UNIVEST FINANCIAL Corp Lowers Stock Holdings in MKS Instruments, Inc. (NASDAQ:MKSI)

UNIVEST FINANCIAL Corp cut its stake in shares of MKS Instruments, Inc. (NASDAQ:MKSI) by 93.0% in the second quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The firm owned 2,269 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock after selling 30,261 shares during the period. UNIVEST FINANCIAL Corp’s holdings in MKS Instruments were worth $296,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Atlas Capital Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of MKS Instruments during the 1st quarter valued at about $25,000. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC purchased a new stake in MKS Instruments in the first quarter valued at $25,000. Rise Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of MKS Instruments during the 1st quarter worth about $26,000. Quest Partners LLC purchased a new stake in MKS Instruments in the 4th quarter valued at about $37,000. Finally, Key Financial Inc purchased a new position in MKS Instruments during the second quarter worth about $39,000. 99.79% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Insider Buying and Selling at MKS Instruments

In other news, Director Jacqueline F. Moloney sold 250 shares of MKS Instruments stock in a transaction on Thursday, August 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $123.46, for a total transaction of $30,865.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now directly owns 10,533 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,300,404.18. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. In other news, Director Jacqueline F. Moloney sold 250 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, August 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $123.46, for a total value of $30,865.00. Following the transaction, the director now owns 10,533 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,300,404.18. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, Director Elizabeth Mora sold 275 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, September 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $115.97, for a total value of $31,891.75. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 17,934 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,079,805.98. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last three months, insiders have sold 2,325 shares of company stock valued at $276,435. Insiders own 0.46% of the company’s stock.

MKS Instruments Stock Down 3.8 %

Shares of NASDAQ MKSI opened at $104.43 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $7.00 billion, a P/E ratio of -3.91, a PEG ratio of 1.15 and a beta of 1.65. The business’s fifty day simple moving average is $122.11 and its 200-day simple moving average is $124.66. MKS Instruments, Inc. has a 12-month low of $63.44 and a 12-month high of $147.40. The company has a current ratio of 3.58, a quick ratio of 2.31 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.16.

MKS Instruments (NASDAQ:MKSI) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, August 7th. The scientific and technical instruments company reported $1.53 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.02 by $0.51. MKS Instruments had a return on equity of 14.91% and a net margin of 0.25%. The company had revenue of $887.00 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $866.38 million. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $1.32 EPS. MKS Instruments’s revenue for the quarter was down 11.6% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities analysts predict that MKS Instruments, Inc. will post 5.58 EPS for the current fiscal year.

MKS Instruments Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, September 6th. Shareholders of record on Monday, August 26th were issued a dividend of $0.22 per share. This represents a $0.88 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.84%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, August 26th. MKS Instruments’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently -3.30%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several brokerages have recently commented on MKSI. The Goldman Sachs Group initiated coverage on shares of MKS Instruments in a report on Tuesday. They issued a “neutral” rating and a $129.00 price objective on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their price target on MKS Instruments from $135.00 to $120.00 and set an “equal weight” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, August 9th. KeyCorp lifted their price objective on MKS Instruments from $150.00 to $160.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Friday, July 12th. Morgan Stanley initiated coverage on MKS Instruments in a report on Monday, August 5th. They issued an “overweight” rating and a $155.00 price objective on the stock. Finally, TD Cowen raised their target price on MKS Instruments from $150.00 to $160.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, June 12th. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $144.67.

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.