Two Sigma Investments LP Invests $4.41 Million in MKS Instruments, Inc. (NASDAQ:MKSI)

Two Sigma Investments LP purchased a new stake in MKS Instruments, Inc. (NASDAQ:MKSI - Free Report) during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm purchased 42,200 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock, valued at approximately $4,405,000. Two Sigma Investments LP owned about 0.06% of MKS Instruments as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC grew its position in MKS Instruments by 68.6% during 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 during the period. TD Private Client Wealth LLC acquired a new position in shares of MKS Instruments in the 4th quarter valued at about $39,000. Blue Trust Inc. grew its holdings in shares of MKS Instruments by 424.1% during the 4th quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 414 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock worth $45,000 after purchasing an additional 335 shares during the period. Harvest Fund Management Co. Ltd grew its holdings in shares of MKS Instruments by 24,900.0% during the 4th quarter. Harvest Fund Management Co. Ltd now owns 500 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock worth $52,000 after purchasing an additional 498 shares during the period. Finally, Quarry LP increased its position in MKS Instruments by 1,330.9% during the 4th quarter. Quarry LP now owns 787 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock worth $82,000 after purchasing an additional 732 shares in the last quarter. 99.79% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

MKS Instruments Stock Down 4.7%

Shares of NASDAQ MKSI traded down $4.04 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $81.36. 1,084,092 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,054,393. MKS Instruments, Inc. has a 52-week low of $54.84 and a 52-week high of $147.40. The stock has a market capitalization of $5.49 billion, a PE ratio of 29.06, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.02 and a beta of 1.80. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.93, a quick ratio of 2.04 and a current ratio of 3.19. The business's fifty day moving average price is $76.01 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $95.16.

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

MKS Instruments Announces Dividend

The business 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. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, May 27th. This represents a $0.88 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.08%. MKS Instruments's dividend payout ratio is presently 26.27%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities research analysts have issued reports on the stock. Cantor Fitzgerald reiterated an "overweight" rating and set a $140.00 price objective on shares of MKS Instruments in a research note on Thursday, February 13th. Morgan Stanley lifted their target price on shares of MKS Instruments from $93.00 to $100.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a report on Friday, May 23rd. The Goldman Sachs Group increased their price target on MKS Instruments from $128.00 to $129.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a report on Friday, February 14th. Benchmark cut their price objective on MKS Instruments from $142.00 to $135.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, February 14th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised MKS Instruments from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating and set a $110.00 target price for the company in a research report on Tuesday, May 20th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, ten have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $134.92.

Insider Buying and Selling at MKS Instruments

In other news, Director Elizabeth Mora sold 275 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $92.46, for a total value of $25,426.50. Following the sale, the director now owns 17,384 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,607,324.64. This represents a 1.56% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. 0.57% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

MKS Instruments 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.