12,011 Shares in MKS Instruments, Inc. (NASDAQ:MKSI) Bought by Summit Global Investments

Summit Global Investments purchased a new position in shares of MKS Instruments, Inc. (NASDAQ:MKSI - Free Report) during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund purchased 12,011 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock, valued at approximately $1,254,000.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC grew its holdings in shares of 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 valued at $27,000 after acquiring an additional 107 shares in the last quarter. TD Private Client Wealth LLC bought a new position in MKS Instruments in the 4th quarter valued at $39,000. Blue Trust Inc. increased its position in shares of MKS Instruments by 424.1% during the 4th quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 414 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock valued at $45,000 after purchasing an additional 335 shares during the last quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc raised its stake in shares of MKS Instruments by 58.0% during the 4th quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc now owns 433 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock worth $45,000 after purchasing an additional 159 shares during the period. Finally, Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB purchased a new position in shares of MKS Instruments in the 3rd quarter worth about $50,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 99.79% of the company's stock.

Insider Activity

In related news, Director Elizabeth Mora sold 275 shares of MKS Instruments stock in a transaction 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 sale, the director now owns 17,384 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $1,607,324.64. This trade represents a 1.56 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, Director Gerard G. Colella sold 8,000 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated 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 transaction, the director now owns 60,017 shares in the company, valued at $6,273,577.01. This represents a 11.76 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Company insiders own 0.46% of the company's stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research firms recently issued reports on MKSI. Benchmark decreased their price objective 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. Morgan Stanley decreased their price target on shares of MKS Instruments from $150.00 to $147.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research note on Friday, February 14th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. initiated coverage on shares of MKS Instruments in a report on Friday, December 13th. They issued an "overweight" rating and a $145.00 price target on the stock. Cantor Fitzgerald reissued an "overweight" rating and set a $140.00 price objective on shares of MKS Instruments in a report on Thursday, February 13th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group boosted their target price on MKS Instruments from $128.00 to $129.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research note on Friday, February 14th. Three equities research 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's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $140.08.

MKS Instruments Stock Performance

Shares of NASDAQ:MKSI traded down $2.82 during midday trading on Thursday, reaching $84.82. 870,235 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 890,077. The firm's fifty day moving average price is $100.77 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $105.81. The firm has a market capitalization of $5.72 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 30.29, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.02 and a beta of 1.75. 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, Inc. has a 12 month low of $76.37 and a 12 month high of $147.40.

MKS Instruments (NASDAQ:MKSI - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 12th. The scientific and technical instruments company reported $2.15 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate 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, equities analysts expect that MKS Instruments, Inc. will post 6.94 earnings per share for the current year.

MKS Instruments Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 7th. Shareholders of record on Monday, February 24th were issued a $0.22 dividend. This represents a $0.88 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.04%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, February 24th. 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.