MKS Instruments, Inc. (NASDAQ:MKSI) Shares Bought by Amundi

Amundi raised its stake in MKS Instruments, Inc. (NASDAQ:MKSI - Free Report) by 210.5% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 278,950 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock after acquiring an additional 189,125 shares during the quarter. Amundi owned approximately 0.41% of MKS Instruments worth $31,008,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC raised its holdings in shares of MKS Instruments by 68.6% in the fourth quarter. Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC now owns 263 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock worth $27,000 after acquiring an additional 107 shares during the last quarter. Proficio Capital Partners LLC acquired a new position in shares of MKS Instruments in the fourth quarter worth $36,000. Versant Capital Management Inc raised its holdings in shares of MKS Instruments by 58.0% in the fourth quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc now owns 433 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock worth $45,000 after acquiring an additional 159 shares during the last quarter. Blue Trust Inc. raised its holdings in shares of MKS Instruments by 424.1% in the fourth quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 414 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock worth $45,000 after acquiring an additional 335 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB acquired a new position in shares of MKS Instruments in the third quarter worth $50,000. 99.79% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

MKS Instruments Price Performance

MKSI stock opened at $81.02 on Thursday. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $105.26 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $107.58. MKS Instruments, Inc. has a 12-month low of $76.37 and a 12-month high of $147.40. The company has a current ratio of 3.19, a quick ratio of 2.04 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.93. The company has a market cap of $5.46 billion, a PE ratio of 28.94, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.02 and a beta of 1.76.

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MKS Instruments (NASDAQ:MKSI - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data 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 return on equity of 18.94% and a net margin of 5.30%. As a group, research analysts predict that MKS Instruments, Inc. will post 6.94 EPS for the current year.

MKS Instruments Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 7th. Shareholders of record on Monday, February 24th were paid a dividend of $0.22 per share. This represents a $0.88 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.09%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, February 24th. MKS Instruments's dividend payout ratio is presently 31.43%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other MKS Instruments news, Director Elizabeth Mora sold 275 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated 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 $1,607,324.64. The trade was a 1.56 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, Director Gerard G. Colella sold 8,000 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated 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 owns 60,017 shares in the company, valued at approximately $6,273,577.01. This represents a 11.76 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.51% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities research analysts have recently commented on the company. Needham & Company LLC lowered their price objective on MKS Instruments from $156.00 to $145.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research report on Friday, February 14th. Morgan Stanley lowered their price objective on MKS Instruments from $150.00 to $147.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research report on Friday, February 14th. 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 price objective for the company. Cantor Fitzgerald reaffirmed an "overweight" rating and issued a $140.00 price objective on shares of MKS Instruments in a research report on Thursday, February 13th. Finally, 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 report on Friday, February 14th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nine have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $140.08.

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.

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