17,039 Shares in MKS Instruments, Inc. (NASDAQ:MKSI) Bought by Hilton Capital Management LLC

Hilton Capital Management LLC bought a new position in MKS Instruments, Inc. (NASDAQ:MKSI) during the third quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The firm bought 17,039 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,852,000.

Other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Bessemer Group Inc. raised its holdings in MKS Instruments by 7.1% in the 1st quarter. Bessemer Group Inc. now owns 78,093 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock worth $10,387,000 after purchasing an additional 5,184 shares during the period. Comerica Bank raised its holdings in MKS Instruments by 29.5% in the 1st quarter. Comerica Bank now owns 111,923 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock worth $14,886,000 after purchasing an additional 25,520 shares during the period. Aigen Investment Management LP raised its holdings in MKS Instruments by 705.3% in the 3rd quarter. Aigen Investment Management LP now owns 12,547 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock worth $1,364,000 after purchasing an additional 10,989 shares during the period. First Eagle Investment Management LLC raised its holdings in MKS Instruments by 7.6% in the 2nd quarter. First Eagle Investment Management LLC now owns 141,187 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock worth $18,436,000 after purchasing an additional 10,000 shares during the period. Finally, Point72 Asset Management L.P. bought a new position in MKS Instruments in the 2nd quarter worth $1,599,000. 99.79% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

MKS Instruments Stock Up 0.3 %

Shares of NASDAQ:MKSI opened at $108.38 on Wednesday. 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, Inc. has a 12 month low of $75.58 and a 12 month high of $147.40. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $106.92 and a 200 day moving average price of $118.67. The company has a market cap of $7.29 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 240.84, a PEG ratio of 0.63 and a beta of 1.63.

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, 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 during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $874.29 million. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $1.46 EPS. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was down 3.9% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities research analysts predict that MKS Instruments, Inc. will post 6.22 earnings per share for the current year.

MKS Instruments Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, December 6th. Shareholders of record on Monday, November 25th will be paid a $0.22 dividend. This represents a $0.88 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.81%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, November 25th. MKS Instruments’s payout ratio is currently 195.56%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other MKS Instruments news, Director Jacqueline F. Moloney sold 250 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, October 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $108.90, for a total value of $27,225.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 10,283 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,119,818.70. This trade represents a 2.37 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, Director Elizabeth Mora sold 275 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated 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 directly owns 17,934 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $2,079,805.98. The trade was a 1.51 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.51% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of brokerages recently commented on MKSI. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft decreased their target price on MKS Instruments from $140.00 to $120.00 and set a “hold” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, August 9th. Cantor Fitzgerald initiated coverage on MKS Instruments in a research note on Tuesday, September 10th. They issued an “overweight” rating and a $140.00 price target for the company. The Goldman Sachs Group initiated coverage on MKS Instruments in a research note on Tuesday, September 3rd. They issued a “neutral” rating and a $129.00 price target for the company. Citigroup lowered MKS Instruments from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating and cut their price target for the stock from $145.00 to $120.00 in a research note on Monday, September 16th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company cut their price target on MKS Instruments from $120.00 to $110.00 and set an “equal weight” rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, October 3rd. Five equities research 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 company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, MKS Instruments currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price 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.