MKS Inc. (NASDAQ:MKSI) Shares Bought by Royce & Associates LP

Royce & Associates LP raised its position in MKS Inc. (NASDAQ:MKSI - Free Report) by 7.3% during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 793,244 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock after buying an additional 53,800 shares during the period. MKS comprises about 0.7% of Royce & Associates LP's portfolio, making the stock its 15th largest holding. Royce & Associates LP owned approximately 1.18% of MKS worth $63,579,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Proficio Capital Partners LLC acquired a new stake in MKS in the 4th quarter worth about $36,000. TD Private Client Wealth LLC purchased a new position in MKS in the 4th quarter worth approximately $39,000. Optimum Investment Advisors lifted its stake in MKS by 66.7% in the 1st quarter. Optimum Investment Advisors now owns 500 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock worth $40,000 after purchasing an additional 200 shares in the last quarter. Parallel Advisors LLC lifted its stake in MKS by 89.3% in the 1st quarter. Parallel Advisors LLC now owns 581 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock worth $47,000 after purchasing an additional 274 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Signaturefd LLC lifted its stake in MKS by 79.2% in the 1st quarter. Signaturefd LLC now owns 828 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock worth $66,000 after purchasing an additional 366 shares in the last quarter. 99.79% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, EVP David Philip Henry sold 2,000 shares of MKS stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, July 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $105.00, for a total value of $210,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president owned 20,571 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,159,955. This trade represents a 8.86% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Company insiders own 0.57% of the company's stock.

MKS Trading Up 1.0%

MKSI traded up $0.99 during trading hours on Thursday, reaching $100.54. The company's stock had a trading volume of 111,912 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,200,670. MKS Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $54.84 and a fifty-two week high of $128.20. The stock has a market cap of $6.78 billion, a PE ratio of 29.97, a P/E/G ratio of 1.15 and a beta of 1.88. The business's 50-day moving average is $94.81 and its 200-day moving average is $92.05. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.87, a current ratio of 3.11 and a quick ratio of 1.96.

MKS (NASDAQ:MKSI - Get Free Report) last posted 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. MKS had a net margin of 6.21% and a return on equity of 20.67%. The firm had revenue of $936.00 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $913.59 million. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $1.18 EPS. The firm's revenue for the quarter was up 7.8% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities research analysts predict that MKS Inc. will post 6.94 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

MKS Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, June 6th. Investors of record on Tuesday, May 27th were issued a $0.22 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, May 27th. This represents a $0.88 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.88%. MKS's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 26.27%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research analysts have weighed in on the stock. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised shares of MKS from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating and set a $110.00 target price on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, May 20th. Wells Fargo & Company raised their target price on shares of MKS from $85.00 to $100.00 and gave the stock an "equal weight" rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 8th. The Goldman Sachs Group assumed coverage on shares of MKS in a research note on Thursday, July 10th. They issued a "sell" rating and a $90.00 target price on the stock. Needham & Company LLC decreased their target price on shares of MKS from $145.00 to $140.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, May 9th. Finally, Mizuho raised their target price on shares of MKS from $105.00 to $118.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research note on Monday, July 14th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has given a hold rating and eight have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, MKS has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $120.00.

MKS 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.

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