Phocas Financial Corp. Sells 27,372 Shares of MKS Instruments, Inc. (NASDAQ:MKSI)

Phocas Financial Corp. decreased its position in MKS Instruments, Inc. (NASDAQ:MKSI - Free Report) by 85.0% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 4,846 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock after selling 27,372 shares during the quarter. Phocas Financial Corp.'s holdings in MKS Instruments were worth $506,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Other large investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. Blue Trust Inc. grew its stake in shares of MKS Instruments by 424.1% in the 4th quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 414 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock valued at $45,000 after buying an additional 335 shares in the last quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc grew its stake in shares of MKS Instruments by 58.0% in the 4th quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc now owns 433 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock valued at $45,000 after buying an additional 159 shares in the last quarter. Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB bought a new stake in shares of MKS Instruments in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $50,000. Capital Performance Advisors LLP bought a new stake in shares of MKS Instruments in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $57,000. Finally, UMB Bank n.a. grew its stake in shares of MKS Instruments by 63.9% in the 4th quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 572 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock valued at $60,000 after buying an additional 223 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 99.79% of the company's stock.

Insider Activity at MKS Instruments

In other MKS Instruments news, Director Jacqueline F. Moloney sold 300 shares of the company's stock in a transaction on Tuesday, December 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $114.80, for a total value of $34,440.00. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 9,983 shares in the company, valued at $1,146,048.40. This represents a 2.92 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, Director Gerard G. Colella sold 8,000 shares of the company's stock in a transaction on Tuesday, February 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $104.53, for a total value of $836,240.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 60,017 shares in the company, valued at $6,273,577.01. This trade represents a 11.76 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last ninety days, insiders sold 8,575 shares of company stock worth $901,868. 0.46% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

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Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities research analysts recently commented on MKSI shares. Benchmark lowered their price target on 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 reduced their target price on MKS Instruments from $150.00 to $147.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a report on Friday, February 14th. Cantor Fitzgerald restated an "overweight" rating and issued a $140.00 target price on shares of MKS Instruments in a report on Thursday, February 13th. The Goldman Sachs Group boosted their target price on MKS Instruments from $128.00 to $129.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a report on Friday, February 14th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. began coverage on MKS Instruments in a report on Friday, December 13th. They issued an "overweight" rating and a $145.00 target price for the company. 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 stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $140.08.

MKS Instruments Stock Performance

Shares of MKSI stock traded up $0.65 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $91.82. 1,603,778 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 939,174. MKS Instruments, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $90.07 and a fifty-two week high of $147.40. The stock has a market capitalization of $6.18 billion, a P/E ratio of 32.79, a P/E/G ratio of 1.02 and a beta of 1.66. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $108.93 and a 200-day moving average price of $109.63. The company has a quick ratio of 2.04, a current ratio of 3.19 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.93.

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 analysts' consensus estimates of $1.92 by $0.23. MKS Instruments had a return on equity of 18.94% and a net margin of 5.30%. Analysts predict that MKS Instruments, Inc. will post 6.94 EPS for the current fiscal year.

MKS Instruments Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 7th. Investors of record on Monday, February 24th will be paid a $0.22 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Monday, February 24th. This represents a $0.88 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.96%. MKS Instruments's payout ratio is 31.43%.

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.