MKS Instruments, Inc. (NASDAQ:MKSI) Stock Position Reduced by Trexquant Investment LP

Trexquant Investment LP reduced its stake in MKS Instruments, Inc. (NASDAQ:MKSI - Free Report) by 43.3% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 14,420 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock after selling 10,995 shares during the period. Trexquant Investment LP's holdings in MKS Instruments were worth $1,505,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Madison Investment Advisors LLC acquired a new position in MKS Instruments during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $97,494,000. Norges Bank bought a new stake in MKS Instruments in the fourth quarter valued at $85,451,000. Barclays PLC boosted its holdings in shares of MKS Instruments by 108.6% during the third quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 1,019,134 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock valued at $110,789,000 after acquiring an additional 530,620 shares during the period. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. grew its position in shares of MKS Instruments by 3,444.0% during the fourth quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. now owns 300,711 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock worth $31,391,000 after acquiring an additional 292,226 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Raymond James Financial Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of MKS Instruments in the 4th quarter worth about $28,312,000. 99.79% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

MKSI has been the subject of several recent analyst reports. Cantor Fitzgerald restated an "overweight" rating and issued a $140.00 target price on shares of MKS Instruments in a research report on Thursday, February 13th. Citigroup raised MKS Instruments from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and set a $130.00 price objective for the company in a report on Monday, January 6th. 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 research report on Friday, February 14th. Benchmark decreased 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. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group upped their price objective on shares of MKS Instruments from $128.00 to $129.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a report on Friday, February 14th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nine have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $140.08.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other MKS Instruments news, Director Gerard G. Colella sold 8,000 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated 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 transaction, the director now directly 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 sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, Director Elizabeth Mora sold 275 shares of MKS Instruments 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 directly owns 17,384 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,607,324.64. This trade represents a 1.56 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.46% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

MKS Instruments Price Performance

Shares of NASDAQ MKSI traded down $0.76 during midday trading on Tuesday, reaching $67.72. The company's stock had a trading volume of 307,850 shares, compared to its average volume of 992,848. MKS Instruments, Inc. has a one year low of $54.84 and a one year high of $147.40. The company has a market cap of $4.57 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 24.19, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.02 and a beta of 1.81. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $87.44 and a 200 day moving average price of $101.71. The company has a current ratio of 3.19, a quick ratio of 2.04 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.93.

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

MKS Instruments Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 7th. Investors of record on Monday, February 24th were given a $0.22 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, February 24th. This represents a $0.88 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.30%. MKS Instruments's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 31.43%.

MKS Instruments 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.