Gabelli Funds LLC Has $4.23 Million Stake in MKS Instruments, Inc. (NASDAQ:MKSI)

Gabelli Funds LLC cut its stake in MKS Instruments, Inc. (NASDAQ:MKSI) by 5.3% in the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 32,386 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock after selling 1,800 shares during the period. Gabelli Funds LLC’s holdings in MKS Instruments were worth $4,229,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

A number of other large investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. AE Wealth Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of MKS Instruments by 5.9% in the second quarter. AE Wealth Management LLC now owns 1,659 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock valued at $217,000 after purchasing an additional 92 shares in the last quarter. Cornerstone Investment Partners LLC lifted its stake in MKS Instruments by 2.9% in the 1st quarter. Cornerstone Investment Partners LLC now owns 3,574 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock valued at $475,000 after acquiring an additional 100 shares in the last quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC boosted its position in MKS Instruments by 62.6% during the 2nd quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC now owns 309 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock worth $40,000 after acquiring an additional 119 shares during the last quarter. Verity Asset Management Inc. grew its stake in shares of MKS Instruments by 6.3% during the 1st quarter. Verity Asset Management Inc. now owns 2,085 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock worth $277,000 after acquiring an additional 124 shares in the last quarter. Finally, CWM LLC raised its holdings in shares of MKS Instruments by 23.0% in the second quarter. CWM LLC now owns 937 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock valued at $122,000 after purchasing an additional 175 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 99.79% of the company’s stock.

MKS Instruments Price Performance

Shares of MKSI opened at $109.23 on Wednesday. The company’s 50-day moving average is $115.31 and its 200-day moving average is $123.45. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.16, a current ratio of 3.58 and a quick ratio of 2.31. The firm has a market capitalization of $7.32 billion, a PE ratio of -4.09, a PEG ratio of 0.79 and a beta of 1.64. MKS Instruments, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $63.44 and a fifty-two week high of $147.40.

MKS Instruments (NASDAQ:MKSI) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, August 7th. The scientific and technical instruments company reported $1.53 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.02 by $0.51. MKS Instruments had a net margin of 0.25% and a return on equity of 14.91%. The firm had revenue of $887.00 million for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $866.38 million. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $1.32 EPS. The business’s revenue was down 11.6% on a year-over-year basis. Equities analysts forecast that MKS Instruments, Inc. will post 5.6 EPS for the current year.

MKS Instruments Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, September 6th. Investors of record on Monday, August 26th were issued a dividend of $0.22 per share. The ex-dividend date was Monday, August 26th. This represents a $0.88 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.81%. MKS Instruments’s payout ratio is currently -3.30%.

Insider Activity at MKS Instruments

In other news, EVP John Edward Williams sold 1,800 shares of MKS Instruments stock in a transaction on Friday, August 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $118.71, for a total transaction of $213,678.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 13 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,543.23. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. In related news, Director Jacqueline F. Moloney sold 250 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, August 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $123.46, for a total transaction of $30,865.00. Following the sale, the director now owns 10,533 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,300,404.18. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Also, EVP John Edward Williams sold 1,800 shares of MKS Instruments stock in a transaction on Friday, August 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $118.71, for a total value of $213,678.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 13 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,543.23. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 2,325 shares of company stock worth $276,435 in the last ninety days. 0.46% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research analysts recently commented on the stock. KeyCorp increased their target price on shares of MKS Instruments from $150.00 to $160.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Friday, July 12th. Cantor Fitzgerald initiated coverage on MKS Instruments in a report on Tuesday, September 10th. They issued an “overweight” rating and a $140.00 price objective for the company. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft dropped their target price on MKS Instruments from $140.00 to $120.00 and set a “hold” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, August 9th. Bank of America initiated coverage on MKS Instruments in a research note on Wednesday, July 10th. They issued a “buy” rating and a $160.00 price target for the company. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group started coverage on MKS Instruments in a research note on Tuesday, September 3rd. They set a “neutral” rating and a $129.00 price objective on the stock. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $142.00.

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.