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

MKS Instruments, Inc. (NASDAQ:MKSI) announced a quarterly dividend on Tuesday, February 11th,RTT News reports. Stockholders of record on Monday, February 24th will be given a dividend of 0.22 per share by the scientific and technical instruments company on Friday, March 7th. This represents a $0.88 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.79%.

MKS Instruments has raised its dividend by an average of 0.8% annually over the last three years. MKS Instruments has a dividend payout ratio of 9.4% meaning its dividend is sufficiently covered by earnings. Equities research analysts expect MKS Instruments to earn $7.48 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 11.8%.

MKS Instruments Stock Down 1.9 %

Shares of NASDAQ MKSI traded down $2.14 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, reaching $110.70. The company had a trading volume of 109,322 shares, compared to its average volume of 815,695. The stock has a market capitalization of $7.45 billion, a PE ratio of 246.62, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.55 and a beta of 1.66. MKS Instruments has a twelve month low of $97.54 and a twelve month high of $147.40. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.98, a quick ratio of 2.21 and a current ratio of 3.42. The stock’s 50 day moving average is $111.42 and its 200-day moving average is $110.64.

Insider Activity at MKS Instruments

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 directly owns 17,659 shares in the company, valued at $2,002,707.19. The trade was a 1.53 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, Director Jacqueline F. Moloney sold 300 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, December 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $114.80, for a total transaction of $34,440.00. Following the sale, the director now directly 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. 0.46% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several analysts have recently issued reports on the company. Benchmark reiterated a “buy” rating and set a $142.00 price target on shares of MKS Instruments in a research note on Monday, November 18th. The Goldman Sachs Group lowered their price target on MKS Instruments from $143.00 to $128.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, January 10th. Citigroup raised shares of MKS Instruments from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $130.00 price objective for the company in a report on Monday, January 6th. Needham & Company LLC reiterated a “buy” rating and issued a $156.00 target price on shares of MKS Instruments in a report on Wednesday, January 15th. Finally, Morgan Stanley lowered their price target on MKS Instruments from $155.00 to $150.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, December 16th. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nine have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $141.75.

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.