Peak Asset Management LLC Has $1.13 Million Stake in MKS Instruments, Inc. (NASDAQ:MKSI)

Peak Asset Management LLC cut its holdings 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. The institutional investor 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 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in the business. MQS Management LLC bought a new position in MKS Instruments during the third quarter worth $379,000. Aigen Investment Management LP raised its holdings in shares of MKS Instruments by 705.3% during the third quarter. Aigen Investment Management LP now owns 12,547 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock valued at $1,364,000 after purchasing an additional 10,989 shares during the period. GSA Capital Partners LLP bought a new position in shares of MKS Instruments during the 3rd quarter worth about $468,000. Venturi Wealth Management LLC grew its stake in shares of MKS Instruments by 23.6% in the 3rd quarter. Venturi Wealth Management LLC now owns 2,809 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock valued at $305,000 after buying an additional 537 shares during the period. Finally, Crossmark Global Holdings Inc. increased its position in MKS Instruments by 7.8% in the 3rd quarter. Crossmark Global Holdings Inc. now owns 4,317 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock valued at $470,000 after buying an additional 312 shares in the last quarter. 99.79% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

MKS Instruments Trading Down 0.9 %

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

MKS Instruments (NASDAQ:MKSI) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, November 6th. The scientific and technical instruments company reported $1.72 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates 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 for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $874.29 million. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $1.46 earnings per share. The company’s quarterly revenue was down 3.9% on a year-over-year basis. Equities research analysts predict that MKS Instruments, Inc. will post 6.22 EPS for the current 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 given a dividend of $0.22 per share. The ex-dividend date is Monday, November 25th. This represents a $0.88 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.79%. MKS Instruments’s dividend payout ratio is presently 195.56%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities research analysts have commented on the company. Benchmark reissued a “buy” rating and issued a $142.00 price objective on shares of MKS Instruments in a research note on Thursday, August 8th. Mizuho raised shares of MKS Instruments to a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Monday, October 7th. Needham & Company LLC upped their price objective on shares of MKS Instruments from $153.00 to $156.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, August 9th. Wells Fargo & Company reduced 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, Cantor Fitzgerald began coverage on shares of MKS Instruments in a research report on Tuesday, September 10th. They issued an “overweight” rating and a $140.00 price target on the stock. Five analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, seven have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, MKS Instruments currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $141.09.

Insider Activity

In related news, EVP John Edward Williams sold 1,800 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, August 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $118.71, for a total value of $213,678.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 13 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,543.23. The trade was a 0.00 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. In other news, Director Jacqueline F. Moloney sold 250 shares of MKS Instruments stock in a transaction on Tuesday, October 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $108.90, for a total value of $27,225.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 10,283 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,119,818.70. The trade was a 0.00 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, EVP John Edward Williams sold 1,800 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Friday, August 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $118.71, for a total value of $213,678.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president now owns 13 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,543.23. The trade was a 0.00 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 2,325 shares of company stock valued at $272,795 in the last 90 days. Insiders own 0.46% of the company’s stock.

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.