Nomura Holdings Inc. Buys 21,256 Shares of MKS Instruments, Inc. (NASDAQ:MKSI)

Nomura Holdings Inc. boosted its holdings in MKS Instruments, Inc. (NASDAQ:MKSI) by 5.3% during the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The fund owned 419,347 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock after buying an additional 21,256 shares during the period. Nomura Holdings Inc.’s holdings in MKS Instruments were worth $43,776,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in MKSI. Madison Investment Advisors LLC bought a new position in MKS Instruments in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $97,494,000. Norges Bank bought a new position in MKS Instruments in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $85,451,000. Barclays PLC lifted its position in MKS Instruments by 108.6% in the 3rd 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 in the last quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. lifted its holdings in shares of MKS Instruments by 3,444.0% during the 4th 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 buying an additional 292,226 shares during the period. Finally, Raymond James Financial Inc. bought a new position in shares of MKS Instruments during the 4th quarter valued at $28,312,000. 99.79% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

MKS Instruments Stock Up 2.8%

Shares of NASDAQ MKSI opened at $93.32 on Wednesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.93, a current ratio of 3.19 and a quick ratio of 2.04. The company has a market cap of $6.29 billion, a P/E ratio of 33.33, a PEG ratio of 1.02 and a beta of 1.80. MKS Instruments, Inc. has a 1 year low of $54.84 and a 1 year high of $147.40. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $75.79 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $97.05.

MKS Instruments (NASDAQ:MKSI) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, May 7th. The scientific and technical instruments company reported $1.71 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.42 by $0.29. MKS Instruments had a net margin of 5.30% and a return on equity of 18.94%. The business had revenue of $936.00 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $913.59 million. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $1.18 earnings per share. The firm’s quarterly revenue was up 7.8% compared to the same quarter last year. 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 will be paid on Friday, June 6th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, May 27th will be paid a dividend of $0.22 per share. This represents a $0.88 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.94%. MKS Instruments’s dividend payout ratio is presently 26.27%.

Insider Activity

In related 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 transaction, the director now directly owns 17,384 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,607,324.64. This trade represents a 1.56% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, Director Gerard G. Colella sold 8,000 shares of MKS Instruments stock in a transaction on Tuesday, February 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $104.53, for a total transaction of $836,240.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 60,017 shares in the company, valued at $6,273,577.01. This represents a 11.76% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 0.57% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

MKSI has been the topic of several research analyst reports. The Goldman Sachs Group increased their price target on MKS Instruments from $128.00 to $129.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a report on Friday, February 14th. Cantor Fitzgerald reissued an “overweight” rating and set a $140.00 price target on shares of MKS Instruments in a report on Thursday, February 13th. Needham & Company LLC reduced their price objective on MKS Instruments from $145.00 to $140.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Friday, May 9th. Morgan Stanley upped their price target on MKS Instruments from $85.00 to $93.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Friday, May 9th. Finally, Benchmark reduced their price target on MKS Instruments from $142.00 to $135.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, February 14th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nine have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, MKS Instruments currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $135.17.

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.