Aigen Investment Management LP Sells 5,429 Shares of MKS Instruments, Inc. (NASDAQ:MKSI)

Aigen Investment Management LP lessened its holdings in MKS Instruments, Inc. (NASDAQ:MKSI - Free Report) by 43.3% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 7,118 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock after selling 5,429 shares during the quarter. Aigen Investment Management LP's holdings in MKS Instruments were worth $743,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in MKSI. Private Advisor Group LLC raised its position in MKS Instruments by 22.5% during the third quarter. Private Advisor Group LLC now owns 2,718 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock worth $295,000 after acquiring an additional 499 shares in the last quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC raised its position in MKS Instruments by 59.3% during the third quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC now owns 4,853 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock worth $528,000 after acquiring an additional 1,807 shares in the last quarter. US Bancorp DE raised its position in MKS Instruments by 2.4% during the third quarter. US Bancorp DE now owns 4,942 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock worth $537,000 after acquiring an additional 118 shares in the last quarter. Hudson Value Partners LLC raised its position in MKS Instruments by 7.1% during the third quarter. Hudson Value Partners LLC now owns 23,271 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock worth $2,530,000 after acquiring an additional 1,539 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Capital Performance Advisors LLP bought a new stake in MKS Instruments during the third quarter worth $57,000. 99.79% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

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Insider Transactions at MKS Instruments

In related news, Director Elizabeth Mora sold 275 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $92.46, for a total value of $25,426.50. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 17,384 shares in the company, valued at $1,607,324.64. This trade represents a 1.56 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, Director Jacqueline F. Moloney sold 300 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, December 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $114.80, for a total transaction of $34,440.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 9,983 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $1,146,048.40. This trade represents a 2.92 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last 90 days, insiders sold 8,575 shares of company stock valued at $896,107. 0.46% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

MKS Instruments Stock Performance

Shares of MKSI stock traded up $2.37 on Friday, hitting $84.89. The company's stock had a trading volume of 1,192,445 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,003,571. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.93, a quick ratio of 2.04 and a current ratio of 3.19. The stock's 50 day moving average is $106.74 and its 200-day moving average is $108.34. MKS Instruments, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $80.36 and a fifty-two week high of $147.40. The company has a market capitalization of $5.72 billion, a PE ratio of 30.32, a PEG ratio of 1.02 and a beta of 1.75.

MKS Instruments (NASDAQ:MKSI - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 12th. The scientific and technical instruments company reported $2.15 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $1.92 by $0.23. MKS Instruments had a net margin of 5.30% and a return on equity of 18.94%. Equities research analysts expect that MKS Instruments, Inc. will post 6.94 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

MKS Instruments Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 7th. Stockholders of record on Monday, February 24th were issued a $0.22 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Monday, February 24th. This represents a $0.88 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.04%. MKS Instruments's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 31.43%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several analysts have issued reports on the stock. Morgan Stanley dropped their price target on shares of MKS Instruments from $150.00 to $147.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, February 14th. Citigroup raised shares of MKS Instruments from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and set a $130.00 price objective on the stock in a research report on Monday, January 6th. Needham & Company LLC dropped their price objective on shares of MKS Instruments from $156.00 to $145.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, February 14th. Benchmark dropped their price objective on shares of MKS Instruments from $142.00 to $135.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, February 14th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group increased their price objective on shares of MKS Instruments from $128.00 to $129.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research report on Friday, February 14th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nine have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has an average 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.