MKS Instruments, Inc. (NASDAQ:MKSI - Get Free Report) Director Gerard G. Colella sold 8,000 shares of the business's stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, February 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $104.53, for a total value of $836,240.00. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 60,017 shares in the company, valued at $6,273,577.01. This trade represents a 11.76 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website.
MKS Instruments Stock Performance
MKSI stock traded down $4.21 during trading on Friday, hitting $103.64. 453,940 shares of the company's stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 875,617. The stock has a market capitalization of $6.97 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 36.91, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.01 and a beta of 1.66. MKS Instruments, Inc. has a 52 week low of $97.54 and a 52 week high of $147.40. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $110.22 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $110.07. 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 (NASDAQ:MKSI - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, February 12th. The scientific and technical instruments company reported $2.15 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.92 by $0.23. MKS Instruments had a return on equity of 18.94% and a net margin of 5.30%. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that MKS Instruments, Inc. will post 6.94 EPS for the current fiscal year.
MKS Instruments Announces Dividend
The company also recently announced 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. This represents a $0.88 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.85%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, February 24th. MKS Instruments's payout ratio is 31.43%.
Analyst Ratings Changes
Several research analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. assumed coverage on shares of MKS Instruments in a research note on Friday, December 13th. They issued an "overweight" rating and a $145.00 target price for the company. Needham & Company LLC lowered their target price on MKS Instruments from $156.00 to $145.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research note on Friday, February 14th. The Goldman Sachs Group boosted their price target on MKS Instruments from $128.00 to $129.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research note on Friday, February 14th. Benchmark lowered their price objective on MKS Instruments from $142.00 to $135.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research note on Friday, February 14th. Finally, Citigroup raised MKS Instruments from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and set a $130.00 target price on the stock in a research report on Monday, January 6th. Three 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 company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $140.08.
Read Our Latest Stock Report on MKS Instruments
Institutional Trading of MKS Instruments
Several large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in MKSI. Madison Investment Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of MKS Instruments in the fourth quarter worth $97,494,000. Norges Bank acquired a new stake in MKS Instruments in the fourth quarter worth about $85,451,000. Barclays PLC grew its position in MKS Instruments by 108.6% in the 3rd quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 1,019,134 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock valued at $110,789,000 after buying an additional 530,620 shares in the last quarter. Shapiro Capital Management LLC acquired a new position in MKS Instruments during the 4th quarter valued at about $48,228,000. Finally, Assenagon Asset Management S.A. increased its stake in shares of MKS Instruments by 3,444.0% during the fourth quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. now owns 300,711 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock valued at $31,391,000 after acquiring an additional 292,226 shares during the period. 99.79% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.
About MKS Instruments
(
Get Free Report)
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.
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