Kathleen Flaherty Burke, who serves as Executive Vice President, General Counsel & Secretary at MKS Instruments INC (NASDAQ: MKSI), reported a sale of 4,254 shares of the companys common stock on February 20, 2026, according to a Form 4 filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The transaction was executed at $250.00 per share, producing total proceeds of $1,063,500.
Per the filing, after completing the sale Burke directly holds 53,794.485 shares of MKS Instruments. The Form 4 provides the formal record of the insider disposition to the SEC.
These insider-level moves arrived amid the companys most recent quarterly disclosure. For the fourth quarter, MKS Instruments reported adjusted earnings per share of $2.47, slightly outpacing the consensus estimate of $2.46. Revenue for the period came in at $1.03 billion, versus an expected $1.022 billion, representing a 10.5% increase compared with the prior year.
Despite the modest beats on both EPS and revenue, the companys shares declined in after-hours trading following the announcement. Management also issued first-quarter revenue guidance that surpassed expectations, a development that, together with the quarters results, shaped analyst responses.
Following the release, Needham raised its price target on MKS Instruments to $300 from $260 and maintained a Buy rating, citing strength in the Electronics & Packaging segment and higher shipments in the Semi division. KeyBanc reiterated an Overweight rating and kept a $250 price target after the companys strong fourth-quarter performance.
The sequence of events - an insider sale recorded via Form 4, modest quarterly beats, after-hours share weakness, and supportive analyst commentary - presents a compact set of disclosures for investors monitoring executive activity and near-term operational momentum at MKS Instruments.
Summary
Kathleen Flaherty Burke sold 4,254 shares at $250.00 per share on February 20, 2026, reported in a Form 4 filing. The sale generated $1,063,500 in proceeds; post-transaction, Burke holds 53,794.485 shares. MKS Instruments posted Q4 adjusted EPS of $2.47 and revenue of $1.03 billion, both slightly above analyst expectations. The company gave first-quarter revenue guidance above consensus and received positive analyst notes from Needham and KeyBanc.
Key points
- Insider transaction - Burke sold 4,254 shares at $250.00 on February 20, 2026, per an SEC Form 4 filing.
- Quarterly results - Q4 adjusted EPS of $2.47 and revenue of $1.03 billion, each modestly above expectations; revenue rose 10.5% year-over-year.
- Analyst reaction - Needham raised its price target to $300 and kept a Buy; KeyBanc reiterated Overweight with a $250 target.
Risks and uncertainties
- Market reaction - Shares fell in after-hours trading despite the quarters beats, introducing short-term market volatility for investors in MKSI.
- Reliance on guidance - The first-quarter revenue outlook exceeded expectations, but the companys provided guidance introduces execution and demand risk if outcomes diverge from estimates.