MKS Instruments, Inc. (NASDAQ:MKSI) Shares Sold by ProShare Advisors LLC

ProShare Advisors LLC decreased its position in shares of MKS Instruments, Inc. (NASDAQ:MKSI) by 21.4% during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 7,052 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock after selling 1,919 shares during the period. ProShare Advisors LLC’s holdings in MKS Instruments were worth $625,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Ronald Blue Trust Inc. boosted its stake in shares of MKS Instruments by 73.0% in the first quarter. Ronald Blue Trust Inc. now owns 353 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock valued at $30,000 after purchasing an additional 149 shares during the period. GoalVest Advisory LLC acquired a new position in shares of MKS Instruments in the first quarter worth $99,000. Covestor Ltd increased its position in shares of MKS Instruments by 19.1% during the first quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 692 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock worth $104,000 after acquiring an additional 111 shares during the period. Mendota Financial Group LLC acquired a new stake in shares of MKS Instruments in the first quarter valued at $111,000. Finally, Canada Pension Plan Investment Board purchased a new position in MKS Instruments in the first quarter valued at $135,000. 99.25% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities analysts have recently issued reports on MKSI shares. Benchmark lifted their price objective on MKS Instruments from $105.00 to $115.00 in a research note on Thursday, June 22nd. Needham & Company LLC reiterated a “buy” rating and set a $113.00 price target on shares of MKS Instruments in a report on Friday, August 4th. StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of MKS Instruments in a report on Thursday, August 17th. They issued a “hold” rating on the stock. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company boosted their target price on shares of MKS Instruments from $90.00 to $105.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Friday, July 14th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, MKS Instruments has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $104.10.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, CFO Seth H. Bagshaw sold 25,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Wednesday, September 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $97.30, for a total value of $2,432,500.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 20,547 shares in the company, valued at $1,999,223.10. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this link. In related news, Director Elizabeth Mora sold 250 shares of MKS Instruments stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, July 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $108.49, for a total transaction of $27,122.50. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 17,612 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,910,725.88. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, CFO Seth H. Bagshaw sold 25,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, September 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $97.30, for a total value of $2,432,500.00. Following the sale, the chief financial officer now owns 20,547 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,999,223.10. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last ninety days, insiders sold 47,063 shares of company stock valued at $4,654,057. 0.46% of the stock is owned by insiders.

MKS Instruments Trading Down 4.6 %

Shares of MKS Instruments stock opened at $93.35 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.93, a quick ratio of 2.03 and a current ratio of 3.27. The company’s fifty day moving average is $101.23 and its two-hundred day moving average is $94.51. The company has a market capitalization of $6.24 billion, a P/E ratio of -3.56 and a beta of 1.56. MKS Instruments, Inc. has a 1 year low of $64.77 and a 1 year high of $114.15.

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

MKS Instruments Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, September 8th. Investors of record on Monday, August 28th will be issued a $0.22 dividend. This represents a $0.88 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.94%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, August 25th. MKS Instruments’s dividend payout ratio is currently -3.36%.

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