Optimize Financial Inc Buys New Stake in MKS Inc. $MKSI

Optimize Financial Inc purchased a new position in shares of MKS Inc. (NASDAQ:MKSI) in the third quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor purchased 13,243 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,639,000. MKS accounts for approximately 0.9% of Optimize Financial Inc’s investment portfolio, making the stock its 7th largest position.

Several other hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. SJS Investment Consulting Inc. acquired a new position in shares of MKS during the third quarter worth about $30,000. Winnow Wealth LLC purchased a new stake in shares of MKS during the 3rd quarter valued at about $38,000. Bayforest Capital Ltd acquired a new position in MKS during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $39,000. Atlantic Union Bankshares Corp purchased a new position in MKS in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $46,000. Finally, Salomon & Ludwin LLC acquired a new stake in MKS in the third quarter valued at approximately $49,000. 99.79% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

MKS Stock Performance

MKSI stock opened at $229.58 on Wednesday. The company has a current ratio of 2.86, a quick ratio of 1.81 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.64. The firm has a market cap of $15.42 billion, a P/E ratio of 55.72, a P/E/G ratio of 1.62 and a beta of 1.95. MKS Inc. has a 12-month low of $54.84 and a 12-month high of $246.35. The stock’s 50 day simple moving average is $181.75 and its 200 day simple moving average is $142.95.

MKS (NASDAQ:MKSI) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, November 5th. The scientific and technical instruments company reported $1.93 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.80 by $0.13. MKS had a net margin of 7.25% and a return on equity of 20.80%. The firm had revenue of $988.00 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $963.87 million. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $1.72 earnings per share. The firm’s revenue was up 10.3% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities research analysts predict that MKS Inc. will post 6.94 EPS for the current year.

Insider Activity

In other news, Director Elizabeth Mora sold 300 shares of MKS stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, December 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $158.81, for a total value of $47,643.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director directly owned 18,963 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $3,011,514.03. The trade was a 1.56% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Insiders own 0.51% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research firms have recently commented on MKSI. Citigroup boosted their target price on shares of MKS from $122.00 to $185.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, November 12th. Benchmark lifted their price target on shares of MKS from $135.00 to $180.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, November 7th. Needham & Company LLC upped their price objective on shares of MKS from $210.00 to $260.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, January 22nd. Morgan Stanley raised their target price on MKS from $187.00 to $258.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Thursday, January 22nd. Finally, KeyCorp boosted their price target on MKS from $180.00 to $250.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Friday, January 16th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, ten have assigned a Buy rating, two have assigned a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $231.50.

About MKS

MKS Instruments, Inc (NASDAQ: MKSI) designs, manufactures and markets technology solutions that enable advanced processes in a variety of high‐technology and industrial markets. The company’s core offerings include vacuum and gas delivery systems, pressure and flow measurement instruments, optical metrology tools, photonics subsystems and critical components for manufacturing processes. These products support the precise control and monitoring needs of semiconductor, industrial manufacturing, life and health sciences, and research applications.

The company’s product portfolio features mass flow controllers, pressure transducers, vacuum gauges, gas purity monitors, laser-based metrology systems and photonic devices such as lasers and detectors.