MKS Instruments, Inc. (NASDAQ:MKSI) Shares Bought by Teachers Retirement System of The State of Kentucky

Teachers Retirement System of The State of Kentucky grew its holdings in shares of MKS Instruments, Inc. (NASDAQ:MKSI) by 7.3% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 34,581 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock after purchasing an additional 2,350 shares during the period. Teachers Retirement System of The State of Kentucky owned approximately 0.05% of MKS Instruments worth $3,759,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in MKSI. Massmutual Trust Co. FSB ADV increased its position in MKS Instruments by 196.9% during the 3rd quarter. Massmutual Trust Co. FSB ADV now owns 288 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock worth $31,000 after purchasing an additional 191 shares during the period. UMB Bank n.a. increased its position in MKS Instruments by 53.7% during the 3rd quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 349 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock worth $38,000 after purchasing an additional 122 shares during the period. Key Financial Inc acquired a new position in MKS Instruments during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $39,000. BOKF NA acquired a new position in MKS Instruments during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $39,000. Finally, Quarry LP acquired a new position in MKS Instruments during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $39,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 99.79% of the company’s stock.

MKS Instruments Price Performance

Shares of NASDAQ:MKSI opened at $112.55 on Friday. The business’s fifty day moving average price is $108.65 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $117.04. The stock has a market cap of $7.57 billion, a PE ratio of 250.11, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.66 and a beta of 1.65. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.98, a quick ratio of 2.21 and a current ratio of 3.42. MKS Instruments, Inc. has a one year low of $90.90 and a one year high of $147.40.

MKS Instruments (NASDAQ:MKSI) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, November 6th. The scientific and technical instruments company reported $1.72 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.45 by $0.27. MKS Instruments had a return on equity of 15.79% and a net margin of 0.90%. The business had revenue of $896.00 million for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $874.29 million. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $1.46 earnings per share. The business’s revenue was down 3.9% on a year-over-year basis. On average, analysts forecast that MKS Instruments, Inc. will post 6.33 EPS for the current fiscal year.

MKS Instruments Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, December 6th. Stockholders of record on Monday, November 25th were issued a dividend of $0.22 per share. This represents a $0.88 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.78%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, November 25th. MKS Instruments’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 195.56%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities analysts have issued reports on MKSI shares. JPMorgan Chase & Co. initiated coverage on MKS Instruments in a research report on Friday. They set an “overweight” rating and a $145.00 target price on the stock. Mizuho upgraded MKS Instruments to a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Monday, October 7th. Citigroup cut MKS Instruments from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating and lowered their price target for the stock from $145.00 to $120.00 in a report on Monday, September 16th. Benchmark restated a “buy” rating and issued a $142.00 price target on shares of MKS Instruments in a report on Monday, November 18th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group initiated coverage on MKS Instruments in a report on Tuesday, September 3rd. They issued a “neutral” rating and a $129.00 price target on the stock. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eight have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $141.42.

Insider Transactions at MKS Instruments

In other news, Director Jacqueline F. Moloney sold 300 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Tuesday, December 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $114.80, for a total transaction of $34,440.00. Following the sale, the director now owns 9,983 shares in the company, valued at $1,146,048.40. This trade represents a 2.92 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Also, Director Elizabeth Mora sold 275 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, December 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $113.41, for a total value of $31,187.75. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 17,659 shares in the company, valued at $2,002,707.19. This trade represents a 1.53 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 825 shares of company stock worth $92,853 over the last quarter. 0.46% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

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.