Silvercrest Asset Management Group LLC Has $27.12 Million Position in MKS Instruments, Inc. (NASDAQ:MKSI)

Silvercrest Asset Management Group LLC grew its holdings in MKS Instruments, Inc. (NASDAQ:MKSI) by 4.7% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund owned 259,831 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock after purchasing an additional 11,779 shares during the quarter. Silvercrest Asset Management Group LLC owned about 0.39% of MKS Instruments worth $27,124,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in MKSI. Madison Investment Advisors LLC bought a new position in MKS Instruments during the fourth quarter valued at about $97,494,000. Norges Bank bought a new stake in shares of MKS Instruments in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $85,451,000. Barclays PLC grew its stake in shares of MKS Instruments by 108.6% in the 3rd quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 1,019,134 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock valued at $110,789,000 after purchasing an additional 530,620 shares during the period. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. grew its stake in shares of MKS Instruments by 3,444.0% in the 4th quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. now owns 300,711 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock valued at $31,391,000 after purchasing an additional 292,226 shares during the period. Finally, Raymond James Financial Inc. bought a new stake in shares of MKS Instruments in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $28,312,000. 99.79% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

MKS Instruments Stock Down 0.6%

NASDAQ:MKSI opened at $90.66 on Friday. The stock’s fifty day moving average price is $76.45 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $96.85. MKS Instruments, Inc. has a 52-week low of $54.84 and a 52-week high of $147.40. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.93, a quick ratio of 2.04 and a current ratio of 3.19. The company has a market cap of $6.11 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 32.38, a P/E/G ratio of 1.02 and a beta of 1.80.

MKS Instruments (NASDAQ:MKSI) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, May 7th. The scientific and technical instruments company reported $1.71 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.42 by $0.29. MKS Instruments had a return on equity of 18.94% and a net margin of 5.30%. The firm had revenue of $936.00 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $913.59 million. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $1.18 EPS. The business’s revenue for the quarter was up 7.8% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, analysts anticipate that MKS Instruments, Inc. will post 6.94 EPS for the current year.

MKS Instruments Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 6th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, May 27th will be issued a dividend of $0.22 per share. This represents a $0.88 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.97%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, May 27th. MKS Instruments’s dividend payout ratio is 26.27%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research firms have recently weighed in on MKSI. Cantor Fitzgerald reiterated an “overweight” rating and issued a $140.00 price objective on shares of MKS Instruments in a research note on Thursday, February 13th. Benchmark lowered their price objective on MKS Instruments from $142.00 to $135.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, February 14th. Morgan Stanley upped their price objective on MKS Instruments from $85.00 to $93.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Friday, May 9th. The Goldman Sachs Group upped their price objective on MKS Instruments from $128.00 to $129.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Friday, February 14th. Finally, Needham & Company LLC lowered their price objective on MKS Instruments from $145.00 to $140.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, May 9th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nine have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, MKS Instruments presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $135.17.

Insider Activity

In other news, Director Elizabeth Mora sold 275 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, March 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $92.46, for a total value of $25,426.50. Following the transaction, the director now owns 17,384 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,607,324.64. This represents a 1.56% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, Director Gerard G. Colella sold 8,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, February 18th. The shares were 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 approximately $6,273,577.01. This trade represents a 11.76% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.57% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

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.