Burney Co. Trims Holdings in MKS Instruments, Inc. (NASDAQ:MKSI)

Burney Co. decreased its holdings in MKS Instruments, Inc. (NASDAQ:MKSI) by 5.5% in the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The firm owned 2,420 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock after selling 141 shares during the period. Burney Co.’s holdings in MKS Instruments were worth $253,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Massmutual Trust Co. FSB ADV raised 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 buying an additional 191 shares during the last quarter. Quarry LP purchased a new position in MKS Instruments during the 2nd quarter worth $39,000. UMB Bank n.a. raised 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 buying an additional 122 shares during the last quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc raised its position in MKS Instruments by 58.0% during the 4th quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc now owns 433 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock worth $45,000 after buying an additional 159 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB purchased a new position in MKS Instruments during the 3rd quarter worth $50,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 99.79% of the company’s stock.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, Director Elizabeth Mora sold 275 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on 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 sale, the director now directly owns 17,659 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,002,707.19. The trade was a 1.53 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, Director Jacqueline F. Moloney sold 300 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, December 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $114.80, for a total transaction of $34,440.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 9,983 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,146,048.40. The trade was a 2.92 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.51% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities analysts have commented on the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. assumed coverage on shares of MKS Instruments in a research report on Friday, December 13th. They set an “overweight” rating and a $145.00 price objective for the company. Mizuho upgraded shares of MKS Instruments to a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Monday, October 7th. Benchmark reiterated a “buy” rating and issued a $142.00 price target on shares of MKS Instruments in a report on Monday, November 18th. The Goldman Sachs Group cut their price target on shares of MKS Instruments from $143.00 to $128.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a report on Friday, January 10th. Finally, Needham & Company LLC reiterated a “buy” rating and issued a $156.00 price target on shares of MKS Instruments in a report on Wednesday. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nine have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, MKS Instruments currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $141.75.

MKS Instruments Price Performance

MKS Instruments stock opened at $120.11 on Friday. MKS Instruments, Inc. has a 12-month low of $97.54 and a 12-month high of $147.40. The stock has a market capitalization of $8.08 billion, a P/E ratio of 266.91, a P/E/G ratio of 0.54 and a beta of 1.66. The firm’s 50-day moving average is $110.92 and its two-hundred day moving average is $113.10. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.98, a current ratio of 3.42 and a quick ratio of 2.21.

MKS Instruments (NASDAQ:MKSI) last released its quarterly earnings results 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 net margin of 0.90% and a return on equity of 15.79%. The company had revenue of $896.00 million for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $874.29 million. During the same period last year, the company earned $1.46 EPS. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was down 3.9% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities analysts predict that MKS Instruments, Inc. will post 6.34 earnings per share for the current year.

MKS Instruments Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, December 6th. Shareholders of record on Monday, November 25th were paid a dividend of $0.22 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, November 25th. This represents a $0.88 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.73%. MKS Instruments’s dividend payout ratio is currently 195.56%.

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.