Entropy Technologies LP Raises Holdings in MSA Safety Incorporated (NYSE:MSA)

Entropy Technologies LP increased its holdings in MSA Safety Incorporated (NYSE:MSA) by 28.6% in the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The fund owned 1,800 shares of the industrial products company’s stock after purchasing an additional 400 shares during the quarter. Entropy Technologies LP’s holdings in MSA Safety were worth $298,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in MSA. Copeland Capital Management LLC purchased a new position in MSA Safety in the fourth quarter worth approximately $29,894,000. Geode Capital Management LLC grew its position in MSA Safety by 27.6% in the third quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 781,705 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $138,658,000 after acquiring an additional 169,168 shares during the period. Conestoga Capital Advisors LLC grew its position in MSA Safety by 34.2% in the fourth quarter. Conestoga Capital Advisors LLC now owns 590,718 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $97,923,000 after acquiring an additional 150,402 shares during the period. State Street Corp lifted its stake in MSA Safety by 2.5% during the third quarter. State Street Corp now owns 1,691,319 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $299,939,000 after purchasing an additional 40,569 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC lifted its stake in MSA Safety by 51.6% during the third quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC now owns 97,571 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $17,303,000 after purchasing an additional 33,204 shares in the last quarter. 92.51% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research firms have commented on MSA. B. Riley began coverage on MSA Safety in a research note on Tuesday, November 5th. They set a “buy” rating and a $200.00 price target on the stock. DA Davidson began coverage on MSA Safety in a research note on Thursday, December 19th. They set a “buy” rating and a $195.00 price target on the stock. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group began coverage on MSA Safety in a research note on Thursday, December 12th. They set a “hold” rating and a $200.00 price target on the stock. One research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, three have assigned a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of “Buy” and an average price target of $202.50.

MSA Safety Stock Up 0.1 %

Shares of NYSE MSA opened at $163.13 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $6.41 billion, a P/E ratio of 23.57 and a beta of 1.00. The company has a current ratio of 2.68, a quick ratio of 1.56 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.48. MSA Safety Incorporated has a 12-month low of $153.79 and a 12-month high of $200.60. The business’s fifty day simple moving average is $166.43 and its 200-day simple moving average is $171.97.

MSA Safety (NYSE:MSA) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 12th. The industrial products company reported $2.25 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.23 by $0.02. MSA Safety had a return on equity of 29.14% and a net margin of 15.16%. As a group, equities analysts predict that MSA Safety Incorporated will post 7.67 EPS for the current fiscal year.

MSA Safety Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed 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 1.25%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 14th. MSA Safety’s payout ratio is currently 28.29%.

About MSA Safety

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.