Sterling Capital Management LLC Acquires 9,102 Shares of MKS Instruments, Inc. (NASDAQ:MKSI)

Sterling Capital Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of MKS Instruments, Inc. (NASDAQ:MKSI - Free Report) by 46.5% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 28,670 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock after purchasing an additional 9,102 shares during the quarter. Sterling Capital Management LLC's holdings in MKS Instruments were worth $2,993,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Several other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the business. Pictet Asset Management Holding SA lifted its stake in MKS Instruments by 1.0% during the 4th quarter. Pictet Asset Management Holding SA now owns 9,748 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock valued at $1,018,000 after acquiring an additional 94 shares during the period. Avantax Advisory Services Inc. raised its holdings in shares of MKS Instruments by 4.7% during the fourth quarter. Avantax Advisory Services Inc. now owns 2,143 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock valued at $224,000 after purchasing an additional 97 shares during the last quarter. Louisiana State Employees Retirement System lifted its position in MKS Instruments by 0.5% during the fourth quarter. Louisiana State Employees Retirement System now owns 18,700 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock valued at $1,952,000 after purchasing an additional 100 shares during the period. CIBC Asset Management Inc boosted its holdings in MKS Instruments by 5.2% in the fourth quarter. CIBC Asset Management Inc now owns 2,068 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock worth $216,000 after purchasing an additional 103 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC boosted its holdings in MKS Instruments by 68.6% in the fourth quarter. Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC now owns 263 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock worth $27,000 after purchasing an additional 107 shares during the last quarter. 99.79% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Insider Activity at MKS Instruments

In other MKS Instruments news, Director Elizabeth Mora sold 275 shares of the firm's 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 owns 17,384 shares in the company, valued at $1,607,324.64. This trade represents a 1.56 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, Director Gerard G. Colella sold 8,000 shares of MKS Instruments stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, February 18th. The stock was 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 directly owns 60,017 shares in the company, valued at approximately $6,273,577.01. The trade was a 11.76 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.51% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

MKSI has been the topic of several research analyst reports. Cantor Fitzgerald reissued an "overweight" rating and set a $140.00 price target on shares of MKS Instruments in a report on Thursday, February 13th. Morgan Stanley lowered their target price on MKS Instruments from $150.00 to $147.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a report on Friday, February 14th. Benchmark cut 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. The Goldman Sachs Group upped their price target 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. Finally, Needham & Company LLC cut 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. Three equities 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. According to MarketBeat.com, MKS Instruments currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $140.08.

MKS Instruments Price Performance

MKS Instruments stock traded up $0.03 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $63.72. The stock had a trading volume of 1,641,411 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,009,544. MKS Instruments, Inc. has a one year low of $54.84 and a one year high of $147.40. The company has a current ratio of 3.19, a quick ratio of 2.04 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.93. The firm has a market capitalization of $4.30 billion, a P/E ratio of 22.76, a P/E/G ratio of 1.02 and a beta of 1.81. The firm's 50 day moving average is $84.65 and its 200 day moving average is $100.90.

MKS Instruments (NASDAQ:MKSI - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 12th. The scientific and technical instruments company reported $2.15 earnings per share 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%. On average, sell-side analysts forecast 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. Investors of record on Monday, February 24th were given a dividend of $0.22 per share. The ex-dividend date was Monday, February 24th. This represents a $0.88 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.38%. MKS Instruments's dividend payout ratio is 31.43%.

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.