Wellington Management Group LLP Buys 6,715 Shares of MKS Instruments, Inc. (NASDAQ:MKSI)

Wellington Management Group LLP increased its stake in MKS Instruments, Inc. (NASDAQ:MKSI - Free Report) by 0.3% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 2,291,478 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock after buying an additional 6,715 shares during the period. Wellington Management Group LLP owned about 3.40% of MKS Instruments worth $239,207,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Nordea Investment Management AB lifted its holdings in MKS Instruments by 10.4% during the 4th quarter. Nordea Investment Management AB now owns 2,525,037 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock worth $265,874,000 after buying an additional 237,979 shares during the last quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. grew its holdings 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 purchasing an additional 292,226 shares during the last quarter. WCM Investment Management LLC boosted its position in MKS Instruments by 25.5% during the 4th quarter. WCM Investment Management LLC now owns 35,069 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock valued at $3,650,000 after purchasing an additional 7,136 shares during the period. Prudential Financial Inc. lifted its position in MKS Instruments by 772.7% in the 4th quarter. Prudential Financial Inc. now owns 61,447 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock valued at $6,481,000 after purchasing an additional 54,406 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Tributary Capital Management LLC boosted its stake in MKS Instruments by 65.0% during the 4th quarter. Tributary Capital Management LLC now owns 8,751 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock valued at $914,000 after purchasing an additional 3,447 shares in the last quarter. 99.79% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

MKS Instruments Stock Performance

MKSI traded down $3.98 during trading on Friday, reaching $60.29. 3,901,694 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 946,249. The company has a quick ratio of 2.04, a current ratio of 3.19 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.93. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $94.63 and a 200 day moving average price of $104.19. MKS Instruments, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $54.84 and a fifty-two week high of $147.40. The company has a market capitalization of $4.07 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.53, a PEG ratio of 1.02 and a beta of 1.81.

MKS Instruments (NASDAQ:MKSI - Get Free Report) last posted 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 net margin of 5.30% and a return on equity of 18.94%. As a group, analysts predict that MKS Instruments, Inc. will post 6.94 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

MKS Instruments Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 7th. Investors of record on Monday, February 24th were issued a $0.22 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, February 24th. This represents a $0.88 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.46%. MKS Instruments's dividend payout ratio is 31.43%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

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

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several analysts recently commented on MKSI shares. Benchmark cut 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 note on Friday, February 14th. Morgan Stanley dropped their price objective on MKS Instruments from $150.00 to $147.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a report on Friday, February 14th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. started coverage on shares of MKS Instruments in a research note on Friday, December 13th. They issued an "overweight" rating and a $145.00 price objective for the company. 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. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group boosted their price objective on shares of MKS Instruments from $128.00 to $129.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research note on Friday, February 14th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nine have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $140.08.

About MKS Instruments

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.