Marietta Investment Partners LLC Sells 6,825 Shares of MSA Safety Incorporated (NYSE:MSA)

Marietta Investment Partners LLC reduced its holdings in MSA Safety Incorporated (NYSE:MSA) by 69.7% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 2,960 shares of the industrial products company’s stock after selling 6,825 shares during the quarter. Marietta Investment Partners LLC’s holdings in MSA Safety were worth $491,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in MSA. Mutual of America Capital Management LLC increased its stake in MSA Safety by 0.3% in the 3rd quarter. Mutual of America Capital Management LLC now owns 21,267 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $3,771,000 after acquiring an additional 71 shares during the last quarter. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans boosted its holdings in shares of MSA Safety by 3.4% in the 3rd quarter. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans now owns 9,245 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $1,640,000 after purchasing an additional 300 shares in the last quarter. B. Metzler seel. Sohn & Co. Holding AG purchased a new position in shares of MSA Safety in the 3rd quarter worth about $260,000. BNP PARIBAS ASSET MANAGEMENT Holding S.A. boosted its holdings in shares of MSA Safety by 10.6% in the 3rd quarter. BNP PARIBAS ASSET MANAGEMENT Holding S.A. now owns 126,082 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $22,359,000 after purchasing an additional 12,039 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of MSA Safety by 6.9% in the 3rd quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 418,237 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $74,170,000 after purchasing an additional 26,835 shares in the last quarter. 92.51% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other MSA Safety news, CAO Jonathan D. Buck sold 717 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $159.00, for a total value of $114,003.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief accounting officer now owns 3,673 shares in the company, valued at approximately $584,007. This trade represents a 16.33 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Company insiders own 6.20% of the company’s stock.

MSA Safety Trading Down 0.4 %

Shares of MSA stock opened at $149.90 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $5.88 billion, a PE ratio of 20.79 and a beta of 0.99. MSA Safety Incorporated has a 1-year low of $148.23 and a 1-year high of $200.61. The business has a 50-day moving average of $160.28 and a 200 day moving average of $167.79. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.42, a current ratio of 2.79 and a quick ratio of 1.76.

MSA Safety (NYSE:MSA) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, February 12th. The industrial products company reported $2.25 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.23 by $0.02. MSA Safety had a return on equity of 28.64% and a net margin of 15.76%. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that MSA Safety Incorporated will post 8.06 earnings per share for the current year.

MSA Safety Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 10th. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 14th were issued a $0.51 dividend. This represents a $2.04 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.36%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 14th. MSA Safety’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 28.29%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research firms have recently issued reports on MSA. DA Davidson began coverage on MSA Safety in a report on Thursday, December 19th. They issued a “buy” rating and a $195.00 price objective for the company. Jefferies Financial Group began coverage on MSA Safety in a report on Thursday, December 12th. They issued a “hold” rating and a $200.00 price objective for the company. Finally, Robert W. Baird cut their price objective on MSA Safety from $190.00 to $175.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, February 18th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, two have given a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Buy” and a consensus price target of $197.00.

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.