MKS Inc. (NASDAQ:MKSI) Short Interest Update

MKS Inc. (NASDAQ:MKSI) was the recipient of a large increase in short interest during the month of February. As of February 27th, there was short interest totaling 3,842,559 shares, an increase of 20.0% from the February 12th total of 3,201,298 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 1,799,101 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 2.1 days. Currently, 5.7% of the shares of the stock are sold short. Currently, 5.7% of the shares of the stock are sold short. Based on an average daily volume of 1,799,101 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 2.1 days.

Insider Transactions at MKS

In other MKS news, EVP Eric Robert Taranto sold 4,568 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Friday, March 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $220.52, for a total value of $1,007,335.36. Following the transaction, the executive vice president owned 15,445 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,405,931.40. This trade represents a 22.83% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, CEO John Tseng-Chung Lee sold 30,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $256.77, for a total transaction of $7,703,100.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer directly owned 154,696 shares in the company, valued at approximately $39,721,291.92. This represents a 16.24% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Over the last three months, insiders sold 68,503 shares of company stock valued at $17,288,099. Insiders own 0.51% of the company’s stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On MKS

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. USA Financial Formulas acquired a new position in MKS during the 4th quarter worth $26,000. Global Retirement Partners LLC increased its holdings in shares of MKS by 560.0% during the fourth quarter. Global Retirement Partners LLC now owns 165 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock valued at $26,000 after purchasing an additional 140 shares during the period. IFP Advisors Inc raised its stake in shares of MKS by 616.7% during the fourth quarter. IFP Advisors Inc now owns 172 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock valued at $27,000 after purchasing an additional 148 shares in the last quarter. SJS Investment Consulting Inc. bought a new stake in shares of MKS during the third quarter valued at about $30,000. Finally, Smartleaf Asset Management LLC lifted its holdings in MKS by 74.5% in the third quarter. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC now owns 260 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock worth $32,000 after purchasing an additional 111 shares during the period. 99.79% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

MKS Stock Performance

NASDAQ:MKSI traded up $6.93 during midday trading on Tuesday, reaching $228.89. 1,052,927 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,607,263. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $228.45 and a 200 day moving average price of $172.36. The firm has a market capitalization of $15.39 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 52.38, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.19 and a beta of 1.94. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.53, a current ratio of 2.71 and a quick ratio of 1.71. MKS has a twelve month low of $54.84 and a twelve month high of $269.91.

MKS (NASDAQ:MKSI) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 17th. The scientific and technical instruments company reported $2.47 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.51 by ($0.04). The firm had revenue of $1.03 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.02 billion. MKS had a net margin of 7.53% and a return on equity of 20.85%. The company’s revenue for the quarter was up 10.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $2.15 earnings per share. MKS has set its Q1 2026 guidance at 1.720-2.280 EPS. On average, analysts expect that MKS will post 6.94 EPS for the current fiscal year.

MKS Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 6th. Stockholders of record on Monday, February 23rd were issued a dividend of $0.25 per share. This represents a $1.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.4%. This is a boost from MKS’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.22. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, February 23rd. MKS’s dividend payout ratio is presently 22.88%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of analysts have issued reports on the stock. The Goldman Sachs Group boosted their price target on shares of MKS from $135.00 to $200.00 and gave the stock a “sell” rating in a research note on Thursday, February 19th. Citigroup upped their price target on MKS from $185.00 to $295.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday, February 19th. Mizuho set a $320.00 price objective on MKS in a report on Thursday, February 19th. Cantor Fitzgerald raised their price objective on shares of MKS from $200.00 to $300.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 20th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their target price on MKS from $265.00 to $305.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Thursday, February 19th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eleven have assigned a Buy rating, two have assigned a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $273.46.

About MKS

MKS Instruments, Inc (NASDAQ: MKSI) designs, manufactures and markets technology solutions that enable advanced processes in a variety of high‐technology and industrial markets. The company’s core offerings include vacuum and gas delivery systems, pressure and flow measurement instruments, optical metrology tools, photonics subsystems and critical components for manufacturing processes. These products support the precise control and monitoring needs of semiconductor, industrial manufacturing, life and health sciences, and research applications.

The company’s product portfolio features mass flow controllers, pressure transducers, vacuum gauges, gas purity monitors, laser-based metrology systems and photonic devices such as lasers and detectors.