MKS Instruments, Inc. (NASDAQ:MKSI) Shares Sold by State of Tennessee Department of Treasury

State of Tennessee Department of Treasury lowered its holdings in MKS Instruments, Inc. (NASDAQ:MKSI) by 2.7% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 33,507 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock after selling 945 shares during the quarter. State of Tennessee Department of Treasury’s holdings in MKS Instruments were worth $3,498,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the company. Madison Investment Advisors LLC purchased a new position in MKS Instruments in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $97,494,000. Norges Bank acquired a new stake in MKS Instruments during the 4th quarter worth $85,451,000. Barclays PLC lifted its position in MKS Instruments by 108.6% in 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 last quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. boosted its stake in MKS Instruments by 3,444.0% in the fourth quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. now owns 300,711 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock valued at $31,391,000 after acquiring an additional 292,226 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Raymond James Financial Inc. purchased a new position in shares of MKS Instruments during the fourth quarter worth about $28,312,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 99.79% of the company’s stock.

Insider Activity at MKS Instruments

In other news, Director Elizabeth Mora sold 275 shares of MKS Instruments stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $92.46, for a total transaction of $25,426.50. Following the completion of the sale, 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 position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, Director Gerard G. Colella sold 8,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, February 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $104.53, for a total value of $836,240.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 60,017 shares in the company, valued at approximately $6,273,577.01. This represents a 11.76 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Company insiders own 0.46% of the company’s stock.

MKS Instruments Price Performance

Shares of MKSI opened at $74.08 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 3.19, a quick ratio of 2.04 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.93. The stock’s 50 day moving average is $79.94 and its two-hundred day moving average is $99.24. MKS Instruments, Inc. has a twelve month low of $54.84 and a twelve month high of $147.40. The firm has a market capitalization of $5.00 billion, a PE ratio of 26.46, a P/E/G ratio of 1.02 and a beta of 1.81.

MKS Instruments (NASDAQ:MKSI) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 12th. The scientific and technical instruments company reported $2.15 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.92 by $0.23. MKS Instruments had a return on equity of 18.94% and a net margin of 5.30%. Research analysts anticipate that MKS Instruments, Inc. will post 6.94 earnings per share for the current year.

MKS Instruments Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 7th. Stockholders of record on Monday, February 24th were issued a $0.22 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Monday, February 24th. This represents a $0.88 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.19%. MKS Instruments’s dividend payout ratio is presently 31.43%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of analysts recently issued reports on MKSI shares. Cantor Fitzgerald reissued an “overweight” rating and issued a $140.00 target price on shares of MKS Instruments in a research report on Thursday, February 13th. Needham & Company LLC decreased their price objective on MKS Instruments from $156.00 to $145.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Friday, February 14th. Morgan Stanley cut their target price on shares of MKS Instruments from $150.00 to $147.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, February 14th. The Goldman Sachs Group increased their price target on shares of MKS Instruments from $128.00 to $129.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research note on Friday, February 14th. Finally, Benchmark dropped their price objective on shares of MKS Instruments from $142.00 to $135.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, February 14th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nine have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $140.08.

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.