Eagle Asset Management Inc. Increases Holdings in MKS Instruments, Inc. (NASDAQ:MKSI)

Eagle Asset Management Inc. boosted its holdings in MKS Instruments, Inc. (NASDAQ:MKSI - Free Report) by 21.4% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 91,133 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock after purchasing an additional 16,087 shares during the quarter. Eagle Asset Management Inc. owned approximately 0.14% of MKS Instruments worth $10,598,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the stock. Massmutual Trust Co. FSB ADV raised its holdings in shares of MKS Instruments by 196.9% during the 3rd quarter. Massmutual Trust Co. FSB ADV now owns 288 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock worth $31,000 after acquiring an additional 191 shares in the last quarter. UMB Bank n.a. raised its stake in MKS Instruments by 53.7% during 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 purchasing an additional 122 shares in the last quarter. Key Financial Inc bought a new position in MKS Instruments during the second quarter valued at $39,000. BOKF NA purchased a new position in shares of MKS Instruments in the 2nd quarter worth $39,000. Finally, Quarry LP bought a new stake in shares of MKS Instruments in the 2nd quarter worth about $39,000. Institutional investors own 99.79% of the company's stock.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other MKS Instruments news, Director Jacqueline F. Moloney sold 250 shares of the business's stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, October 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $108.90, for a total transaction of $27,225.00. Following the sale, the director now owns 10,283 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $1,119,818.70. The trade was a 2.37 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Also, Director Elizabeth Mora sold 275 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, September 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $115.97, for a total value of $31,891.75. Following the sale, the director now owns 17,934 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,079,805.98. The trade was a 1.51 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.46% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

MKS Instruments Trading Up 1.3 %

MKSI traded up $1.43 on Friday, reaching $114.92. 652,430 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 904,947. The company has a quick ratio of 2.21, a current ratio of 3.42 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.98. The company has a market cap of $7.73 billion, a P/E ratio of 255.38, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.68 and a beta of 1.63. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $107.01 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $118.45. MKS Instruments, Inc. has a one year low of $77.25 and a one year high of $147.40.

MKS Instruments (NASDAQ:MKSI - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, November 6th. The scientific and technical instruments company reported $1.72 earnings per share 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 during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $874.29 million. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $1.46 earnings per share. The company's revenue was down 3.9% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities research analysts expect that MKS Instruments, Inc. will post 6.22 earnings per share for the current year.

MKS Instruments Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, December 6th. Stockholders of record on Monday, November 25th will be issued a $0.22 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is 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%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

MKSI has been the subject of several recent research reports. Citigroup lowered MKS Instruments from a "buy" rating to a "neutral" rating and dropped their price target for the stock from $145.00 to $120.00 in a research report on Monday, September 16th. Needham & Company LLC lifted their target price on MKS Instruments from $153.00 to $156.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Friday, August 9th. Cantor Fitzgerald began coverage on MKS Instruments in a report on Tuesday, September 10th. They set an "overweight" rating and a $140.00 price target on the stock. Mizuho raised shares of MKS Instruments to a "strong-buy" rating in a research note on Monday, October 7th. Finally, Morgan Stanley started coverage on shares of MKS Instruments in a research report on Monday, August 5th. They set an "overweight" rating and a $155.00 price objective on the stock. Five analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, seven have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, MKS Instruments currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $141.09.

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.