MKS Instruments, Inc. (NASDAQ:MKSI) Stock Holdings Decreased by Royce & Associates LP

Royce & Associates LP reduced its position in MKS Instruments, Inc. (NASDAQ:MKSI - Free Report) by 4.6% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 763,394 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock after selling 37,017 shares during the period. MKS Instruments makes up about 0.8% of Royce & Associates LP's holdings, making the stock its 11th biggest holding. Royce & Associates LP owned approximately 1.13% of MKS Instruments worth $82,989,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other large investors also recently modified their holdings of the business. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC acquired a new stake in MKS Instruments in the first quarter valued at $25,000. Massmutual Trust Co. FSB ADV raised its stake in shares of MKS Instruments by 196.9% in the 3rd quarter. Massmutual Trust Co. FSB ADV now owns 288 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock valued at $31,000 after purchasing an additional 191 shares in the last quarter. UMB Bank n.a. lifted its position in shares of MKS Instruments by 53.7% during the third quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 349 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock worth $38,000 after purchasing an additional 122 shares during the last quarter. Key Financial Inc acquired a new position in MKS Instruments in the second quarter worth about $39,000. Finally, BOKF NA bought a new stake in MKS Instruments in the second quarter valued at about $39,000. 99.79% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other MKS Instruments news, Director Jacqueline F. Moloney sold 250 shares of the company's stock in a transaction on Tuesday, October 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $108.90, for a total value of $27,225.00. Following the transaction, the director now owns 10,283 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $1,119,818.70. This represents a 2.37 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, Director Elizabeth Mora sold 275 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, September 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $115.97, for a total value of $31,891.75. Following the sale, the director now owns 17,934 shares of the company's stock, valued at $2,079,805.98. This trade represents a 1.51 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.46% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research analysts have recently commented on MKSI shares. Mizuho upgraded MKS Instruments to a "strong-buy" rating in a research report on Monday, October 7th. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their price target on shares of MKS Instruments from $120.00 to $110.00 and set an "equal weight" rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, October 3rd. Cantor Fitzgerald began coverage on shares of MKS Instruments in a research report on Tuesday, September 10th. They set an "overweight" rating and a $140.00 price objective for the company. 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 target price on the stock. Finally, Needham & Company LLC upped their target price on MKS Instruments from $153.00 to $156.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Friday, August 9th. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, seven 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 has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $141.09.

MKS Instruments Stock Performance

Shares of NASDAQ:MKSI traded down $7.44 on Friday, hitting $105.48. The company's stock had a trading volume of 1,156,960 shares, compared to its average volume of 826,667. The company has a market capitalization of $7.10 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 250.93, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.66 and a beta of 1.63. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.98, a quick ratio of 2.21 and a current ratio of 3.42. The stock's 50-day moving average is $106.79 and its two-hundred day moving average is $118.93. MKS Instruments, Inc. has a 12 month low of $75.07 and a 12 month high of $147.40.

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

MKS Instruments Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, December 6th. Stockholders of record on Monday, November 25th will be issued a $0.22 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, November 25th. This represents a $0.88 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.83%. MKS Instruments's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 195.56%.

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.