MKS Instruments, Inc. (NASDAQ:MKSI) Shares Purchased by UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC

UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC raised its holdings in shares of MKS Instruments, Inc. (NASDAQ:MKSI - Free Report) by 20.6% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 258,251 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock after acquiring an additional 44,106 shares during the period. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC owned about 0.38% of MKS Instruments worth $26,959,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the company. Pictet Asset Management Holding SA lifted its position in MKS Instruments by 1.0% during the fourth quarter. Pictet Asset Management Holding SA now owns 9,748 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock valued at $1,018,000 after buying an additional 94 shares during the period. Avantax Advisory Services Inc. lifted its position in MKS Instruments by 4.7% during the fourth 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 during the period. Louisiana State Employees Retirement System lifted its position in MKS Instruments by 0.5% during the fourth quarter. Louisiana State Employees Retirement System now owns 18,700 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock valued at $1,952,000 after buying an additional 100 shares during the period. CIBC Asset Management Inc raised its position in shares of MKS Instruments by 5.2% in the 4th quarter. CIBC Asset Management Inc now owns 2,068 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock worth $216,000 after purchasing an additional 103 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC raised its position in shares of MKS Instruments by 68.6% in the 4th quarter. Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC now owns 263 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock worth $27,000 after purchasing an additional 107 shares during the last quarter. 99.79% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, Director Elizabeth Mora sold 275 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction on Monday, March 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $92.46, for a total value of $25,426.50. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 17,384 shares in the company, valued at $1,607,324.64. This trade represents a 1.56% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. 0.57% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities analysts have recently issued reports on the company. Benchmark lowered their price target on MKS Instruments from $142.00 to $135.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research report on Friday, February 14th. Needham & Company LLC lowered their price target on MKS Instruments from $145.00 to $140.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a report on Friday, May 9th. Morgan Stanley increased their price target on MKS Instruments from $93.00 to $100.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a report on Friday, May 23rd. Cantor Fitzgerald reissued an "overweight" rating and set a $140.00 price target on shares of MKS Instruments in a research report on Thursday, February 13th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised MKS Instruments from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating and set a $110.00 price target on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, May 20th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, ten have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, MKS Instruments presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $134.92.

MKS Instruments Stock Performance

Shares of NASDAQ MKSI traded up $0.11 during mid-day trading on Thursday, hitting $85.40. 682,098 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,055,693. The company has a quick ratio of 2.04, a current ratio of 3.19 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.93. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $76.31 and a 200-day simple moving average of $95.81. MKS Instruments, Inc. has a 1-year low of $54.84 and a 1-year high of $147.40. The firm has a market cap of $5.76 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 30.50, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.02 and a beta of 1.80.

MKS Instruments (NASDAQ:MKSI - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, May 7th. The scientific and technical instruments company reported $1.71 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.42 by $0.29. The firm had revenue of $936.00 million during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $913.59 million. MKS Instruments had a return on equity of 18.94% and a net margin of 5.30%. MKS Instruments's revenue was up 7.8% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $1.18 earnings per share. On average, sell-side analysts forecast that MKS Instruments, Inc. will post 6.94 EPS for the current fiscal year.

MKS Instruments Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 6th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, May 27th will be given a $0.22 dividend. This represents a $0.88 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.03%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, May 27th. MKS Instruments's payout ratio is 26.27%.

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.