Principal Financial Group Inc. Reduces Position in MKS Instruments, Inc. (NASDAQ:MKSI)

Principal Financial Group Inc. cut its position in MKS Instruments, Inc. (NASDAQ:MKSI) by 0.2% during the fourth quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The firm owned 836,389 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock after selling 1,306 shares during the quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc.’s holdings in MKS Instruments were worth $87,315,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other large investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Rhumbline Advisers increased its position in shares of MKS Instruments by 0.8% in the 4th quarter. Rhumbline Advisers now owns 186,329 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock valued at $19,451,000 after purchasing an additional 1,534 shares during the last quarter. Blue Trust Inc. increased its position in shares of MKS Instruments by 424.1% in the 4th quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 414 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock valued at $45,000 after purchasing an additional 335 shares during the last quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC increased its position in shares of MKS Instruments by 3,258.2% in the 4th quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC now owns 39,123 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock valued at $4,148,000 after purchasing an additional 37,958 shares during the last quarter. Louisiana State Employees Retirement System increased its position in shares of MKS Instruments by 0.5% in the 4th quarter. Louisiana State Employees Retirement System now owns 18,700 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock valued at $1,952,000 after purchasing an additional 100 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Equitable Trust Co. increased its position in shares of MKS Instruments by 32.0% in the 4th quarter. Equitable Trust Co. now owns 6,645 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock valued at $694,000 after purchasing an additional 1,610 shares during the last quarter. 99.79% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

MKS Instruments Stock Up 1.7 %

Shares of NASDAQ:MKSI opened at $105.47 on Wednesday. The stock has a market cap of $7.10 billion, a P/E ratio of 234.38, a P/E/G ratio of 0.55 and a beta of 1.66. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $110.45 and a 200 day moving average price of $110.11. 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 $97.54 and a 1-year high of $147.40.

MKS Instruments (NASDAQ:MKSI) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 12th. The scientific and technical instruments company reported $2.15 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.92 by $0.23. MKS Instruments had a net margin of 0.90% and a return on equity of 15.79%. Sell-side analysts predict that MKS Instruments, Inc. will post 6.34 EPS for the current year.

MKS Instruments Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 7th. Stockholders of record on Monday, February 24th will be paid a $0.22 dividend. This represents a $0.88 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.83%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, February 24th. MKS Instruments’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 31.43%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research analysts have recently issued reports on MKSI shares. Citigroup upgraded shares of MKS Instruments from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $130.00 target price for the company in a report on Monday, January 6th. Benchmark lowered their target price on shares of MKS Instruments from $142.00 to $135.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Friday, February 14th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. started coverage on shares of MKS Instruments in a report on Friday, December 13th. They issued an “overweight” rating and a $145.00 target price for the company. Needham & Company LLC lowered their target price on shares of MKS Instruments from $156.00 to $145.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Friday, February 14th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group upped their target price on shares of MKS Instruments from $128.00 to $129.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a report on Friday, February 14th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nine have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $140.08.

Insider Transactions at MKS Instruments

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

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.