MSA Safety Incorporated (NYSE:MSA) Given Average Rating of “Buy” by Brokerages

MSA Safety Incorporated (NYSE:MSA) has received an average rating of “Buy” from the six research firms that are presently covering the firm, MarketBeat reports. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation, two have issued a buy recommendation and two have given a strong buy recommendation to the company. The average twelve-month price target among brokerages that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $197.00.

A number of equities research analysts recently weighed in on the stock. DA Davidson began coverage on shares of MSA Safety in a research note on Thursday, December 19th. They set a “buy” rating and a $195.00 price target for the company. Robert W. Baird reduced their price target on MSA Safety from $190.00 to $175.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, February 18th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group assumed 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.

Insider Transactions at MSA Safety

In related 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 transaction of $114,003.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 3,673 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $584,007. This represents a 16.33 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Company insiders own 6.20% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On MSA Safety

Large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. UMB Bank n.a. grew its position in shares of MSA Safety by 78.4% in the 4th quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 182 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $30,000 after acquiring an additional 80 shares during the period. SRS Capital Advisors Inc. increased its position in MSA Safety by 120.6% during the fourth quarter. SRS Capital Advisors Inc. now owns 225 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $37,000 after buying an additional 123 shares during the last quarter. JFS Wealth Advisors LLC lifted its position in shares of MSA Safety by 97.6% in the fourth quarter. JFS Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 251 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $42,000 after buying an additional 124 shares during the last quarter. First Horizon Advisors Inc. boosted its stake in shares of MSA Safety by 81.3% during the 4th quarter. First Horizon Advisors Inc. now owns 330 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $55,000 after acquiring an additional 148 shares during the period. Finally, Hilltop National Bank raised its stake in MSA Safety by 23.5% in the 4th quarter. Hilltop National Bank now owns 520 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $86,000 after acquiring an additional 99 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 92.51% of the company’s stock.

MSA Safety Stock Performance

MSA stock opened at $148.07 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $5.81 billion, a PE ratio of 20.54 and a beta of 0.99. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.42, a current ratio of 2.79 and a quick ratio of 1.76. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $159.17 and a 200 day moving average price of $167.06. MSA Safety has a fifty-two week low of $147.77 and a fifty-two week high of $200.61.

MSA Safety (NYSE:MSA) last issued its quarterly earnings results 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 28.64% and a net margin of 15.76%. Analysts forecast that MSA Safety will post 8.06 EPS for the current year.

MSA Safety Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 10th. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 14th were paid a $0.51 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 14th. This represents a $2.04 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.38%. 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.