MKS Instruments, Inc. (NASDAQ:MKSI) Stock Position Increased by Franklin Resources Inc.

Franklin Resources Inc. grew its position in MKS Instruments, Inc. (NASDAQ:MKSI) by 26.2% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 23,311 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock after purchasing an additional 4,846 shares during the period. Franklin Resources Inc.’s holdings in MKS Instruments were worth $2,626,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other large investors also recently made changes to their positions in MKSI. Aigen Investment Management LP grew its holdings in MKS Instruments by 705.3% in the 3rd quarter. Aigen Investment Management LP now owns 12,547 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock worth $1,364,000 after buying an additional 10,989 shares in the last quarter. First Eagle Investment Management LLC grew its stake in shares of MKS Instruments by 7.6% in the second quarter. First Eagle Investment Management LLC now owns 141,187 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock worth $18,436,000 after purchasing an additional 10,000 shares in the last quarter. Point72 Asset Management L.P. bought a new position in shares of MKS Instruments in the second quarter worth $1,599,000. Citigroup Inc. increased its holdings in shares of MKS Instruments by 7.3% during the third quarter. Citigroup Inc. now owns 444,333 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock valued at $48,303,000 after purchasing an additional 30,216 shares during the period. Finally, Hsbc Holdings PLC raised its stake in shares of MKS Instruments by 3,928.7% during the second quarter. Hsbc Holdings PLC now owns 76,828 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock valued at $10,110,000 after purchasing an additional 74,921 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 99.79% of the company’s stock.

MKS Instruments Stock Up 1.2 %

MKSI stock opened at $107.53 on Thursday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.98, a current ratio of 3.42 and a quick ratio of 2.21. The firm has a market capitalization of $7.24 billion, a P/E ratio of 238.96, a P/E/G ratio of 0.66 and a beta of 1.65. MKS Instruments, Inc. has a 52-week low of $95.71 and a 52-week high of $147.40. The company’s 50 day simple moving average is $108.51 and its 200-day simple moving average is $115.76.

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

MKS Instruments Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, December 6th. Stockholders of record on Monday, November 25th were issued a $0.22 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, November 25th. This represents a $0.88 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.82%. MKS Instruments’s dividend payout ratio is 195.56%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

MKSI has been the topic of several research analyst reports. The Goldman Sachs Group assumed coverage on shares of MKS Instruments in a research note on Tuesday, September 3rd. They set a “neutral” rating and a $129.00 target price on the stock. Cantor Fitzgerald began coverage on MKS Instruments in a report on Tuesday, September 10th. They set an “overweight” rating and a $140.00 target price on the stock. Morgan Stanley decreased their price target on MKS Instruments from $155.00 to $150.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research note on Monday, December 16th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. began coverage on MKS Instruments in a research note on Friday, December 13th. They issued an “overweight” rating and a $145.00 price objective on the stock. Finally, Citigroup cut MKS Instruments from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating and decreased their target price for the company from $145.00 to $120.00 in a research note on Monday, September 16th. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eight have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $141.00.

Insider Transactions at MKS Instruments

In related news, Director Jacqueline F. Moloney sold 250 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, October 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $108.90, for a total transaction of $27,225.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now directly owns 10,283 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,119,818.70. This trade represents a 2.37 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, Director Elizabeth Mora sold 275 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, December 2nd. The shares were 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 owns 17,659 shares in the company, valued at $2,002,707.19. This trade represents a 1.53 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 825 shares of company stock valued at $92,853 over the last three months. 0.46% of the stock is owned by corporate 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.