Algert Global LLC Takes $882,000 Position in MKS Instruments, Inc. (NASDAQ:MKSI)

Algert Global LLC acquired a new position in shares of MKS Instruments, Inc. (NASDAQ:MKSI) during the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The institutional investor acquired 6,753 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock, valued at approximately $882,000.

Several other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of MKSI. Vanguard Group Inc. grew its position in MKS Instruments by 0.6% during the fourth quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 6,892,941 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock valued at $709,077,000 after acquiring an additional 39,045 shares during the period. Nordea Investment Management AB grew its holdings in shares of MKS Instruments by 143.1% during the 1st quarter. Nordea Investment Management AB now owns 2,141,676 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock worth $282,102,000 after purchasing an additional 1,260,792 shares during the period. Principal Financial Group Inc. grew its holdings in shares of MKS Instruments by 1.1% during the 1st quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. now owns 911,243 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock worth $121,195,000 after purchasing an additional 10,079 shares during the period. Westfield Capital Management Co. LP increased its position in MKS Instruments by 5.1% during the 1st quarter. Westfield Capital Management Co. LP now owns 620,063 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock worth $82,468,000 after purchasing an additional 30,348 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Frontier Capital Management Co. LLC raised its holdings in MKS Instruments by 20.0% in the fourth quarter. Frontier Capital Management Co. LLC now owns 545,516 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock valued at $56,117,000 after buying an additional 90,956 shares during the period. 99.79% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

MKS Instruments Price Performance

MKSI stock opened at $105.86 on Friday. The stock’s 50 day moving average is $112.18 and its two-hundred day moving average is $122.54. MKS Instruments, Inc. has a 52-week low of $63.44 and a 52-week high of $147.40. The company has a market capitalization of $7.10 billion, a PE ratio of -3.97, a P/E/G ratio of 0.77 and a beta of 1.63. The company has a quick ratio of 2.31, a current ratio of 3.58 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.16.

MKS Instruments (NASDAQ:MKSI) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, August 7th. The scientific and technical instruments company reported $1.53 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.02 by $0.51. MKS Instruments had a net margin of 0.25% and a return on equity of 14.91%. The business had revenue of $887.00 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $866.38 million. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $1.32 earnings per share. The business’s revenue was down 11.6% compared to the same quarter last year. Analysts predict that MKS Instruments, Inc. will post 5.6 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

MKS Instruments Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, September 6th. Investors of record on Monday, August 26th were paid a $0.22 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, August 26th. This represents a $0.88 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.83%. MKS Instruments’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is -3.30%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities research analysts have issued reports on the stock. Needham & Company LLC boosted their price objective on shares of MKS Instruments from $153.00 to $156.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, August 9th. Cantor Fitzgerald began coverage on MKS Instruments in a report on Tuesday, September 10th. They issued an “overweight” rating and a $140.00 price target for the company. KeyCorp raised their price objective on MKS Instruments from $150.00 to $160.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Friday, July 12th. Citigroup downgraded MKS Instruments from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating and decreased their target price for the stock from $145.00 to $120.00 in a research report on Monday, September 16th. Finally, Morgan Stanley assumed coverage on MKS Instruments in a research note on Monday, August 5th. They issued an “overweight” rating and a $155.00 target price for the company. Five analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have assigned a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $141.09.

Insider Activity at MKS Instruments

In other news, Director Jacqueline F. Moloney sold 250 shares of MKS Instruments stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, August 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $123.46, for a total value of $30,865.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 10,533 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,300,404.18. This trade represents a 0.00 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In related news, Director Elizabeth Mora sold 275 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, September 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $115.97, for a total transaction of $31,891.75. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 17,934 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $2,079,805.98. This represents a 0.00 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, Director Jacqueline F. Moloney sold 250 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, August 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $123.46, for a total transaction of $30,865.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 10,533 shares in the company, valued at $1,300,404.18. This represents a 0.00 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 2,575 shares of company stock valued at $303,660 over the last three months. 0.46% of the stock is owned by insiders.

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.