MKS Instruments, Inc. (NASDAQ:MKSI) Holdings Lowered by Intech Investment Management LLC

Intech Investment Management LLC trimmed its holdings in shares of MKS Instruments, Inc. (NASDAQ:MKSI) by 6.4% during the 3rd quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The institutional investor owned 2,824 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock after selling 192 shares during the period. Intech Investment Management LLC’s holdings in MKS Instruments were worth $307,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Pzena Investment Management LLC acquired a new position in MKS Instruments during the third quarter valued at $361,000. Hilton Capital Management LLC acquired a new position in MKS Instruments during the third quarter valued at $1,852,000. Commerce Bank raised its position in MKS Instruments by 18.8% during the third quarter. Commerce Bank now owns 34,189 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock valued at $3,717,000 after buying an additional 5,413 shares during the period. Segall Bryant & Hamill LLC acquired a new position in MKS Instruments during the third quarter valued at $11,053,000. Finally, PNC Financial Services Group Inc. raised its position in MKS Instruments by 1.3% during the third quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 8,729 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock valued at $949,000 after buying an additional 115 shares during the period. 99.79% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research analysts have weighed in on MKSI shares. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their target price on MKS Instruments from $120.00 to $110.00 and set an “equal weight” rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, October 3rd. Needham & Company LLC upped their target price on MKS Instruments from $153.00 to $156.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, August 9th. Benchmark reaffirmed a “buy” rating and issued a $142.00 target price on shares of MKS Instruments in a research report on Monday, November 18th. The Goldman Sachs Group started coverage on MKS Instruments in a research report on Tuesday, September 3rd. They issued a “neutral” rating and a $129.00 target price on the stock. Finally, Mizuho raised MKS Instruments to a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Monday, October 7th. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, seven have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $141.09.

Insider Activity at MKS Instruments

In other news, Director Jacqueline F. Moloney sold 250 shares of MKS Instruments stock in a transaction on Tuesday, October 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $108.90, for a total value of $27,225.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now directly owns 10,283 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,119,818.70. This trade represents a 2.37 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, Director Elizabeth Mora sold 275 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Monday, December 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $113.41, for a total value of $31,187.75. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 17,659 shares in the company, valued at $2,002,707.19. This represents a 1.53 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 0.51% of the company’s stock.

MKS Instruments Trading Down 0.0 %

Shares of MKSI opened at $116.83 on Thursday. MKS Instruments, Inc. has a 1 year low of $80.84 and a 1 year high of $147.40. The company has a current ratio of 3.42, a quick ratio of 2.21 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.98. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $107.71 and a 200-day simple moving average of $117.83. The stock has a market cap of $7.86 billion, a PE ratio of 259.71, a PEG ratio of 0.69 and a beta of 1.65.

MKS Instruments (NASDAQ:MKSI) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, November 6th. The scientific and technical instruments company reported $1.72 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.45 by $0.27. MKS Instruments had a return on equity of 15.79% and a net margin of 0.90%. The business had revenue of $896.00 million during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $874.29 million. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $1.46 EPS. MKS Instruments’s quarterly revenue was down 3.9% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, sell-side analysts predict that MKS Instruments, Inc. will post 6.33 EPS for the current fiscal year.

MKS Instruments Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, December 6th. Investors of record on Monday, November 25th will be issued a dividend of $0.22 per share. The ex-dividend date is Monday, November 25th. This represents a $0.88 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.75%. MKS Instruments’s dividend payout ratio is 195.56%.

MKS Instruments Company Profile

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.