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

Shares of MSA Safety Incorporated (NYSE:MSA) have been given an average rating of “Buy” by the five ratings firms that are presently covering the company, MarketBeat.com reports. One research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, two have given a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the company. The average 12-month price target among brokers that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $202.50.

Several research firms have weighed in on MSA. Jefferies Financial Group assumed coverage on MSA Safety in a report on Thursday, December 12th. They set a “hold” rating and a $200.00 price target for the company. DA Davidson initiated coverage on shares of MSA Safety in a report on Thursday, December 19th. They issued a “buy” rating and a $195.00 target price for the company. Finally, B. Riley began coverage on shares of MSA Safety in a research report on Tuesday, November 5th. They set a “buy” rating and a $200.00 price objective for the company.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On MSA Safety

A number of large investors have recently modified their holdings of MSA. State Street Corp increased its position in shares of MSA Safety by 2.5% in the 3rd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 1,691,319 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $299,939,000 after acquiring an additional 40,569 shares during the period. Geode Capital Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of 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 valued at $138,658,000 after purchasing an additional 169,168 shares during the period. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP raised its stake in shares of MSA Safety by 3.2% in the second quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 738,951 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $138,695,000 after purchasing an additional 22,979 shares during the last quarter. Conestoga Capital Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in shares of MSA Safety by 43.5% during the third quarter. Conestoga Capital Advisors LLC now owns 440,316 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $78,086,000 after purchasing an additional 133,373 shares during the period. Finally, Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. boosted its position 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 valued at $74,170,000 after buying an additional 26,835 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 92.51% of the company’s stock.

MSA Safety Price Performance

NYSE MSA opened at $156.48 on Monday. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $170.46 and a 200-day moving average price of $175.98. The company has a quick ratio of 1.56, a current ratio of 2.68 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.48. The firm has a market capitalization of $6.15 billion, a P/E ratio of 22.61 and a beta of 1.00. MSA Safety has a 52 week low of $156.30 and a 52 week high of $200.60.

MSA Safety (NYSE:MSA) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, October 23rd. The industrial products company reported $1.83 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.78 by $0.05. The business had revenue of $432.68 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $449.95 million. MSA Safety had a net margin of 15.16% and a return on equity of 29.14%. The company’s revenue for the quarter was down 3.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $1.78 earnings per share. Equities research analysts anticipate that MSA Safety will post 7.66 earnings per share for the current year.

MSA Safety Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, December 10th. Shareholders of record on Friday, November 15th were paid a $0.51 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Friday, November 15th. This represents a $2.04 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.30%. MSA Safety’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 29.48%.

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.