Rhumbline Advisers Cuts Position in MKS Instruments, Inc. (NASDAQ:MKSI)

Rhumbline Advisers decreased its holdings in MKS Instruments, Inc. (NASDAQ:MKSI) by 1.1% in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 176,785 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock after selling 2,029 shares during the quarter. Rhumbline Advisers owned about 0.26% of MKS Instruments worth $15,667,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Several other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of MKSI. Carlyle Group Inc. raised its position in MKS Instruments by 150.0% in the fourth quarter. Carlyle Group Inc. now owns 8,482,732 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock worth $718,742,000 after acquiring an additional 5,089,639 shares in the last quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD increased its position in shares of MKS Instruments by 240.6% in the fourth quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 1,498,030 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock valued at $126,928,000 after buying an additional 1,058,245 shares in the last quarter. Norges Bank purchased a new position in shares of MKS Instruments in the fourth quarter valued at $74,360,000. Vanguard Group Inc. increased its position in shares of MKS Instruments by 16.4% in the third quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 6,129,843 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock valued at $506,570,000 after buying an additional 864,178 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Polaris Capital Management LLC increased its position in shares of MKS Instruments by 5,335.5% in the fourth quarter. Polaris Capital Management LLC now owns 581,600 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock valued at $49,279,000 after buying an additional 570,900 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 99.25% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research analysts have recently weighed in on MKSI shares. StockNews.com started coverage on MKS Instruments in a research report on Thursday, August 17th. They issued a “hold” rating for the company. Benchmark raised their price target on MKS Instruments from $105.00 to $115.00 in a research report on Thursday, June 22nd. Needham & Company LLC restated a “buy” rating and issued a $113.00 price target on shares of MKS Instruments in a research report on Friday, August 4th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company raised their price target on MKS Instruments from $90.00 to $105.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Friday, July 14th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $104.10.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other MKS Instruments news, Director Elizabeth Mora sold 250 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, July 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $108.49, for a total value of $27,122.50. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 17,612 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,910,725.88. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. In other news, EVP Kathleen Flaherty Burke sold 11,563 shares of MKS Instruments stock in a transaction dated Monday, August 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $101.23, for a total value of $1,170,522.49. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 42,738 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $4,326,367.74. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, Director Elizabeth Mora sold 250 shares of MKS Instruments stock in a transaction dated Monday, July 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $108.49, for a total value of $27,122.50. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 17,612 shares in the company, valued at $1,910,725.88. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last ninety days, insiders have sold 12,063 shares of company stock valued at $1,221,457. Insiders own 0.69% of the company’s stock.

MKS Instruments Trading Up 1.6 %

MKS Instruments stock opened at $100.23 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $6.70 billion, a PE ratio of -3.82 and a beta of 1.55. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $102.08 and a 200 day moving average price of $94.47. MKS Instruments, Inc. has a 52 week low of $64.77 and a 52 week high of $114.15. The company has a current ratio of 3.27, a quick ratio of 2.03 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.93.

MKS Instruments (NASDAQ:MKSI) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, August 2nd. The scientific and technical instruments company reported $1.32 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.11 by $0.21. MKS Instruments had a positive return on equity of 10.78% and a negative net margin of 45.65%. The firm had revenue of $1 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $983.48 million. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $2.59 EPS. The firm’s quarterly revenue was up 31.1% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities research analysts predict that MKS Instruments, Inc. will post 3.72 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

MKS Instruments Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, September 8th. Shareholders of record on Monday, August 28th will be paid a $0.22 dividend. This represents a $0.88 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.88%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, August 25th. MKS Instruments’s payout ratio is -3.36%.

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, and internationally. It operates through Vacuum Solutions Division, Photonics Solutions Division, and Material Solutions Division.