October 26, 2023
Top 10 Stock MKS Instruments Hold Recommendation



How to read the ranks

For every stock, we judge its performance against its peers and rank it on a scale of 1 to 100. The higher the rank, the better the stock performs than its peers. And, we do this for six investment strategies:

Value - shows how good of a value the stock is. Green is "inexpensive"; red is "expensive".

Growth - shows a company's growth potential. Green is "high growth" expected; red is "tough times ahead".

Safety - relates to the amount of debt a company has. Green is low debt level; red is high debt level.

Combined Financial - this isn't an average of the first three ranks but rather a consolidated view across several financial indicators. Green = good; red = tread carefully.

(NEW) Sentiment - quantifies professional analyst ratings and holdings as well as market pulse. Green = positive sentiment; red = skepticism (Only available to Premium Subscribers).

(NEW) 360° View - the ultimate rating with all financial and non-financial indicators.

Snapshot: MKS Instruments – Top 10 Stock in Nasdaq Composite Index


mks.com


MKS Instruments is listed as a top 10 stock on October 26, 2023 in the market index NASDAQ because of its high performance in at least one of the Obermatt investment strategies. Only the Obermatt Value Rank exhibits above-average performance, which means that the stock is seen as critical by the professional community and other financial facts are below average, conveying mixed investment signals. Based on the Obermatt 360° View of 42 (42% performer), Obermatt assesses an overall hold recommendation for MKS Instruments on October 26, 2023.


Snapshot: Obermatt Ranks


Country USA
Industry Semiconductor Equipment
Index Dividends USA, NASDAQ, S&P MIDCAP
Size class Large
Latest Research


Top 10 Stocks ≠ most popular stocks

When Obermatt identifies the Top 10 stocks in a market, it’s based on a certain investment strategy. The best performing stocks usually aren’t the ones that everyone is talking about (those are often "over-priced" and have low Value ranks).

For each investment strategy, we provide you with more detailed analysis and our recommendation. You see the ranks of the top 10 stocks ranked by that particular investment strategy (360° View, Sentiment, Value, Growth, Safety and Combined Financial Performance).


360° View: Obermatt 360° View MKS Instruments Hold

360 METRICS October 26, 2023
VALUE
VALUE
GROWTH
GROWTH
SAFETY
SAFETY
SENTIMENT
SENTIMENT
360° VIEW
360° VIEW

ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt 360° View of 42 (better than 42% compared with alternatives), overall professional sentiment and financial characteristics for the stock MKS Instruments are below the industry average. The 360° View is based on consolidating four consolidated indicators, with three out of four indicators below average for MKS Instruments. Only the consolidated Value Rank has an attractive rank of 99, which means that the share price of MKS Instruments is on the lower side compared with the typical size in indicators such as revenues, profits, and invested capital. This means that the stock price is lower than for 99% of alternative stocks in the same industry. All other consolidated ranks are below average. The consolidated Growth Rank has a low rank of 47, which means that the company exhibits below-average growth momentum when looking at financial metrics such as revenue, profit, and invested capital growth as well as stock returns. The consolidated Safety Rank has a riskier rank of 28, meaning the company has a riskier financing structure than 72% comparable companies when looking at the amount of its debt, its refinancing requirements, and its ability to service debt. Finally, professionals are more pessimistic about the stock than for 87% of alternative investment opportunities, reflected in the consolidated Sentiment Rank of 13. ...read more

RECOMMENDATION: With a consolidated 360° View of 42, MKS Instruments is worse than 58% of all alternative stock investment opportunities based on the Obermatt Method. Only one of the consolidated Obermatt Ranks exhibits above-average performance, namely the Value Rank at a level of 99. All other ranks are below average, so proceed with caution. The company has below-average growth expectations (Growth Rank of 47), a riskier financing structure than the competition (Safety Rank of 28), and the market sentiment in the professional investor community ranking at (Sentiment Rank of 13) is negative. This combination is sensitive to a crisis, because high debt levels (low safety) require growth to finance the debt burden. It’s no wonder that the investor community indicators are skeptical (low sentiment). Good value is sometimes an indication that the company's future is challenging. The below-par growth performance may be the reason for this assessment. We recommend evaluating whether the future of MKS Instruments is as challenging as the low price of the stock suggests. Since the professional community is pessimistic, you might need to worry about the future of MKS Instruments. Only invest if you have solid reasons to believe that the low growth is temporary and the current market sentiment is an overreaction, possibly due to reputational issues in the past. ...read more




