MSA Safety Incorporated (NYSE:MSA) Given Average Recommendation of “Buy” by Analysts

MSA Safety Incorporated (NYSE:MSA) has been given a consensus rating of “Buy” by the six analysts that are presently covering the company, MarketBeat.com reports. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, two have assigned a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the company. The average 12-month price target among analysts that have covered the stock in the last year is $197.00.

MSA has been the topic of several recent analyst reports. DA Davidson began coverage on shares of MSA Safety in a report on Thursday, December 19th. They set a “buy” rating and a $195.00 price objective on the stock. Jefferies Financial Group began coverage on shares of MSA Safety in a research report on Thursday, December 12th. They set a “hold” rating and a $200.00 price target for the company. Robert W. Baird lowered their price objective on MSA Safety from $190.00 to $175.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, February 18th. Finally, B. Riley assumed coverage on MSA Safety in a research note on Tuesday, November 5th. They set a “buy” rating and a $200.00 price objective for the company.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other MSA Safety news, CAO Jonathan D. Buck sold 717 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $159.00, for a total value of $114,003.00. Following the transaction, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 3,673 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $584,007. This trade represents a 16.33 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. 6.20% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On MSA Safety

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Jefferies Financial Group Inc. acquired a new position in MSA Safety during the fourth quarter worth $237,000. Great Valley Advisor Group Inc. increased its stake in shares of MSA Safety by 10.9% in the 4th quarter. Great Valley Advisor Group Inc. now owns 25,926 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $4,298,000 after acquiring an additional 2,541 shares during the last quarter. EDENTREE ASSET MANAGEMENT Ltd raised its holdings in shares of MSA Safety by 954.1% during the 4th quarter. EDENTREE ASSET MANAGEMENT Ltd now owns 59,957 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $9,930,000 after acquiring an additional 54,269 shares during the period. PharVision Advisers LLC acquired a new position in shares of MSA Safety during the 4th quarter valued at about $230,000. Finally, Voloridge Investment Management LLC boosted its position in shares of MSA Safety by 275.1% during the 4th quarter. Voloridge Investment Management LLC now owns 89,929 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $14,908,000 after acquiring an additional 65,953 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 92.51% of the company’s stock.

MSA Safety Stock Performance

NYSE MSA opened at $159.95 on Tuesday. The stock has a market capitalization of $6.28 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.18 and a beta of 1.00. MSA Safety has a twelve month low of $153.79 and a twelve month high of $200.60. The company has a current ratio of 2.79, a quick ratio of 1.76 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.42. The stock has a 50-day moving average of $163.36 and a 200 day moving average of $170.11.

MSA Safety (NYSE:MSA) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 12th. The industrial products company reported $2.25 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.23 by $0.02. MSA Safety had a return on equity of 28.64% and a net margin of 15.76%. Sell-side analysts anticipate that MSA Safety will post 8.06 EPS for the current fiscal year.

MSA Safety Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 10th. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 14th will be paid a $0.51 dividend. This represents a $2.04 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.28%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 14th. MSA Safety’s dividend payout ratio is currently 28.29%.

MSA Safety Company Profile

MSA Safety Incorporated develops, manufactures, and supplies safety products and technology solutions that protect people and facility infrastructures in the fire service, energy, utility, construction, and industrial manufacturing applications, as well as heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration industries worldwide.