Inceptionr LLC Invests $869,000 in MKS Instruments, Inc. (NASDAQ:MKSI)

Inceptionr LLC acquired a new position in shares of MKS Instruments, Inc. (NASDAQ:MKSI - Free Report) in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund acquired 8,327 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock, valued at approximately $869,000.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the stock. Louisiana State Employees Retirement System lifted its stake in shares of MKS Instruments by 0.5% during the fourth quarter. Louisiana State Employees Retirement System now owns 18,700 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock worth $1,952,000 after buying an additional 100 shares during the period. CIBC Asset Management Inc lifted its stake in shares of MKS Instruments by 5.2% during the fourth quarter. CIBC Asset Management Inc now owns 2,068 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock worth $216,000 after buying an additional 103 shares during the period. Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC lifted its position in MKS Instruments by 68.6% during the fourth 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 period. Equitable Trust Co. lifted its position in MKS Instruments by 2.2% during the third quarter. Equitable Trust Co. now owns 5,035 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock valued at $547,000 after purchasing an additional 109 shares during the period. Finally, PNC Financial Services Group Inc. lifted 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 purchasing an additional 115 shares during the period. 99.79% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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MKS Instruments Stock Performance

MKSI traded up $2.37 on Friday, reaching $84.89. The stock had a trading volume of 1,192,445 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,003,571. The company has a market cap of $5.72 billion, a P/E ratio of 30.32, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.02 and a beta of 1.75. The business's 50-day moving average price is $106.74 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $108.34. The company has a current ratio of 3.19, a quick ratio of 2.04 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.93. MKS Instruments, Inc. has a 12-month low of $80.36 and a 12-month high of $147.40.

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 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $1.92 by $0.23. MKS Instruments had a net margin of 5.30% and a return on equity of 18.94%. Sell-side analysts forecast that MKS Instruments, Inc. will post 6.94 earnings per share for the current year.

MKS Instruments Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 7th. Investors of record on Monday, February 24th were paid a dividend of $0.22 per share. The ex-dividend date was Monday, February 24th. This represents a $0.88 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.04%. MKS Instruments's dividend payout ratio is presently 31.43%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research firms recently issued reports on MKSI. The Goldman Sachs Group boosted their target price on shares of MKS Instruments from $128.00 to $129.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research report on Friday, February 14th. Benchmark decreased their target price on shares of MKS Instruments from $142.00 to $135.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research report on Friday, February 14th. Morgan Stanley decreased their target price on shares of MKS Instruments from $150.00 to $147.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research report on Friday, February 14th. Needham & Company LLC decreased their target price on shares of MKS Instruments from $156.00 to $145.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research report on Friday, February 14th. Finally, Citigroup upgraded shares of MKS Instruments from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and set a $130.00 target price for the company in a research report on Monday, January 6th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nine have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $140.08.

Insider Activity at MKS Instruments

In other MKS Instruments news, Director Elizabeth Mora sold 275 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $92.46, for a total value of $25,426.50. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 17,384 shares in the company, valued at $1,607,324.64. The trade was a 1.56 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, Director Jacqueline F. Moloney sold 300 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, December 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $114.80, for a total transaction of $34,440.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 9,983 shares in the company, valued at $1,146,048.40. The trade was a 2.92 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last quarter, insiders sold 8,575 shares of company stock valued at $896,107. Corporate insiders own 0.46% of the company's stock.

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.