MKS Instruments, Inc. (NASDAQ:MKSI) Holdings Decreased by Congress Wealth Management LLC DE

Congress Wealth Management LLC DE cut its position in shares of MKS Instruments, Inc. (NASDAQ:MKSI - Free Report) by 69.4% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 2,060 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock after selling 4,665 shares during the quarter. Congress Wealth Management LLC DE's holdings in MKS Instruments were worth $215,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in MKSI. Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its stake in MKS Instruments by 1.3% in the fourth quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 7,445,956 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock valued at $777,283,000 after acquiring an additional 97,392 shares during the period. LPL Financial LLC lifted its holdings in shares of MKS Instruments by 8.6% in the 4th quarter. LPL Financial LLC now owns 25,145 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock worth $2,625,000 after purchasing an additional 1,992 shares during the last quarter. KLP Kapitalforvaltning AS bought a new stake in shares of MKS Instruments in the 4th quarter worth approximately $1,441,000. Sei Investments Co. boosted its position in MKS Instruments by 32.1% during the 4th quarter. Sei Investments Co. now owns 151,025 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock valued at $15,766,000 after purchasing an additional 36,721 shares during the period. Finally, Summit Global Investments bought a new position in MKS Instruments during the 4th quarter worth $1,254,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 99.79% of the company's stock.

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Insiders Place Their Bets

In other MKS Instruments 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 transaction of $836,240.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now directly owns 60,017 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $6,273,577.01. This represents a 11.76 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, Director Elizabeth Mora sold 275 shares of MKS Instruments stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $92.46, for a total transaction of $25,426.50. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 17,384 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,607,324.64. This trade represents a 1.56 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.46% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

MKS Instruments Price Performance

Shares of MKSI traded down $3.98 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $60.29. The stock had a trading volume of 3,901,694 shares, compared to its average volume of 944,585. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.93, a current ratio of 3.19 and a quick ratio of 2.04. The company has a market capitalization of $4.07 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.53, a P/E/G ratio of 1.02 and a beta of 1.75. The firm's 50 day moving average price is $94.63 and its 200-day moving average price is $104.25. MKS Instruments, Inc. has a 52 week low of $54.93 and a 52 week high of $147.40.

MKS Instruments (NASDAQ:MKSI - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 12th. The scientific and technical instruments company reported $2.15 EPS 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%. On average, analysts forecast that MKS Instruments, Inc. will post 6.94 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

MKS Instruments Dividend Announcement

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

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

MKSI has been the subject of several analyst reports. Benchmark reduced 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. JPMorgan Chase & Co. began coverage on shares of MKS Instruments in a research report on Friday, December 13th. They issued an "overweight" rating and a $145.00 price objective on the stock. Needham & Company LLC decreased their target price on shares of MKS Instruments from $156.00 to $145.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research report on Friday, February 14th. Citigroup raised MKS Instruments from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and set a $130.00 price target on the stock in a report on Monday, January 6th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group increased their price objective on MKS Instruments from $128.00 to $129.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a 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 given a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target 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.