Crestline Management LP Raises Stock Holdings in MKS Instruments, Inc. (NASDAQ:MKSI)

Crestline Management LP lifted its position in MKS Instruments, Inc. (NASDAQ:MKSI - Free Report) by 85.1% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 78,938 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock after purchasing an additional 36,287 shares during the quarter. Crestline Management LP owned about 0.12% of MKS Instruments worth $8,240,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of MKSI. Pictet Asset Management Holding SA grew its holdings in shares of MKS Instruments by 1.0% in the fourth quarter. Pictet Asset Management Holding SA now owns 9,748 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock valued at $1,018,000 after purchasing an additional 94 shares in the last quarter. Avantax Advisory Services Inc. grew its stake in shares of MKS Instruments by 4.7% in the fourth quarter. Avantax Advisory Services Inc. now owns 2,143 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock worth $224,000 after acquiring an additional 97 shares in the last quarter. Louisiana State Employees Retirement System increased its position in shares of MKS Instruments by 0.5% during the fourth quarter. Louisiana State Employees Retirement System now owns 18,700 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock worth $1,952,000 after acquiring an additional 100 shares during the period. CIBC Asset Management Inc raised its stake in shares of MKS Instruments by 5.2% in the fourth quarter. CIBC Asset Management Inc now owns 2,068 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock valued at $216,000 after acquiring an additional 103 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC raised its stake in shares of MKS Instruments by 68.6% in the fourth quarter. Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC now owns 263 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock valued at $27,000 after acquiring an additional 107 shares in the last quarter. 99.79% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

MKS Instruments Stock Performance

Shares of MKSI stock traded up $2.85 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $80.14. The company had a trading volume of 1,577,384 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,069,182. MKS Instruments, Inc. has a 52-week low of $54.84 and a 52-week high of $147.40. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.93, a current ratio of 3.19 and a quick ratio of 2.04. The company's 50 day simple moving average is $75.48 and its 200 day simple moving average is $97.17. The stock has a market cap of $5.41 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 28.62, a PEG ratio of 1.02 and a beta of 1.80.

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

MKS Instruments Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 7th. Shareholders of record on Monday, February 24th were given a $0.22 dividend. This represents a $0.88 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.10%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, February 24th. MKS Instruments's payout ratio is 31.43%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other MKS Instruments news, Director Gerard G. Colella sold 8,000 shares of the company's stock in a transaction on Tuesday, February 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $104.53, for a total value of $836,240.00. Following the sale, the director now owns 60,017 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $6,273,577.01. This represents a 11.76 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, Director Elizabeth Mora sold 275 shares of MKS Instruments stock in a transaction on Monday, March 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $92.46, for a total value of $25,426.50. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 17,384 shares of the company's stock, valued at $1,607,324.64. This trade represents a 1.56 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 0.51% of the company's stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities research analysts have weighed in on MKSI shares. Needham & Company LLC cut their price target on MKS Instruments from $145.00 to $140.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a report on Friday. The Goldman Sachs Group upped their target price on shares of MKS Instruments from $128.00 to $129.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research note on Friday, February 14th. Morgan Stanley boosted their price target on shares of MKS Instruments from $85.00 to $93.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a report on Friday. Benchmark reduced their price objective on shares of MKS Instruments from $142.00 to $135.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a report on Friday, February 14th. Finally, Cantor Fitzgerald reiterated an "overweight" rating and set a $140.00 target price on shares of MKS Instruments in a research note on Thursday, February 13th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nine have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $135.17.

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.