MSA Safety (NYSE:MSA) Reaches New 52-Week Low – Time to Sell?

MSA Safety Incorporated (NYSE:MSA) shares hit a new 52-week low on Friday . The stock traded as low as $148.38 and last traded at $148.35, with a volume of 55344 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at $150.56.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

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

MSA Safety Stock Performance

The company has a quick ratio of 1.76, a current ratio of 2.79 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.42. The company’s 50-day moving average is $160.41 and its two-hundred day moving average is $168.02. The company has a market capitalization of $5.86 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.69 and a beta of 0.99.

MSA Safety (NYSE:MSA) last issued its quarterly earnings results 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 net margin of 15.76% and a return on equity of 28.64%. Equities analysts anticipate that MSA Safety Incorporated will post 8.06 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

MSA Safety Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 10th. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 14th were given a dividend of $0.51 per share. This represents a $2.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.37%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 14th. MSA Safety’s payout ratio is currently 28.29%.

Insider Buying and Selling at MSA Safety

In other 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 sale, the chief accounting officer now 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 transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Company insiders own 6.20% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Trading of MSA Safety

A number of institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in MSA. Mutual of America Capital Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of MSA Safety by 0.3% during the third quarter. Mutual of America Capital Management LLC now owns 21,267 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $3,771,000 after purchasing an additional 71 shares during the period. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans boosted its stake in shares of MSA Safety by 3.4% during the third quarter. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans now owns 9,245 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $1,640,000 after purchasing an additional 300 shares during the period. B. Metzler seel. Sohn & Co. Holding AG purchased a new stake in shares of MSA Safety during the third quarter valued at approximately $260,000. BNP PARIBAS ASSET MANAGEMENT Holding S.A. lifted its stake in MSA Safety by 10.6% in the third 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 acquiring an additional 12,039 shares during the period. Finally, Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. lifted its stake in MSA Safety by 6.9% in the third quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 418,237 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $74,170,000 after acquiring an additional 26,835 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 92.51% of the company’s stock.

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.