209 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,356,426.69. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, Director Jacqueline F. Moloney sold 250 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Thursday, August 1st. The stock was 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 insiders.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research firms have recently commented on MKSI. TD Cowen raised their price objective on shares of MKS Instruments from $150.00 to $160.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, June 12th. Morgan Stanley began coverage on shares of MKS Instruments in a research note on Monday. They issued an “overweight” rating and a $155.00 price objective for the company. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reissued a “hold” rating and issued a $140.00 price objective on shares of MKS Instruments in a research note on Thursday, June 20th. Bank of America assumed coverage on shares of MKS Instruments in a report on Wednesday, July 10th. They issued a “buy” rating and a $160.00 target price on the stock. Finally, Needham & Company LLC raised their target price on shares of MKS Instruments from $145.00 to $153.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, May 22nd. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $148.75.

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.