Transaction details
James Alan Schreiner, who serves as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at MKS Instruments Inc (NASDAQ: MKSI), sold 4,100 shares of common stock on February 24, 2026, according to a Form 4 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The shares were transacted at $255.00 apiece, producing a gross proceeds figure of $1.04 million. Following the disposition, Schreiner retains 23,401.962 shares of MKS Instruments directly.
Quarterly results and market reaction
MKS Instruments reported fourth-quarter earnings per share of $2.47, narrowly ahead of the consensus estimate of $2.46. Revenue in the same quarter came in at $1.03 billion, above the expected $1,022 million and representing a 10.5% increase year-over-year. The company’s results and forward commentary prompted analysts to adjust their outlooks.
Needham raised its price target for MKS Instruments to $300, citing strong guidance and ongoing momentum in the company’s Electronics & Packaging segment, while maintaining a Buy rating. KeyBanc reiterated an Overweight rating and kept a $250 price target following the report. Despite those analyst actions, MKS Instruments shares declined about 7.3% in after-hours trading.
Guidance and analyst commentary
Part of the positive analyst reception reflected MKS’s first-quarter revenue guidance, which surpassed expectations and reinforced optimism about near-term demand, particularly in the Semi division where Needham noted higher shipments in the fourth quarter. These elements underpinned the firms’ decision to sustain or lift price targets.
Where investors can look for additional analysis
For investors seeking deeper context on valuation and insider transactions, the company is listed among more than 1,400 U.S. equities covered by InvestingPro Research Reports, a set of research products designed to distill Wall Street data into actionable intelligence.
Key takeaways
- Schreiner sold 4,100 shares on February 24, 2026, at $255.00 per share, generating $1.04 million in proceeds; he still directly owns 23,401.962 shares.
- MKS Instruments beat fourth-quarter EPS and revenue estimates, reporting $2.47 in EPS and $1.03 billion in revenue, a 10.5% year-over-year increase.
- Analysts reacted with higher price targets and reaffirmed constructive ratings, though the stock fell about 7.3% in after-hours trading despite stronger-than-expected guidance for the first quarter.
Risks and uncertainties
- Short-term market reaction can diverge from analyst revisions - as evidenced by the 7.3% after-hours share decline following the earnings beat - which affects investors in the semiconductor and electronic equipment supply chain sectors.
- Insider selling, such as the $1.04 million sale by a senior executive, can raise questions for shareholders about timing and intent, potentially influencing sentiment in specialty industrial and equipment names.
- Forward-looking guidance underpins analyst optimism, but future performance remains uncertain and dependent on demand in the Electronics & Packaging and Semi divisions.
Context for market participants
The transaction and quarterly results together provide data points for investors and analysts assessing MKS’s operational trajectory and capital allocation choices. The executive sale is a discrete, documented event, while quarterly beats and raised targets reflect current analyst interpretation of near-term demand and segment strength.
Note: This piece presents transaction and earnings information reported through regulatory filings and company disclosures.