Sentiment Strategy: Professional Market Sentiment for MKS Instruments negative

SENTIMENT METRICS October 26, 2023
ANALYST OPINION
ANALYST OPINION
OPINIONS CHANGE
OPINIONS CHANGE
PRO HOLDINGS
PRO HOLDINGS
MARKET PULSE
MARKET PULSE
CONSOLIDATED RANK: SENTIMENT
CONSOLIDATED RANK: SENTIMENT

ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Sentiment Rank of 13 (better than 13% compared with alternatives), overall professional sentiment and engagement for the stock MKS Instruments is critical, mostly below average. The Sentiment Rank is based on consolidating four sentiment indicators, with three out of four metrics below average for MKS Instruments. Analyst Opinions are at a rank of 84 (better than 84% of alternative investments), which means that, currently, stock research analysts tend to recommend a stock investment in the company. This is a good sign, were it not for Analyst Opinions Change with a low rank of 32, which means that currently, stock research experts are changing their opinions for the worse. In other words, they are getting more critical of a stock investment in MKS Instruments. The Professional Investors rank is also low at 16, meaning that professional investors hold less stock in this company than in 84% of alternative investment opportunities. Pros tend to invest in other companies. Even worse, Market Pulse has a low rank of 1, which means that the current professional news and professional social networks are critical of this company (more negative news than for 99% of competitors). ...read more

RECOMMENDATION: With a consolidated Sentiment Rank of 13 (less encouraging than 87% compared with investment alternatives), MKS Instruments has a reputation among professional investors that is far below that of its competitors. There are several negative sentiment signals, with only the Analyst Opinions Rank above average. This could be a stock with a long reputation for being positive but where things are worsening. Most analysts may not see it yet, but some have, and the professionals are already quite pessimistic. Proceed with caution when investing in this stock. ...read more



Value Strategy: MKS Instruments Stock Price Value at the top

VALUE METRICS October 26, 2023
PRICE VS. REVENUES (P/S)
PRICE VS. REVENUES (P/S)
PRICE VS. PROFITS (P/E)
PRICE VS. PROFITS (P/E)
PRICE VS. CAPITAL (Market-to-Book)
PRICE VS. CAPITAL (Market-to-Book)
DIVIDEND YIELD
DIVIDEND YIELD
CONSOLIDATED RANK: VALUE
CONSOLIDATED RANK: VALUE

ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Value Rank of 99 (better than 99% compared with alternatives) for 2023, MKS Instruments shares are significantly less expensive than comparable stocks. The Value Rank is based on consolidating four value indicators that are all above average for MKS Instruments. Price-to-Sales is 80 which means that the stock price compared with what market professionals expect for future sales is lower than for 80% of comparable companies, indicating a good value for MKS Instruments's revenue size. The same is valid for expected Price-to-Profits, more favorable than for 86% of alternatives, and this is also true for the Price-to-Book capital ratio (also referred to as market-to-book ratio) with a Price-to-Capital Rank of 72. Compared with other companies in the same industry, dividend yields of MKS Instruments are expected to be higher than for 93% of all competitors (a Dividend Yield rank of 93). ...read more

RECOMMENDATION: The overall picture with a consolidated Value Rank of 99, is a buy recommendation based on MKS Instruments's stock price compared with the company's operational size and dividend yields. Since all value metrics are above the industry average, there is no objection to investing in MKS Instruments based on its detailed value metrics.



