Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan Trust Fund Acquires 47,700 Shares of MKS Instruments, Inc. (NASDAQ:MKSI)

Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan Trust Fund raised its holdings in MKS Instruments, Inc. (NASDAQ:MKSI) by 174.7% during the third quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 75,000 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock after buying an additional 47,700 shares during the period. Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan Trust Fund owned about 0.11% of MKS Instruments worth $8,153,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

A number of other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the business. Massmutual Trust Co. FSB ADV lifted its position in shares of MKS Instruments by 196.9% during the third quarter. Massmutual Trust Co. FSB ADV now owns 288 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock valued at $31,000 after purchasing an additional 191 shares in the last quarter. Key Financial Inc bought a new position in shares of MKS Instruments during the second quarter valued at about $39,000. Quarry LP bought a new position in shares of MKS Instruments during the second quarter valued at about $39,000. BOKF NA purchased a new stake in MKS Instruments during the second quarter worth about $39,000. Finally, Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC increased its holdings in MKS Instruments by 62.6% during the second quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC now owns 309 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock worth $40,000 after buying an additional 119 shares during the last quarter. 99.79% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

MKS Instruments Trading Up 1.1 %

Shares of NASDAQ MKSI opened at $113.64 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $7.65 billion, a P/E ratio of 252.53, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.67 and a beta of 1.63. 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 1 year low of $80.84 and a 1 year high of $147.40. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $107.31 and a 200 day moving average of $118.14.

MKS Instruments (NASDAQ:MKSI) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, November 6th. The scientific and technical instruments company reported $1.72 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.45 by $0.27. The firm had revenue of $896.00 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $874.29 million. MKS Instruments had a net margin of 0.90% and a return on equity of 15.79%. The business’s revenue for the quarter was down 3.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $1.46 earnings per share. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that MKS Instruments, Inc. will post 6.22 EPS 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. Shareholders of record on Monday, November 25th will be issued a dividend of $0.22 per share. This represents a $0.88 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.77%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, November 25th. MKS Instruments’s dividend payout ratio is currently 195.56%.

Insider Buying and Selling at MKS Instruments

In related news, Director Jacqueline F. Moloney sold 250 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction 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 sale, the director now owns 10,283 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,119,818.70. The trade was a 2.37 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, Director Elizabeth Mora sold 275 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Tuesday, September 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $115.97, for a total transaction of $31,891.75. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 17,934 shares in the company, valued at $2,079,805.98. This represents a 1.51 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 0.46% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

MKSI has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. Mizuho upgraded shares of MKS Instruments to a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Monday, October 7th. The Goldman Sachs Group assumed coverage on MKS Instruments in a research note on Tuesday, September 3rd. They issued a “neutral” rating and a $129.00 target price on the stock. Benchmark restated a “buy” rating and issued a $142.00 target price on shares of MKS Instruments in a research note on Monday, November 18th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reduced their price objective on MKS Instruments from $140.00 to $120.00 and set a “hold” rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, August 9th. Finally, Morgan Stanley started coverage on MKS Instruments in a research report on Monday, August 5th. They set an “overweight” rating and a $155.00 price target on the stock. Five equities research 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, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $141.09.

MKS Instruments Company 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.