MKS Instruments, Inc. (NASDAQ:MKSI) Shares Acquired by Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank

Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank increased its holdings in MKS Instruments, Inc. (NASDAQ:MKSI) by 18.8% in the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The institutional investor owned 13,468 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock after buying an additional 2,135 shares during the period. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank’s holdings in MKS Instruments were worth $1,385,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of MKSI. Treasurer of the State of North Carolina boosted its stake in MKS Instruments by 0.5% during the 3rd quarter. Treasurer of the State of North Carolina now owns 29,144 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock valued at $2,522,000 after purchasing an additional 140 shares during the period. Scotia Capital Inc. boosted its stake in MKS Instruments by 2.3% during the 3rd quarter. Scotia Capital Inc. now owns 7,261 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock valued at $628,000 after purchasing an additional 166 shares during the period. Signaturefd LLC boosted its stake in MKS Instruments by 22.1% during the 3rd quarter. Signaturefd LLC now owns 928 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock valued at $80,000 after purchasing an additional 168 shares during the period. Securian Asset Management Inc. boosted its stake in MKS Instruments by 4.1% during the 3rd quarter. Securian Asset Management Inc. now owns 5,323 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock valued at $461,000 after purchasing an additional 209 shares during the period. Finally, Stifel Financial Corp boosted its stake in MKS Instruments by 0.4% during the 3rd quarter. Stifel Financial Corp now owns 55,330 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock valued at $4,789,000 after purchasing an additional 246 shares during the period. 99.79% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, Director Elizabeth Mora sold 250 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, April 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $133.00, for a total value of $33,250.00. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 16,862 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,242,646. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In other news, Director Elizabeth Mora sold 250 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, April 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $133.00, for a total transaction of $33,250.00. Following the sale, the director now owns 16,862 shares in the company, valued at $2,242,646. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Kathleen Flaherty Burke sold 7,411 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, March 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $122.89, for a total transaction of $910,737.79. Following the sale, the executive vice president now owns 42,999 shares in the company, valued at approximately $5,284,147.11. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 50,776 shares of company stock worth $6,226,307 in the last ninety days. 0.46% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

MKS Instruments Stock Up 2.2 %

MKSI stock opened at $116.27 on Friday. MKS Instruments, Inc. has a 52 week low of $63.44 and a 52 week high of $135.51. The company has a market capitalization of $7.80 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -4.22, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.70 and a beta of 1.67. The firm’s 50-day moving average is $123.92 and its two-hundred day moving average is $102.22. The company has a current ratio of 3.18, a quick ratio of 2.01 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.90.

MKS Instruments (NASDAQ:MKSI) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, February 7th. The scientific and technical instruments company reported $1.17 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.89 by $0.28. MKS Instruments had a negative net margin of 50.80% and a positive return on equity of 9.95%. The business had revenue of $893.00 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $845.25 million. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $2.00 EPS. The business’s revenue for the quarter was down 17.7% on a year-over-year basis. On average, analysts forecast that MKS Instruments, Inc. will post 4.54 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

MKS Instruments Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 8th. Investors of record on Monday, February 26th were issued a $0.22 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, February 23rd. This represents a $0.88 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.76%. MKS Instruments’s payout ratio is currently -3.19%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research firms have issued reports on MKSI. Benchmark boosted their target price on shares of MKS Instruments from $85.00 to $130.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, February 9th. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their target price on shares of MKS Instruments from $115.00 to $120.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Tuesday, April 2nd. Needham & Company LLC boosted their target price on shares of MKS Instruments from $120.00 to $125.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, February 8th. StockNews.com upgraded shares of MKS Instruments from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Thursday, February 15th. Finally, KeyCorp boosted their price target on shares of MKS Instruments from $115.00 to $140.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Friday, February 9th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $128.75.

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.