Growth Strategy: MKS Instruments Growth Momentum low

GROWTH METRICS October 26, 2023
REVENUE GROWTH
REVENUE GROWTH
PROFIT GROWTH
PROFIT GROWTH
CAPITAL GROWTH
CAPITAL GROWTH
STOCK RETURNS
STOCK RETURNS
CONSOLIDATED RANK: GROWTH
CONSOLIDATED RANK: GROWTH

ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Growth Rank of 47 (better than 47% compared with alternatives), MKS Instruments shows a below-average growth dynamic in its industry. There is limited momentum in this company. The Growth Rank is based on consolidating four value indicators, with three out of four indicators below average for MKS Instruments. Only Capital Growth has a good rank of 100, which means that currently professionals expect the company to grow its invested capital more than 13% of its competitors. The other three indicators are pointing South: Sales Growth has a rank of 42 which means that currently professionals expect the company to grow less than 58% of its competitors. Profit Growth with a rank of 13 and Stock Returns with a rank of 43 are also low (below 57% of alternative investments). ...read more

RECOMMENDATION: The overall picture with a consolidated Growth Rank of 47, is a hold recommendation for growth and momentum investors. The good news from the invested capital side is surprising. A company with disappointing revenues, profits, and disappointed shareholders typically doesn't invest above average. Overall, the growth momentum for MKS Instruments is thus negative. As it is intriguing to see that company executives are optimistic about their investment policy, it is worthwhile looking into the details of the capital investment projects. They may indicate future growth and profits and thus if accompanied by a good value, a sign of good timing to invest in the stock. ...read more



Safety Strategy: MKS Instruments Debt Financing Safety below-average

SAFETY METRICS October 26, 2023
LEVERAGE
LEVERAGE
REFINANCING
REFINANCING
LIQUIDITY
LIQUIDITY
CONSOLIDATED RANK: SAFETY
CONSOLIDATED RANK: SAFETY

ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Safety Rank of 28 (better than 28% compared with alternatives), the company MKS Instruments has financing practices on the riskier side, which means that their overall debt burden is above the industry average. This doesn't mean that the business of MKS Instruments is also risky, it only means that the company is on the riskier side in respect to bankruptcy in case things turn sour, assuming that public reporting is correct. The Safety Rank is based on consolidating three financing indicators, with just one indicator above average for MKS Instruments and the other two below average. Refinancing is at 79, meaning the portion of the debt about to be refinanced is below average. It has less debt in the refinancing stage than 79% of its competitors. But Leverage is high with a rank of 16, meaning the company has an above-average debt-to-equity ratio. It has more debt than 84% of its competitors. Liquidity is also on the riskier side with a rank of 27, meaning the company generates less profit to service its debt than 73% of its competitors. ...read more

RECOMMENDATION: With a consolidated Safety Rank of 28 (worse than 72% compared with alternatives), MKS Instruments has a financing structure that is riskier than that of its competitors. A good Refinancing Rank means that the problems of the company may not be around the corner. But high Leverage is only good if things go well, and low Liquidity is a signal for caution. The financing signals for MKS Instruments are on the riskier side, requiring the company's future to be on the safer side. Investors may want to look at Growth and Sentiment ranks before making an investment decision. ...read more



Combined financial peformance: MKS Instruments Above-Average Financial Performance

COMBINED PERFORMANCE October 26, 2023
VALUE
VALUE
GROWTH
GROWTH
SAFETY
SAFETY
COMBINED
COMBINED

ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Combined Rank of 60 (better than 60% compared with investment alternatives), MKS Instruments (Semiconductor Equipment, USA) shares have above-average financial characteristics compared with similar stocks. Shares of MKS Instruments are a good value (attractively priced) with a consolidated Value Rank of 99 (better than 99% of alternatives) but show below-average growth (Growth Rank of 47), and are riskily financed (Safety Rank of 28), which means above-average debt burdens. ...read more

RECOMMENDATION: A Combined Rank of 60, is a buy recommendation based on MKS Instruments's financial characteristics. As the company MKS Instruments's key financial metrics exhibit good value (Obermatt Value Rank of 99) but low growth (Obermatt Growth Rank of 47) and risky financing practices (Obermatt Safety Rank of 28), it may be a risky investment, because debt in times of crises can make things worse. The good value, better than 99% of comparable companies, may indicate the company's future is challenging. If you believe that low growth is temporary or just due to a specific current event, you may conclude that the good value of the stock provides an attractive investment opportunity. ...read more

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