Gerard G. Colella Sells 8,000 Shares of MKS Instruments, Inc. (NASDAQ:MKSI) Stock

MKS Instruments, Inc. (NASDAQ:MKSI) Director Gerard G. Colella sold 8,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, February 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $104.53, for a total transaction of $836,240.00. Following the sale, the director now owns 60,017 shares in the company, valued at approximately $6,273,577.01. This trade represents a 11.76 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink.

MKS Instruments Trading Up 1.0 %

Shares of NASDAQ:MKSI opened at $107.85 on Friday. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $110.22 and a two-hundred day moving average of $110.07. The company has a quick ratio of 2.04, a current ratio of 3.19 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.93. MKS Instruments, Inc. has a 12-month low of $97.54 and a 12-month high of $147.40. The firm has a market capitalization of $7.26 billion, a P/E ratio of 38.52, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.98 and a beta of 1.66.

MKS Instruments (NASDAQ:MKSI) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, February 12th. The scientific and technical instruments company reported $2.15 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.92 by $0.23. MKS Instruments had a net margin of 5.30% and a return on equity of 18.94%. On average, equities analysts expect that MKS Instruments, Inc. will post 7.05 EPS for the current fiscal year.

MKS Instruments Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 7th. Shareholders of record on Monday, February 24th will be issued a dividend of $0.22 per share. The ex-dividend date is Monday, February 24th. This represents a $0.88 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.82%. MKS Instruments’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 31.43%.

Institutional Trading of MKS Instruments

Large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio lifted its holdings in MKS Instruments by 62.5% in the 4th quarter. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio now owns 39,464 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock worth $4,120,000 after purchasing an additional 15,184 shares during the last quarter. GTS Securities LLC lifted its position in MKS Instruments by 41.5% during the 4th quarter. GTS Securities LLC now owns 9,357 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock worth $977,000 after acquiring an additional 2,745 shares during the last quarter. PharVision Advisers LLC bought a new stake in MKS Instruments during the fourth quarter valued at about $261,000. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC grew its position in shares of MKS Instruments by 20.6% in the fourth quarter. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC now owns 258,251 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock valued at $26,959,000 after purchasing an additional 44,106 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Two Sigma Investments LP acquired a new position in shares of MKS Instruments during the 4th quarter worth about $4,405,000. Institutional investors own 99.79% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research analysts have recently commented on MKSI shares. Benchmark decreased their price target on shares of MKS Instruments from $142.00 to $135.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Friday, February 14th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. initiated coverage on shares of MKS Instruments in a research note on Friday, December 13th. They set an “overweight” rating and a $145.00 target price for the company. Cantor Fitzgerald restated an “overweight” rating and set a $140.00 price target on shares of MKS Instruments in a research report on Thursday, February 13th. Citigroup upgraded shares of MKS Instruments from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $130.00 price target on the stock in a research report on Monday, January 6th. Finally, Needham & Company LLC decreased their target price on MKS Instruments from $156.00 to $145.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, February 14th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nine have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, MKS Instruments currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $140.08.

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.