Barclays PLC Has $110.79 Million Stake in MKS Instruments, Inc. (NASDAQ:MKSI)

Barclays PLC raised its stake in MKS Instruments, Inc. (NASDAQ:MKSI - Free Report) by 108.6% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 1,019,134 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock after buying an additional 530,620 shares during the quarter. Barclays PLC owned about 1.51% of MKS Instruments worth $110,789,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of MKSI. Massmutual Trust Co. FSB ADV lifted its stake in MKS Instruments by 196.9% in the third quarter. Massmutual Trust Co. FSB ADV now owns 288 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock valued at $31,000 after buying an additional 191 shares in the last quarter. UMB Bank n.a. lifted its stake in MKS Instruments by 53.7% in the third quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 349 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock valued at $38,000 after buying an additional 122 shares in the last quarter. Key Financial Inc bought a new position in MKS Instruments in the second quarter valued at approximately $39,000. BOKF NA bought a new position in MKS Instruments in the second quarter valued at approximately $39,000. Finally, Quarry LP bought a new position in MKS Instruments in the second quarter valued at approximately $39,000. Institutional investors own 99.79% of the company's stock.

MKS Instruments Stock Up 2.4 %

MKSI traded up $2.65 during trading on Wednesday, reaching $113.56. 601,649 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 822,764. The stock has a market cap of $7.64 billion, a P/E ratio of 252.36, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.67 and a beta of 1.65. MKS Instruments, Inc. has a twelve month low of $85.25 and a twelve month high of $147.40. The stock's 50 day moving average price is $108.36 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $117.20. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.98, a quick ratio of 2.21 and a current ratio of 3.42.

MKS Instruments (NASDAQ:MKSI - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, November 6th. The scientific and technical instruments company reported $1.72 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.45 by $0.27. MKS Instruments had a net margin of 0.90% and a return on equity of 15.79%. The firm had revenue of $896.00 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $874.29 million. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $1.46 earnings per share. The company's quarterly revenue was down 3.9% on a year-over-year basis. Equities analysts expect that MKS Instruments, Inc. will post 6.33 EPS for the current year.

MKS Instruments Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, December 6th. Shareholders of record on Monday, November 25th were issued a $0.22 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Monday, November 25th. This represents a $0.88 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.77%. MKS Instruments's dividend payout ratio is currently 195.56%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of brokerages have weighed in on MKSI. Wells Fargo & Company cut their price target on shares of MKS Instruments from $120.00 to $110.00 and set an "equal weight" rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, October 3rd. The Goldman Sachs Group assumed coverage on shares of MKS Instruments in a report on Tuesday, September 3rd. They issued a "neutral" rating and a $129.00 price objective on the stock. Mizuho upgraded shares of MKS Instruments to a "strong-buy" rating in a report on Monday, October 7th. Citigroup downgraded shares of MKS Instruments from a "buy" rating to a "neutral" rating and lowered their price objective for the company from $145.00 to $120.00 in a report on Monday, September 16th. Finally, Cantor Fitzgerald assumed coverage on shares of MKS Instruments in a report on Tuesday, September 10th. They issued an "overweight" rating and a $140.00 price objective on the stock. Five investment 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 stock. According to MarketBeat, MKS Instruments currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $141.09.

Insider Activity

In related news, Director Elizabeth Mora sold 275 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Monday, December 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $113.41, for a total transaction of $31,187.75. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 17,659 shares of the company's stock, valued at $2,002,707.19. This represents a 1.53 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, Director Jacqueline F. Moloney sold 250 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, October 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $108.90, for a total transaction of $27,225.00. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 10,283 shares of the company's stock, valued at $1,119,818.70. This represents a 2.37 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last 90 days, insiders sold 825 shares of company stock valued at $92,853. 0.46% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

MKS Instruments 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.