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Insider Trading February 23, 2026

MKS Instruments VP McCarthy Disposes Entire Direct Stake in $366,502 Sale

Chief Accounting Officer sold 1,466 shares as stock trades near its 52-week high amid mixed market reaction to earnings

By Ajmal Hussain MKSI
MKS Instruments VP McCarthy Disposes Entire Direct Stake in $366,502 Sale
MKSI

MKS Inc. (MKSI) Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer Michelle M. McCarthy sold 1,466 shares on February 20, 2026, in multiple transactions that produced $366,502. The shares were sold at prices between $249.5674 and $250.3479. The transaction leaves McCarthy with zero directly held shares. The sale occurred while MKSI shares traded at $251.93, not far from a 52-week high of $269.91 after a 154% gain over the past year. InvestingPro analysis lists the stock among the Most Overvalued relative to its Fair Value. Separately, MKS reported quarter-beating results and provided bullish guidance that prompted analysts to lift price targets, although shares slipped in after-hours trading.

Key Points

  • Michelle M. McCarthy, VP and Chief Accounting Officer, sold 1,466 MKS shares on February 20, 2026, for $366,502 at prices between $249.5674 and $250.3479, leaving her with zero directly held shares.
  • MKSI trades at $251.93, approaching a 52-week high of $269.91 after a 154% year-over-year gain; InvestingPro lists the stock among the Most Overvalued versus its Fair Value.
  • MKS reported Q4 adjusted EPS of $2.47 versus a $2.46 consensus and revenue of $1.033 billion against $1.022 billion expected; the company gave stronger-than-expected Q1 revenue guidance and cited strength in Electronics & Packaging and increased Semi shipments.

Insider transaction

MKS INC (NASDAQ:MKSI) Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer Michelle M. McCarthy sold 1,466 shares of common stock on February 20, 2026. The sales were completed in multiple transactions with executed prices ranging from $249.5674 to $250.3479, producing total proceeds of $366,502. Following the trades, McCarthy is recorded as holding zero shares directly in the company.

Share-price context and valuation

The insider sale took place while MKSI shares were trading at $251.93, a level that sits below the stock's 52-week high of $269.91 and after a 154% gain over the past 12 months. InvestingPro analysis, cited alongside the market snapshot, places MKSI on its Most Overvalued list - a designation that reflects the stock trading above the service's Fair Value estimate. The platform also offers a broader Pro Research Report that includes MKSI among more than 1,400 U.S. equities for subscribers seeking additional valuation and company analysis.

Operational performance and guidance

In other company disclosures, MKS Instruments reported fourth-quarter adjusted earnings per share of $2.47, narrowly topping the consensus estimate of $2.46. Revenue for the quarter came in at $1.033 billion versus an expected $1.022 billion. Management provided first-quarter revenue guidance that exceeded analysts' expectations, pointing to resilience in its Electronics & Packaging segment and increased shipments within its Semi division.

Analyst response and market reaction

Following the quarterly report and forward guidance, Needham raised its price target on MKS Instruments to $300 from $260 while maintaining a Buy rating. KeyBanc reiterated an Overweight rating with a $250 price target. Despite the upgrades and what the firms described as strong guidance and performance, MKSI shares declined by 7.3% in after-hours trading.

What this means

The insider disposal, the company's modest earnings beat and raised guidance together present a mixed snapshot: operational metrics and analyst sentiment appear constructive, yet the stock is flagged by InvestingPro as overvalued and reacted negatively in extended trading. Investors seeking more detailed valuation context can use the Fair Value calculator that employs a combination of 17 industry valuation models to generate a consensus valuation and compare MKSI against thousands of other stocks.

Note on holdings

Corporate records show that after the February 20 transactions, McCarthy does not directly own any MKS INC common stock.

Risks

  • Valuation risk - InvestingPro places MKSI among stocks deemed Most Overvalued relative to Fair Value, which could concern valuation-sensitive investors; this affects equity market participants and technology hardware valuations.
  • Market reaction risk - Shares dropped 7.3% in after-hours trading despite positive earnings and guidance, indicating potential volatility for shareholders and participants in electronics and semiconductor equipment markets.
  • Insider ownership change - The complete removal of direct holdings by the Chief Accounting Officer may raise questions for some investors about insider conviction, potentially impacting perceptions in corporate governance and investor relations.

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