Creative Planning Boosts Stock Position in MKS Instruments, Inc. (NASDAQ:MKSI)

Creative Planning lifted its position in shares of MKS Instruments, Inc. (NASDAQ:MKSI) by 1.1% during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 31,843 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock after buying an additional 356 shares during the period. Creative Planning’s holdings in MKS Instruments were worth $4,158,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of MKSI. Atlas Capital Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of MKS Instruments in the 1st quarter worth approximately $25,000. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC purchased a new position in MKS Instruments in the 1st quarter worth $25,000. Rise Advisors LLC bought a new stake in MKS Instruments in the first quarter worth $26,000. Key Financial Inc purchased a new stake in MKS Instruments during the second quarter valued at about $39,000. Finally, BOKF NA bought a new position in shares of MKS Instruments during the second quarter valued at about $39,000. Institutional investors own 99.79% of the company’s stock.

Insider Activity

In related news, EVP John Edward Williams sold 1,800 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, August 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $118.71, for a total value of $213,678.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 13 shares in the company, valued at $1,543.23. The trade was a 0.00 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. In related news, EVP John Edward Williams sold 1,800 shares of MKS Instruments stock in a transaction dated Friday, August 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $118.71, for a total value of $213,678.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 13 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,543.23. This trade represents a 0.00 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, Director Jacqueline F. Moloney sold 250 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, October 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $108.90, for a total transaction of $27,225.00. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 10,283 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,119,818.70. The trade was a 0.00 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 2,575 shares of company stock worth $303,660 over the last 90 days. 0.46% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

MKS Instruments Price Performance

Shares of MKSI opened at $105.86 on Friday. The firm’s 50-day simple moving average is $112.55 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $122.64. MKS Instruments, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $63.44 and a fifty-two week high of $147.40. The stock has a market cap of $7.10 billion, a PE ratio of -3.97, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.77 and a beta of 1.63. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.16, a quick ratio of 2.31 and a current ratio of 3.58.

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 for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.02 by $0.51. The firm had revenue of $887.00 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $866.38 million. MKS Instruments had a return on equity of 14.91% and a net margin of 0.25%. The company’s revenue was down 11.6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the company earned $1.32 earnings per share. Analysts anticipate that MKS Instruments, Inc. will post 5.6 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

MKS Instruments Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, September 6th. Stockholders 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 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.83%. MKS Instruments’s dividend payout ratio is presently -3.30%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities research analysts recently weighed in on MKSI shares. Benchmark restated a “buy” rating and set a $142.00 target price on shares of MKS Instruments in a report on Thursday, August 8th. The Goldman Sachs Group started coverage on shares of MKS Instruments in a research report on Tuesday, September 3rd. They issued a “neutral” rating and a $129.00 price objective on the stock. Citigroup cut MKS Instruments from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating and reduced their target price for the company from $145.00 to $120.00 in a research note on Monday, September 16th. Needham & Company LLC raised their price target on MKS Instruments from $153.00 to $156.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, August 9th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reduced their price objective on shares of MKS Instruments from $140.00 to $120.00 and set a “hold” rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, August 9th. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have assigned a buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $141.09.

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.