MKS Instruments, Inc. (NASDAQ:MKSI) Shares Sold by Janney Montgomery Scott LLC

Janney Montgomery Scott LLC lowered its holdings in shares of MKS Instruments, Inc. (NASDAQ:MKSI) by 6.4% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 8,666 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock after selling 597 shares during the period. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC’s holdings in MKS Instruments were worth $942,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of MKSI. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC acquired a new position in shares of MKS Instruments in the first quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Massmutual Trust Co. FSB ADV grew its position 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 valued at $31,000 after buying an additional 191 shares during the last quarter. UMB Bank n.a. increased its stake in MKS Instruments by 53.7% in the 3rd quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 349 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock valued at $38,000 after buying an additional 122 shares during the period. Key Financial Inc purchased a new position in MKS Instruments during the 2nd quarter worth $39,000. Finally, BOKF NA acquired a new stake in shares of MKS Instruments in the 2nd quarter worth $39,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 99.79% of the company’s stock.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, Director Jacqueline F. Moloney sold 250 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, October 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $108.90, for a total value of $27,225.00. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 10,283 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,119,818.70. This trade represents a 2.37 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, Director Elizabeth Mora sold 275 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on 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 approximately $2,079,805.98. The trade was a 1.51 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.46% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

MKSI has been the topic of a number of recent analyst reports. Mizuho upgraded shares of MKS Instruments to a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Monday, October 7th. Citigroup downgraded MKS Instruments from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating and cut their target price for the stock from $145.00 to $120.00 in a research note on Monday, September 16th. Cantor Fitzgerald began coverage on MKS Instruments in a research note on Tuesday, September 10th. They issued an “overweight” rating and a $140.00 price target on the stock. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft dropped their price objective on MKS Instruments from $140.00 to $120.00 and set a “hold” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, August 9th. Finally, Needham & Company LLC raised their target price on MKS Instruments from $153.00 to $156.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, August 9th. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, seven have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, MKS Instruments has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $141.09.

MKS Instruments Stock Down 6.6 %

Shares of NASDAQ MKSI opened at $105.48 on Friday. The firm’s 50-day moving average is $106.81 and its two-hundred day moving average is $118.81. The company has a market capitalization of $7.10 billion, a PE ratio of 234.40, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.66 and a beta of 1.63. MKS Instruments, Inc. has a 12-month low of $75.07 and a 12-month high of $147.40. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.98, a current ratio of 3.42 and a quick ratio of 2.21.

MKS Instruments (NASDAQ:MKSI) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, November 6th. The scientific and technical instruments company reported $1.72 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.45 by $0.27. MKS Instruments had a return on equity of 15.79% and a net margin of 0.90%. The firm had revenue of $896.00 million for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $874.29 million. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $1.46 EPS. MKS Instruments’s quarterly revenue was down 3.9% on a year-over-year basis. Equities analysts anticipate that MKS Instruments, Inc. will post 6.22 EPS for the current fiscal year.

MKS Instruments Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, December 6th. Investors of record on Monday, November 25th will be paid a dividend of $0.22 per share. This represents a $0.88 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.83%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, November 25th. MKS Instruments’s payout ratio is 195.56%.

About MKS Instruments

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.