Centiva Capital LP Trims Holdings in MKS Instruments, Inc. (NASDAQ:MKSI)

Centiva Capital LP lessened its holdings in MKS Instruments, Inc. (NASDAQ:MKSI - Free Report) by 90.6% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 2,723 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock after selling 26,340 shares during the quarter. Centiva Capital LP's holdings in MKS Instruments were worth $284,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in MKSI. Bridgefront Capital LLC grew its position in MKS Instruments by 70.2% during the 4th quarter. Bridgefront Capital LLC now owns 4,206 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock worth $439,000 after purchasing an additional 1,735 shares during the last quarter. Capstone Investment Advisors LLC boosted its position in MKS Instruments by 48.3% during the fourth quarter. Capstone Investment Advisors LLC now owns 32,500 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock worth $3,393,000 after purchasing an additional 10,581 shares in the last quarter. BNP Paribas Financial Markets grew its stake in MKS Instruments by 26.1% in the 4th quarter. BNP Paribas Financial Markets now owns 92,932 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock valued at $9,701,000 after acquiring an additional 19,244 shares during the last quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. lifted its stake in MKS Instruments by 7.3% in the 4th quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. now owns 190,128 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock valued at $19,847,000 after buying an additional 12,942 shares in the last quarter. Finally, AXA S.A. increased its position in MKS Instruments by 141.9% during the 4th quarter. AXA S.A. now owns 33,279 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock worth $3,474,000 after purchasing an additional 19,521 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 99.79% of the company's stock.

Insider Activity

In other MKS Instruments news, Director Gerard G. Colella sold 8,000 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $104.53, for a total value of $836,240.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 60,017 shares in the company, valued at $6,273,577.01. This represents a 11.76% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, Director Elizabeth Mora sold 275 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $92.46, for a total value of $25,426.50. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 17,384 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,607,324.64. This represents a 1.56% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Corporate insiders own 0.57% of the company's stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research analysts recently weighed in on MKSI shares. The Goldman Sachs Group increased their target price on MKS Instruments from $128.00 to $129.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research report on Friday, February 14th. Morgan Stanley lifted their price target on MKS Instruments from $85.00 to $93.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a report on Friday, May 9th. Cantor Fitzgerald restated an "overweight" rating and issued a $140.00 price target on shares of MKS Instruments in a research report on Thursday, February 13th. Needham & Company LLC lowered their price objective on shares of MKS Instruments from $145.00 to $140.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, May 9th. Finally, Benchmark lowered their target price on MKS Instruments from $142.00 to $135.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research note 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 data from MarketBeat.com, MKS Instruments has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $135.17.

MKS Instruments Trading Down 0.6%

Shares of NASDAQ:MKSI traded down $0.53 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $90.66. 655,747 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,053,629. The firm has a market capitalization of $6.11 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 32.38, a PEG ratio of 1.02 and a beta of 1.80. MKS Instruments, Inc. has a twelve month low of $54.84 and a twelve month high of $147.40. The business's fifty day moving average price is $76.21 and its 200-day moving average price is $96.95. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.93, a quick ratio of 2.04 and a current ratio of 3.19.

MKS Instruments (NASDAQ:MKSI - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, May 7th. The scientific and technical instruments company reported $1.71 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.42 by $0.29. The business had revenue of $936.00 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $913.59 million. MKS Instruments had a return on equity of 18.94% and a net margin of 5.30%. MKS Instruments's revenue was up 7.8% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $1.18 earnings per share. On average, research analysts predict that MKS Instruments, Inc. will post 6.94 EPS for the current fiscal year.

MKS Instruments Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 6th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, May 27th will be given a dividend of $0.22 per share. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, May 27th. This represents a $0.88 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.97%. MKS Instruments's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 26.27%.

MKS Instruments Company 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.