BNP Paribas Financial Markets Sells 24,164 Shares of MKS Instruments, Inc. (NASDAQ:MKSI)

BNP Paribas Financial Markets reduced its position in MKS Instruments, Inc. (NASDAQ:MKSI - Free Report) by 24.7% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 73,688 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock after selling 24,164 shares during the quarter. BNP Paribas Financial Markets owned about 0.11% of MKS Instruments worth $8,011,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the business. Massmutual Trust Co. FSB ADV grew its holdings in MKS Instruments by 196.9% during the third quarter. Massmutual Trust Co. FSB ADV now owns 288 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock worth $31,000 after acquiring an additional 191 shares during the period. UMB Bank n.a. lifted its position in shares of MKS Instruments by 53.7% in the third quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 349 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock valued at $38,000 after acquiring an additional 122 shares in the last quarter. Key Financial Inc acquired a new stake in shares of MKS Instruments during the second quarter valued at $39,000. BOKF NA purchased a new stake in MKS Instruments during the 2nd quarter worth about $39,000. Finally, Quarry LP acquired a new position in MKS Instruments in the 2nd quarter valued at about $39,000. 99.79% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. Citigroup lowered shares of MKS Instruments from a "buy" rating to a "neutral" rating and cut their price objective for the company from $145.00 to $120.00 in a research report on Monday, September 16th. Morgan Stanley began coverage on shares of MKS Instruments in a research note on Monday, August 5th. They issued an "overweight" rating and a $155.00 target price on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their price target on MKS Instruments from $120.00 to $110.00 and set an "equal weight" rating for the company in a report on Thursday, October 3rd. The Goldman Sachs Group initiated coverage on shares of MKS Instruments in a report on Tuesday, September 3rd. They issued a "neutral" rating and a $129.00 price target on the stock. Finally, Cantor Fitzgerald started coverage on shares of MKS Instruments in a report on Tuesday, September 10th. They issued an "overweight" rating and a $140.00 price objective for the company. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, seven have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $141.09.

MKS Instruments Price Performance

NASDAQ:MKSI traded down $0.60 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, hitting $117.33. The company's stock had a trading volume of 202,131 shares, compared to its average volume of 822,850. The company has a current ratio of 3.42, a quick ratio of 2.21 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.98. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $107.55 and a 200-day moving average of $117.91. The company has a market capitalization of $7.90 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 261.58, a P/E/G ratio of 0.68 and a beta of 1.65. MKS Instruments, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $80.84 and a fifty-two week high of $147.40.

MKS Instruments (NASDAQ:MKSI - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, November 6th. The scientific and technical instruments company reported $1.72 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.45 by $0.27. MKS Instruments had a return on equity of 15.79% and a net margin of 0.90%. The business had revenue of $896.00 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $874.29 million. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $1.46 EPS. MKS Instruments's revenue was down 3.9% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities analysts forecast that MKS Instruments, Inc. will post 6.22 EPS for the current fiscal year.

MKS Instruments Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, December 6th. Shareholders of record on Monday, November 25th will be given a $0.22 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, November 25th. This represents a $0.88 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.75%. MKS Instruments's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 195.56%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, Director Jacqueline F. Moloney sold 250 shares of the business's stock in a transaction on Tuesday, October 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $108.90, for a total value of $27,225.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 10,283 shares of the company's stock, valued at $1,119,818.70. The trade was a 2.37 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Insiders own 0.51% of the company's stock.

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.