Peak Asset Management LLC Sells 2,041 Shares of MKS Instruments, Inc. (NASDAQ:MKSI)

Peak Asset Management LLC trimmed its position in MKS Instruments, Inc. (NASDAQ:MKSI) by 16.5% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 10,353 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock after selling 2,041 shares during the period. Peak Asset Management LLC’s holdings in MKS Instruments were worth $1,125,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Bessemer Group Inc. boosted its stake in MKS Instruments by 7.1% during the first quarter. Bessemer Group Inc. now owns 78,093 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock valued at $10,387,000 after buying an additional 5,184 shares during the period. Comerica Bank increased its position in shares of MKS Instruments by 29.5% in the first quarter. Comerica Bank now owns 111,923 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock worth $14,886,000 after purchasing an additional 25,520 shares during the last quarter. First Eagle Investment Management LLC lifted its position in MKS Instruments by 7.6% during the second quarter. First Eagle Investment Management LLC now owns 141,187 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock valued at $18,436,000 after purchasing an additional 10,000 shares during the last quarter. Point72 Asset Management L.P. bought a new position in shares of MKS Instruments in the 2nd quarter worth $1,599,000. Finally, Aigen Investment Management LP lifted its holdings in shares of MKS Instruments by 705.3% during 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 acquiring an additional 10,989 shares during the last quarter. 99.79% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other MKS Instruments news, Director Jacqueline F. Moloney sold 250 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred 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 transaction, the director now owns 10,283 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,119,818.70. This represents a 0.00 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. In related news, Director Elizabeth Mora sold 275 shares of MKS Instruments stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, September 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $115.97, for a total transaction of $31,891.75. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 17,934 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $2,079,805.98. This trade represents a 0.00 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, Director Jacqueline F. Moloney sold 250 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, October 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $108.90, for a total transaction of $27,225.00. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 10,283 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,119,818.70. This represents a 0.00 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 2,325 shares of company stock valued at $272,795 over the last three months. Corporate insiders own 0.46% of the company’s stock.

MKS Instruments Stock Down 0.9 %

NASDAQ MKSI opened at $111.94 on Thursday. MKS Instruments, Inc. has a 1 year low of $72.35 and a 1 year high of $147.40. The stock has a market capitalization of $7.53 billion, a PE ratio of 248.76, a PEG ratio of 0.67 and a beta of 1.63. 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 business’s 50-day moving average is $106.70 and its 200 day moving average is $118.97.

MKS Instruments (NASDAQ:MKSI) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, November 6th. The scientific and technical instruments company reported $1.72 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating 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 firm had revenue of $896.00 million for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $874.29 million. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $1.46 earnings per share. The business’s revenue was down 3.9% compared to the same quarter last year. Sell-side analysts forecast that MKS Instruments, Inc. will post 6.22 earnings per share for the current year.

MKS Instruments Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, December 6th. Investors of record on Monday, November 25th will be given a dividend of $0.22 per share. This represents a $0.88 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.79%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, November 25th. MKS Instruments’s dividend payout ratio is currently 195.56%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research firms have weighed in on MKSI. Cantor Fitzgerald initiated coverage on MKS Instruments in a research report on Tuesday, September 10th. They set an “overweight” rating and a $140.00 price target on the stock. Benchmark restated a “buy” rating and issued a $142.00 target price on shares of MKS Instruments in a research report on Thursday, August 8th. Morgan Stanley assumed coverage on MKS Instruments in a research note on Monday, August 5th. They issued an “overweight” rating and a $155.00 target price for the company. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their price objective on shares of MKS Instruments from $120.00 to $110.00 and set an “equal weight” rating for the company in a report on Thursday, October 3rd. Finally, Needham & Company LLC lifted their target price on shares of MKS Instruments from $153.00 to $156.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, August 9th. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, seven have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $141.09.

About MKS Instruments

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.