MKS Instruments, Inc. (NASDAQ:MKSI) Shares Purchased by Systematic Financial Management LP

Systematic Financial Management LP grew its stake in MKS Instruments, Inc. (NASDAQ:MKSI - Free Report) by 10.5% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 219,678 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock after purchasing an additional 20,845 shares during the period. Systematic Financial Management LP owned about 0.33% of MKS Instruments worth $22,932,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

A number of other hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in MKSI. Pictet Asset Management Holding SA raised its holdings in MKS Instruments by 1.0% in the 4th 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 last quarter. Avantax Advisory Services Inc. grew its position in MKS Instruments by 4.7% in 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 purchasing an additional 97 shares during the period. Louisiana State Employees Retirement System boosted its holdings in MKS Instruments by 0.5% during the 4th quarter. Louisiana State Employees Retirement System now owns 18,700 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock worth $1,952,000 after acquiring an additional 100 shares during the last quarter. CIBC Asset Management Inc grew its stake 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 acquiring an additional 103 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC grew its stake 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 acquiring an additional 107 shares in the last quarter. 99.79% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

MKS Instruments Price Performance

Shares of MKSI stock traded up $0.54 on Thursday, hitting $85.70. 383,375 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,053,597. The firm has a market cap of $5.78 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 30.58, a PEG ratio of 1.02 and a beta of 1.80. MKS Instruments, Inc. has a 52 week low of $54.84 and a 52 week high of $147.40. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $76.74 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $96.58. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.93, a current ratio of 3.19 and a quick ratio of 2.04.

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

MKS Instruments Dividend Announcement

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

Insider Transactions at MKS Instruments

In related news, Director Elizabeth Mora sold 275 shares of the business's stock in a transaction on Monday, March 3rd. The shares were 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 directly owns 17,384 shares in the company, valued at $1,607,324.64. The trade was a 1.56% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Insiders own 0.57% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities research analysts have recently weighed in on MKSI shares. Benchmark decreased their price target 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. Cantor Fitzgerald reissued an "overweight" rating and set a $140.00 price objective on shares of MKS Instruments in a research note on Thursday, February 13th. Needham & Company LLC dropped their price objective on MKS Instruments from $145.00 to $140.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research note on Friday, May 9th. Morgan Stanley lifted their price objective on MKS Instruments from $85.00 to $93.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research note on Friday, May 9th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group raised their target price on shares of MKS Instruments from $128.00 to $129.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research note on Friday, February 14th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, ten have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $134.33.

MKS Instruments 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.