MKS Instruments, Inc. (NASDAQ:MKSI) Stock Holdings Lifted by D. E. Shaw & Co. Inc.

D. E. Shaw & Co. Inc. increased its stake in shares of MKS Instruments, Inc. (NASDAQ:MKSI - Free Report) by 158.5% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 367,437 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock after buying an additional 225,285 shares during the period. D. E. Shaw & Co. Inc. owned about 0.55% of MKS Instruments worth $38,357,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in MKSI. Barclays PLC increased its holdings in MKS Instruments by 108.6% during the third quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 1,019,134 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock worth $110,789,000 after buying an additional 530,620 shares during the last quarter. Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB purchased a new stake in MKS Instruments during the third quarter worth about $50,000. Franklin Resources Inc. increased its holdings in MKS Instruments by 26.2% during the third quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 23,311 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock worth $2,626,000 after buying an additional 4,846 shares during the last quarter. Fulton Bank N.A. increased its holdings in MKS Instruments by 15.7% during the fourth quarter. Fulton Bank N.A. now owns 4,248 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock worth $443,000 after buying an additional 578 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Oak Thistle LLC purchased a new stake in MKS Instruments during the fourth quarter worth about $295,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 99.79% of the company's stock.

Insider Activity at MKS Instruments

In other MKS Instruments news, 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 transaction of $25,426.50. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 17,384 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,607,324.64. This trade represents a 1.56% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Also, Director Gerard G. Colella sold 8,000 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $104.53, for a total transaction of $836,240.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now directly owns 60,017 shares in the company, valued at $6,273,577.01. This trade represents a 11.76% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.57% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of brokerages have weighed in on MKSI. Cantor Fitzgerald reiterated an "overweight" rating and set a $140.00 target price on shares of MKS Instruments in a research report on Thursday, February 13th. Morgan Stanley upped their target price on shares of MKS Instruments from $85.00 to $93.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research note on Friday, May 9th. The Goldman Sachs Group increased their target price on shares of MKS Instruments from $128.00 to $129.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a report on Friday, February 14th. Benchmark cut their price objective 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. Finally, Needham & Company LLC lowered their target price on MKS Instruments from $145.00 to $140.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research report on Friday, May 9th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nine have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $135.17.

MKS Instruments Trading Up 0.7%

NASDAQ MKSI traded up $0.62 during trading hours on Wednesday, reaching $93.94. The company had a trading volume of 933,629 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,059,281. The stock has a 50-day moving average of $75.79 and a 200 day moving average of $97.05. The company has a current ratio of 3.19, a quick ratio of 2.04 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.93. MKS Instruments, Inc. has a 1-year low of $54.84 and a 1-year high of $147.40. The stock has a market capitalization of $6.34 billion, a P/E ratio of 33.55, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.02 and a beta of 1.80.

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

MKS Instruments Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 6th. Investors of record on Tuesday, May 27th will be issued a $0.22 dividend. This represents a $0.88 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.94%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, May 27th. MKS Instruments's dividend payout ratio 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.