Centiva Capital LP Makes New $3.16 Million Investment in MKS Instruments, Inc. (NASDAQ:MKSI)

Centiva Capital LP acquired a new stake in shares of MKS Instruments, Inc. (NASDAQ:MKSI) in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor acquired 29,063 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock, valued at approximately $3,159,000.

Several other hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in MKSI. Massmutual Trust Co. FSB ADV lifted its position in MKS Instruments by 196.9% in the third quarter. Massmutual Trust Co. FSB ADV now owns 288 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock worth $31,000 after purchasing an additional 191 shares during the period. Key Financial Inc bought a new position in shares of MKS Instruments during the 2nd quarter worth about $39,000. Quarry LP acquired a new stake in shares of MKS Instruments during the 2nd quarter valued at about $39,000. BOKF NA acquired a new stake in shares of MKS Instruments during the 2nd quarter valued at about $39,000. Finally, Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC increased its stake in MKS Instruments by 62.6% in the second quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC now owns 309 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock valued at $40,000 after acquiring an additional 119 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 99.79% of the company’s stock.

MKS Instruments Trading Up 1.1 %

Shares of NASDAQ MKSI opened at $113.64 on Monday. MKS Instruments, Inc. has a 1-year low of $80.84 and a 1-year high of $147.40. The company has a 50-day moving average of $107.38 and a two-hundred day moving average of $117.98. The company has a market cap of $7.65 billion, a PE ratio of 252.53, a P/E/G ratio of 0.68 and a beta of 1.63. The company has a current ratio of 3.42, a quick ratio of 2.21 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.98.

MKS Instruments (NASDAQ:MKSI) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, November 6th. The scientific and technical instruments company reported $1.72 earnings per share 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 firm had revenue of $896.00 million during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $874.29 million. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $1.46 EPS. MKS Instruments’s revenue was down 3.9% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities analysts expect that MKS Instruments, Inc. will post 6.22 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

MKS Instruments Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, December 6th. Stockholders of record on Monday, November 25th will be paid a dividend of $0.22 per share. This represents a $0.88 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.77%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, November 25th. MKS Instruments’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 195.56%.

Insider Activity at MKS Instruments

In other MKS Instruments news, 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 value of $27,225.00. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 10,283 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,119,818.70. This trade represents a 2.37 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, Director Elizabeth Mora sold 275 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Tuesday, September 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $115.97, for a total transaction of $31,891.75. Following the sale, the director now owns 17,934 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $2,079,805.98. The trade was a 1.51 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.46% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research firms have weighed in on MKSI. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their price objective on MKS Instruments from $120.00 to $110.00 and set an “equal weight” rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, October 3rd. Benchmark reaffirmed a “buy” rating and issued a $142.00 price target on shares of MKS Instruments in a research note on Monday, November 18th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft dropped their price objective on MKS Instruments from $140.00 to $120.00 and set a “hold” rating for the company in a research note on Friday, August 9th. Needham & Company LLC boosted their target price on shares of MKS Instruments from $153.00 to $156.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, August 9th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group began coverage on shares of MKS Instruments in a research report on Tuesday, September 3rd. They issued a “neutral” rating and a $129.00 price target on the stock. Five analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, seven have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, MKS Instruments presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $141.09.

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.