HighTower Advisors LLC Sells 6,831 Shares of MKS Inc. $MKSI

Key Points

• HighTower Advisors cut its MKS position by 55.1% in the second quarter, selling 6,831 shares and retaining 5,565 shares valued at approximately $2.48 million. Institutional investors collectively own 99.79% of MKS stock.
• MKS reported strong quarterly results, with earnings of $3.30 per share versus the $2.91 consensus estimate and revenue of $1.25 billion, up 28.3% year over year. The company also issued third-quarter 2026 EPS guidance of $3.27 to $3.89.
• Analysts maintain a generally positive outlook, with the stock carrying a “Moderate Buy” consensus rating and an average price target of $382.86, well above its reported opening price of $267.31.

HighTower Advisors LLC lessened its position in MKS Inc. (NASDAQ:MKSI - Free Report) by 55.1% during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 5,565 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock after selling 6,831 shares during the quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC's holdings in MKS were worth $2,475,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Several other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of MKSI. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC raised its holdings in shares of MKS by 3.6% in the first quarter. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC now owns 267,421 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock valued at $21,434,000 after purchasing an additional 9,170 shares during the last quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC lifted its position in shares of MKS by 63.4% in the second quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 838 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock worth $83,000 after purchasing an additional 325 shares in the last quarter. First Trust Advisors LP boosted its holdings in MKS by 3,545.6% during the second quarter. First Trust Advisors LP now owns 141,267 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock worth $14,036,000 after purchasing an additional 137,392 shares during the last quarter. Cerity Partners LLC acquired a new position in MKS during the second quarter worth $1,676,000. Finally, AXA S.A. grew its position in MKS by 22.8% in the second quarter. AXA S.A. now owns 29,253 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock valued at $2,907,000 after purchasing an additional 5,430 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 99.79% of the company's stock.

Insider Activity at MKS

In related news, Director Elizabeth Mora sold 300 shares of MKS stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, September 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $250.96, for a total transaction of $75,288.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director owned 18,845 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,729,341.20. This trade represents a 1.57% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Also, EVP John Williams sold 457 shares of the business's stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, August 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $288.31, for a total value of $131,757.67. Following the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 4,098 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,181,494.38. This trade represents a 10.03% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. In the last ninety days, insiders sold 10,757 shares of company stock worth $3,227,146. Insiders own 0.57% of the company's stock.

MKS Price Performance

Shares of MKSI opened at $267.31 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 1.14, a quick ratio of 0.72 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.85. The company's fifty day simple moving average is $302.06 and its 200 day simple moving average is $295.77. MKS Inc. has a 1-year low of $114.36 and a 1-year high of $447.62. The company has a market cap of $18.08 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 42.63, a PEG ratio of 0.56 and a beta of 1.98.

MKS (NASDAQ:MKSI - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, August 5th. The scientific and technical instruments company reported $3.30 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $2.91 by $0.39. MKS had a net margin of 10.15% and a return on equity of 24.72%. The firm had revenue of $1.25 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $1.20 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $1.77 earnings per share. The company's revenue for the quarter was up 28.3% compared to the same quarter last year. MKS has set its Q3 2026 guidance at 3.270-3.890 EPS. On average, research analysts forecast that MKS Inc. will post 13.07 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

MKS Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, September 3rd. Investors of record on Tuesday, August 25th were paid a $0.25 dividend. This represents a $1.00 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.4%. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, August 25th. MKS's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 15.95%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities research analysts have issued reports on MKSI shares. BMO Capital Markets started coverage on shares of MKS in a research note on Tuesday, June 30th. They issued an "outperform" rating and a $453.00 price target on the stock. KeyCorp increased their price objective on shares of MKS from $360.00 to $475.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research note on Monday, June 29th. Citigroup raised their price objective on MKS from $425.00 to $430.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Friday, August 7th. Weiss Ratings raised MKS from a "hold (c+)" rating to a "buy (b-)" rating in a research report on Friday. Finally, Mizuho dropped their target price on MKS from $360.00 to $330.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, August 25th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirteen have assigned a Buy rating, one has issued a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $382.86.

MKS Profile

MKS Instruments, Inc NASDAQ: MKSI provides instruments, systems and process-control solutions used by manufacturers and research organizations. Its technologies help measure and control pressure, flow, vacuum, gas composition, temperature and other conditions involved in advanced manufacturing and laboratory processes.

The company offers vacuum components and systems, gas and vapor delivery equipment, pressure and flow controllers, process-monitoring instruments, analytical solutions, RF and microwave power systems, plasma-generation technologies, and materials-processing equipment.

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