Bailard Inc. Makes New Investment in MKS Instruments, Inc. (NASDAQ:MKSI)

Bailard Inc. bought a new stake in shares of MKS Instruments, Inc. (NASDAQ:MKSI) during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund bought 2,100 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock, valued at approximately $219,000.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of MKSI. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC boosted its stake in MKS Instruments by 25.2% during the fourth quarter. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC now owns 1,448 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock worth $151,000 after acquiring an additional 291 shares in the last quarter. Mutual of America Capital Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of MKS Instruments by 0.6% during the fourth quarter. Mutual of America Capital Management LLC now owns 54,436 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock valued at $5,683,000 after purchasing an additional 348 shares during the last quarter. QRG Capital Management Inc. bought a new stake in shares of MKS Instruments in the 4th quarter worth approximately $487,000. Proficio Capital Partners LLC purchased a new stake in shares of MKS Instruments in the 4th quarter worth approximately $36,000. Finally, Los Angeles Capital Management LLC bought a new position in MKS Instruments during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $1,776,000. 99.79% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

MKS Instruments Price Performance

NASDAQ MKSI opened at $86.06 on Thursday. The stock has a market capitalization of $5.80 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 30.74, a PEG ratio of 1.02 and a beta of 1.66. MKS Instruments, Inc. has a 1-year low of $82.11 and a 1-year high of $147.40. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.93, a current ratio of 3.19 and a quick ratio of 2.04. The business’s fifty day moving average price is $108.08 and its 200-day moving average price is $109.08.

MKS Instruments (NASDAQ:MKSI) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, February 12th. The scientific and technical instruments company reported $2.15 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.92 by $0.23. MKS Instruments had a return on equity of 18.94% and a net margin of 5.30%. On average, equities analysts predict that MKS Instruments, Inc. will post 6.94 earnings per share for the current year.

MKS Instruments Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 7th. Investors of record on Monday, February 24th will be given a dividend of $0.22 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, February 24th. This represents a $0.88 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.02%. MKS Instruments’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 31.43%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities research analysts have recently commented on the company. Morgan Stanley cut their target price on MKS Instruments from $150.00 to $147.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, February 14th. 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 on the stock. Benchmark decreased their target price on shares of MKS Instruments from $142.00 to $135.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Friday, February 14th. Citigroup upgraded shares of MKS Instruments from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $130.00 price target on the stock in a report on Monday, January 6th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group boosted their price objective on shares of MKS Instruments from $128.00 to $129.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a report on Friday, February 14th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nine have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $140.08.

Insider Buying and Selling at MKS Instruments

In other MKS Instruments news, Director Jacqueline F. Moloney sold 300 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, December 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $114.80, for a total value of $34,440.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 9,983 shares in the company, valued at $1,146,048.40. This represents a 2.92 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, Director Gerard G. Colella sold 8,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $104.53, for a total value of $836,240.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 60,017 shares in the company, valued at $6,273,577.01. This trade represents a 11.76 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last ninety days, insiders sold 8,575 shares of company stock valued at $896,107. Insiders own 0.46% of the company’s stock.

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.