Pathstone Holdings LLC Trims Position in MKS Instruments, Inc. (NASDAQ:MKSI)

Pathstone Holdings LLC cut its holdings in MKS Instruments, Inc. (NASDAQ:MKSI) by 3.6% during the third quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 18,674 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock after selling 702 shares during the period. Pathstone Holdings LLC’s holdings in MKS Instruments were worth $2,030,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other large investors have also modified their holdings of the business. Ceredex Value Advisors LLC boosted its position in shares of MKS Instruments by 17.8% during the 3rd quarter. Ceredex Value Advisors LLC now owns 509,883 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock worth $55,429,000 after purchasing an additional 77,025 shares during the period. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company boosted its stake in shares of MKS Instruments by 14.0% in the second quarter. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company now owns 418,894 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock valued at $54,699,000 after purchasing an additional 51,540 shares during the period. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP grew its holdings in shares of MKS Instruments by 4.9% in the second quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 372,394 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock valued at $48,629,000 after purchasing an additional 17,476 shares in the last quarter. Millennium Management LLC increased its stake in MKS Instruments by 219.5% during the 2nd quarter. Millennium Management LLC now owns 348,024 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock worth $45,445,000 after buying an additional 239,099 shares during the period. Finally, Mizuho Markets Americas LLC lifted its holdings in MKS Instruments by 57.2% during the 3rd quarter. Mizuho Markets Americas LLC now owns 278,887 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock worth $30,318,000 after buying an additional 101,439 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 99.79% of the company’s stock.

MKS Instruments Stock Performance

Shares of MKSI stock opened at $113.15 on Wednesday. MKS Instruments, Inc. has a 1 year low of $77.25 and a 1 year high of $147.40. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.98, a quick ratio of 2.21 and a current ratio of 3.42. The firm has a market cap of $7.61 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 249.69, a PEG ratio of 0.68 and a beta of 1.63. The stock’s 50-day moving average is $107.17 and its two-hundred day moving average is $118.34.

MKS Instruments (NASDAQ:MKSI) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, November 6th. The scientific and technical instruments company reported $1.72 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.45 by $0.27. The company had revenue of $896.00 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $874.29 million. MKS Instruments had a return on equity of 15.79% and a net margin of 0.90%. The firm’s revenue was down 3.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $1.46 earnings per share. Analysts predict that MKS Instruments, Inc. will post 6.22 earnings per share for the current year.

MKS Instruments Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, December 6th. Investors of record on Monday, November 25th will be given a $0.22 dividend. This represents a $0.88 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.78%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, November 25th. MKS Instruments’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 195.56%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

MKSI has been the topic of a number of recent research reports. Cantor Fitzgerald began coverage on MKS Instruments in a research report on Tuesday, September 10th. They set an “overweight” rating and a $140.00 price objective on the stock. Citigroup lowered MKS Instruments from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating and reduced their price target for the company from $145.00 to $120.00 in a research report on Monday, September 16th. Benchmark restated a “buy” rating and set a $142.00 target price on shares of MKS Instruments in a research note on Monday, November 18th. Needham & Company LLC boosted their price target on shares of MKS Instruments from $153.00 to $156.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, August 9th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group started coverage on shares of MKS Instruments in a report on Tuesday, September 3rd. They issued a “neutral” rating and a $129.00 price objective on the stock. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, seven have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, MKS Instruments currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $141.09.

Insider Activity

In other news, Director Jacqueline F. Moloney sold 250 shares of MKS Instruments stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, October 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $108.90, for a total transaction of $27,225.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now directly owns 10,283 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,119,818.70. This trade represents a 2.37 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, Director Elizabeth Mora sold 275 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, September 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $115.97, for a total value of $31,891.75. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 17,934 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,079,805.98. This represents a 1.51 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Corporate insiders own 0.46% of the company’s stock.

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, South Korea, and internationally. It operates through Vacuum Solutions Division (VSD), Photonics Solutions Division (PSD), and Material Solutions Division (MSD) segments.