Readystate Asset Management LP Boosts Holdings in MKS Inc. (NASDAQ:MKSI)

Readystate Asset Management LP lifted its stake in MKS Inc. (NASDAQ:MKSI - Free Report) by 55.5% during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 63,187 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock after buying an additional 22,541 shares during the quarter. Readystate Asset Management LP owned about 0.09% of MKS worth $5,064,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Several other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in MKSI. Proficio Capital Partners LLC bought a new stake in MKS during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $36,000. Avantax Advisory Services Inc. grew its holdings in MKS by 4.7% during the 4th quarter. Avantax Advisory Services Inc. now owns 2,143 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock valued at $224,000 after buying an additional 97 shares in the last quarter. Commonwealth Equity Services LLC grew its holdings in MKS by 24.9% during the 4th quarter. Commonwealth Equity Services LLC now owns 6,035 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock valued at $630,000 after buying an additional 1,205 shares in the last quarter. Xponance Inc. grew its holdings in MKS by 7.7% during the 4th quarter. Xponance Inc. now owns 8,286 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock valued at $865,000 after buying an additional 592 shares in the last quarter. Finally, TD Private Client Wealth LLC purchased a new position in MKS during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $39,000. Institutional investors own 99.79% of the company's stock.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other MKS news, EVP David Philip Henry sold 2,000 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Thursday, July 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $105.00, for a total transaction of $210,000.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president owned 20,571 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,159,955. The trade was a 8.86% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Insiders own 0.57% of the company's stock.

MKS Stock Up 0.1%

Shares of MKSI traded up $0.10 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $99.64. 298,064 shares of the company's stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,198,864. MKS Inc. has a 1 year low of $54.84 and a 1 year high of $128.20. The firm's fifty day moving average is $95.09 and its 200-day moving average is $92.00. The company has a current ratio of 3.11, a quick ratio of 1.96 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.87. The stock has a market capitalization of $6.72 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 29.79, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.12 and a beta of 1.88.

MKS (NASDAQ:MKSI - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, May 7th. The scientific and technical instruments company reported $1.71 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.42 by $0.29. MKS had a return on equity of 20.67% and a net margin of 6.21%. The firm had revenue of $936.00 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $913.59 million. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $1.18 EPS. The business's revenue for the quarter was up 7.8% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that MKS Inc. will post 6.94 earnings per share for the current year.

MKS Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, June 6th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, May 27th were paid a dividend of $0.22 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, May 27th. This represents a $0.88 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.88%. MKS's payout ratio is presently 26.27%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research firms have weighed in on MKSI. The Goldman Sachs Group began coverage on MKS in a report on Thursday, July 10th. They set a "sell" rating and a $90.00 price target for the company. Needham & Company LLC lowered their price objective on MKS from $145.00 to $140.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research note on Friday, May 9th. Mizuho boosted their target price on MKS from $105.00 to $118.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research report on Monday, July 14th. Morgan Stanley raised their price target on MKS from $100.00 to $112.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research report on Tuesday. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company raised their price target on MKS from $85.00 to $100.00 and gave the stock an "equal weight" rating in a research report on Tuesday, July 8th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has issued a hold rating and eight have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $120.00.

MKS 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.