Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC Acquires 1,807 Shares of MKS Instruments, Inc. (NASDAQ:MKSI)

Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC increased its holdings in MKS Instruments, Inc. (NASDAQ:MKSI) by 59.3% in the third quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 4,853 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock after purchasing an additional 1,807 shares during the period. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC’s holdings in MKS Instruments were worth $528,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC acquired a new stake in shares of MKS Instruments in the first quarter worth about $25,000. Massmutual Trust Co. FSB ADV lifted its holdings in MKS Instruments by 196.9% in the 3rd quarter. Massmutual Trust Co. FSB ADV now owns 288 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock worth $31,000 after purchasing an additional 191 shares during the last quarter. Key Financial Inc bought a new stake in MKS Instruments during the second quarter worth approximately $39,000. Quarry LP bought a new stake in MKS Instruments during the second quarter worth approximately $39,000. Finally, BOKF NA acquired a new position in MKS Instruments during the second quarter valued at approximately $39,000. 99.79% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, EVP John Edward Williams sold 1,800 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction 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 sale, the executive vice president now owns 13 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,543.23. The trade was a 0.00 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. In related news, Director Elizabeth Mora sold 275 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, September 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $115.97, for a total transaction of $31,891.75. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 17,934 shares in the company, valued at $2,079,805.98. This represents a 0.00 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, EVP John Edward Williams sold 1,800 shares of MKS Instruments stock in a transaction 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 owns 13 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,543.23. The trade was a 0.00 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 2,325 shares of company stock worth $272,795 in the last 90 days. 0.46% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. Cantor Fitzgerald initiated coverage on shares of MKS Instruments in a research note on Tuesday, September 10th. They issued an “overweight” rating and a $140.00 price objective for the company. Citigroup cut shares of MKS Instruments from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating and decreased their price target for the company from $145.00 to $120.00 in a report on Monday, September 16th. Benchmark reiterated a “buy” rating and issued a $142.00 price objective on shares of MKS Instruments in a research note on Thursday, August 8th. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their target price on MKS Instruments from $120.00 to $110.00 and set an “equal weight” rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, October 3rd. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft cut their price target on MKS Instruments from $140.00 to $120.00 and set a “hold” rating for the company in a report on Friday, August 9th. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, seven have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $141.09.

MKS Instruments Stock Up 0.6 %

MKSI opened at $116.29 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $7.83 billion, a P/E ratio of 258.42, a P/E/G ratio of 0.72 and a beta of 1.63. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.16, a current ratio of 3.58 and a quick ratio of 2.31. The firm’s fifty day moving average price is $106.63 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $119.01. MKS Instruments, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $67.57 and a fifty-two week high of $147.40.

MKS Instruments (NASDAQ:MKSI) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, November 6th. The scientific and technical instruments company reported $1.72 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.42 by $0.30. MKS Instruments had a net margin of 0.90% and a return on equity of 15.82%. The business had revenue of $896.00 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $874.29 million. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $1.46 EPS. The firm’s revenue was down 3.9% on a year-over-year basis. On average, analysts anticipate that MKS Instruments, Inc. will post 5.61 EPS for the current year.

MKS Instruments Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, December 6th. Stockholders of record on Monday, November 25th will be issued a $0.22 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Monday, November 25th. This represents a $0.88 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.76%. MKS Instruments’s payout ratio is presently 195.56%.

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.