Los Angeles Capital Management LLC Invests $1.78 Million in MKS Instruments, Inc. (NASDAQ:MKSI)

Los Angeles Capital Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of MKS Instruments, Inc. (NASDAQ:MKSI - Free Report) during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm purchased 17,015 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock, valued at approximately $1,776,000.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Blue Trust Inc. boosted its position in MKS Instruments by 424.1% during the 4th quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 414 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock worth $45,000 after buying an additional 335 shares during the period. Versant Capital Management Inc raised its stake in shares of MKS Instruments by 58.0% during the fourth quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc now owns 433 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock valued at $45,000 after acquiring an additional 159 shares during the last quarter. Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB bought a new position in shares of MKS Instruments during the third quarter valued at $50,000. Capital Performance Advisors LLP acquired a new position in shares of MKS Instruments during the third quarter worth $57,000. Finally, UMB Bank n.a. grew its stake in shares of MKS Instruments by 63.9% in the fourth quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 572 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock worth $60,000 after purchasing an additional 223 shares during the last quarter. 99.79% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

MKS Instruments Stock Up 1.1 %

MKSI traded up $0.96 during midday trading on Tuesday, hitting $86.59. The company had a trading volume of 878,111 shares, compared to its average volume of 943,578. The company has a market capitalization of $5.83 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 30.88, a PEG ratio of 1.02 and a beta of 1.66. The stock's 50 day moving average price is $108.52 and its 200 day moving average price is $109.31. The company has a quick ratio of 2.04, a current ratio of 3.19 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.93. MKS Instruments, Inc. has a 52 week low of $82.11 and a 52 week high of $147.40.

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MKS Instruments (NASDAQ:MKSI - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly 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%. On average, research analysts anticipate that MKS Instruments, Inc. will post 6.94 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

MKS Instruments Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 7th. Shareholders of record on Monday, February 24th will be paid a dividend of $0.22 per share. The ex-dividend date is Monday, February 24th. This represents a $0.88 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.02%. MKS Instruments's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 31.43%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, Director Gerard G. Colella sold 8,000 shares of the company's 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 sale, the director now owns 60,017 shares in the company, valued at $6,273,577.01. This represents a 11.76 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, Director Jacqueline F. Moloney sold 300 shares of the firm'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 directly owns 9,983 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,146,048.40. The trade was a 2.92 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Corporate insiders own 0.46% of the company's stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

MKSI has been the subject of several analyst reports. The Goldman Sachs Group raised their target price on MKS Instruments from $128.00 to $129.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research report on Friday, February 14th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. assumed coverage on MKS Instruments in a research note on Friday, December 13th. They issued an "overweight" rating and a $145.00 price objective on the stock. Citigroup upgraded MKS Instruments from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and set a $130.00 target price on the stock in a report on Monday, January 6th. Benchmark lowered their price target on shares of MKS Instruments from $142.00 to $135.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a report on Friday, February 14th. Finally, Morgan Stanley dropped their price target on shares of MKS Instruments from $150.00 to $147.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, February 14th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nine have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat, MKS Instruments presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price 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.