WCM Investment Management LLC Acquires 7,136 Shares of MKS Instruments, Inc. (NASDAQ:MKSI)

WCM Investment Management LLC lifted its holdings in MKS Instruments, Inc. (NASDAQ:MKSI) by 25.5% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm owned 35,069 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock after purchasing an additional 7,136 shares during the period. WCM Investment Management LLC’s holdings in MKS Instruments were worth $3,650,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of MKSI. Nordea Investment Management AB boosted its position in MKS Instruments by 10.4% during the 4th quarter. Nordea Investment Management AB now owns 2,525,037 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock valued at $265,874,000 after acquiring an additional 237,979 shares in the last quarter. State Street Corp lifted its stake in shares of MKS Instruments by 3.5% during the 3rd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 1,954,881 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock worth $212,515,000 after purchasing an additional 65,200 shares during the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC boosted its position in MKS Instruments by 4.6% during the third quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 1,172,517 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock valued at $127,496,000 after purchasing an additional 51,519 shares in the last quarter. Barclays PLC grew its stake in MKS Instruments by 108.6% in the third 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 last quarter. Finally, Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. raised its holdings in MKS Instruments by 7.4% in the third quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 663,414 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock worth $72,120,000 after purchasing an additional 45,862 shares in the last quarter. 99.79% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Analyst Ratings Changes

MKSI has been the topic of a number of recent analyst reports. JPMorgan Chase & Co. began coverage on shares of MKS Instruments in a report on Friday, December 13th. They issued an “overweight” rating and a $145.00 price target on the stock. The Goldman Sachs Group cut their price target on shares of MKS Instruments from $143.00 to $128.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, January 10th. Morgan Stanley decreased their price objective on MKS Instruments from $155.00 to $150.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Monday, December 16th. Needham & Company LLC restated a “buy” rating and set a $156.00 target price on shares of MKS Instruments in a research note on Wednesday, January 15th. Finally, Benchmark reiterated a “buy” rating and issued a $142.00 price target on shares of MKS Instruments in a research note on Monday, November 18th. Four 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 company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $141.75.

Insider Buying and Selling at MKS Instruments

In related news, Director Jacqueline F. Moloney sold 300 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, December 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $114.80, for a total transaction of $34,440.00. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 9,983 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,146,048.40. This trade represents a 2.92 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, Director Elizabeth Mora sold 275 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, December 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $113.41, for a total value of $31,187.75. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 17,659 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $2,002,707.19. The trade was a 1.53 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.46% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

MKS Instruments Stock Down 2.3 %

NASDAQ:MKSI opened at $109.38 on Monday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.98, a current ratio of 3.42 and a quick ratio of 2.21. The company’s fifty day moving average price is $111.52 and its 200-day moving average price is $110.69. MKS Instruments, Inc. has a 1-year low of $97.54 and a 1-year high of $147.40. The firm has a market capitalization of $7.36 billion, a P/E ratio of 243.07, a PEG ratio of 0.55 and a beta of 1.66.

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.