Globeflex Capital L P Purchases 3,367 Shares of MKS Instruments, Inc. (NASDAQ:MKSI)

Globeflex Capital L P increased its holdings in MKS Instruments, Inc. (NASDAQ:MKSI - Free Report) by 13.3% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 28,638 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock after purchasing an additional 3,367 shares during the period. Globeflex Capital L P's holdings in MKS Instruments were worth $2,990,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other large investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Avantax Advisory Services Inc. raised its position in shares of MKS Instruments by 4.7% during the fourth quarter. Avantax Advisory Services Inc. now owns 2,143 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock valued at $224,000 after buying an additional 97 shares during the last quarter. Louisiana State Employees Retirement System increased its holdings in MKS Instruments by 0.5% in the 4th quarter. Louisiana State Employees Retirement System now owns 18,700 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock valued at $1,952,000 after acquiring an additional 100 shares during the last quarter. CIBC Asset Management Inc lifted its stake in MKS Instruments by 5.2% in the 4th quarter. CIBC Asset Management Inc now owns 2,068 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock worth $216,000 after purchasing an additional 103 shares in the last quarter. Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC boosted its holdings in shares of MKS Instruments by 68.6% during the 4th quarter. Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC now owns 263 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock valued at $27,000 after purchasing an additional 107 shares during the last quarter. Finally, PNC Financial Services Group Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of MKS Instruments by 1.3% during the 3rd 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 purchasing an additional 115 shares during the last quarter. 99.79% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Insider Activity

In other news, Director Elizabeth Mora sold 275 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction on Monday, March 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $92.46, for a total transaction of $25,426.50. Following the transaction, the director now owns 17,384 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,607,324.64. This trade represents a 1.56 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, Director Gerard G. Colella sold 8,000 shares of MKS Instruments stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $104.53, for a total value of $836,240.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 60,017 shares of the company's stock, valued at $6,273,577.01. The trade was a 11.76 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 0.46% of the company's stock.

MKS Instruments Trading Up 4.3 %

Shares of MKSI traded up $3.78 during mid-day trading on Wednesday, reaching $91.54. 1,931,907 shares of the company's stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 880,047. MKS Instruments, Inc. has a 12 month low of $76.37 and a 12 month high of $147.40. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.93, a current ratio of 3.19 and a quick ratio of 2.04. The stock has a market cap of $6.17 billion, a P/E ratio of 32.69, a P/E/G ratio of 1.02 and a beta of 1.75. The stock's 50-day moving average is $103.31 and its two-hundred day moving average is $106.61.

MKS Instruments (NASDAQ:MKSI - Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, February 12th. The scientific and technical instruments company reported $2.15 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $1.92 by $0.23. MKS Instruments had a return on equity of 18.94% and a net margin of 5.30%. Research analysts forecast that MKS Instruments, Inc. will post 6.94 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

MKS Instruments Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 7th. Stockholders of record on Monday, February 24th were given a dividend of $0.22 per share. This represents a $0.88 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.96%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, February 24th. MKS Instruments's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 31.43%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research firms recently commented on MKSI. JPMorgan Chase & Co. assumed coverage on MKS Instruments in a research report on Friday, December 13th. They issued an "overweight" rating and a $145.00 target price on the stock. Citigroup raised MKS Instruments from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and set a $130.00 price objective on the stock in a report on Monday, January 6th. Needham & Company LLC cut their target price on shares of MKS Instruments from $156.00 to $145.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a report on Friday, February 14th. The Goldman Sachs Group upped their price target on shares of MKS Instruments from $128.00 to $129.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research note on Friday, February 14th. Finally, Morgan Stanley dropped their price objective on shares of MKS Instruments from $150.00 to $147.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research note on Friday, February 14th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nine have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $140.08.

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.