MSA Safety Incorporated (NYSE:MSA) Stake Lowered by AlphaQuest LLC

AlphaQuest LLC lessened its holdings in MSA Safety Incorporated (NYSE:MSA) by 15.6% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 9,119 shares of the industrial products company’s stock after selling 1,686 shares during the period. AlphaQuest LLC’s holdings in MSA Safety were worth $1,512,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of MSA. Farther Finance Advisors LLC lifted its stake in shares of MSA Safety by 397.0% in the 3rd quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC now owns 1,342 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $238,000 after purchasing an additional 1,072 shares during the last quarter. Covestor Ltd lifted its stake in shares of MSA Safety by 985.1% in the 3rd quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 803 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $143,000 after purchasing an additional 729 shares during the last quarter. Crossmark Global Holdings Inc. lifted its stake in shares of MSA Safety by 32.2% in the 3rd quarter. Crossmark Global Holdings Inc. now owns 3,172 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $562,000 after purchasing an additional 772 shares during the last quarter. Entropy Technologies LP acquired a new stake in shares of MSA Safety in the 3rd quarter valued at $248,000. Finally, GSA Capital Partners LLP acquired a new stake in shares of MSA Safety in the 3rd quarter valued at $737,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 92.51% of the company’s stock.

Insider Transactions at MSA Safety

In other news, CAO Jonathan D. Buck sold 717 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $159.00, for a total transaction of $114,003.00. Following the transaction, the chief accounting officer now owns 3,673 shares in the company, valued at approximately $584,007. The trade was a 16.33 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Insiders own 6.20% of the company’s stock.

MSA Safety Stock Performance

NYSE:MSA opened at $157.75 on Monday. The firm’s 50-day moving average is $162.57 and its 200-day moving average is $169.58. MSA Safety Incorporated has a 52-week low of $153.79 and a 52-week high of $200.60. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.42, a quick ratio of 1.76 and a current ratio of 2.79. The company has a market cap of $6.19 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.88 and a beta of 0.99.

MSA Safety (NYSE:MSA) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 12th. The industrial products company reported $2.25 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.23 by $0.02. MSA Safety had a net margin of 15.76% and a return on equity of 28.64%. Equities research analysts anticipate that MSA Safety Incorporated will post 8.06 earnings per share for the current 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 issued a dividend of $0.51 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 14th. This represents a $2.04 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.29%. MSA Safety’s payout ratio is 28.29%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities research analysts recently issued reports on MSA shares. Robert W. Baird reduced their price objective on shares of MSA Safety from $190.00 to $175.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, February 18th. Jefferies Financial Group assumed coverage on shares of MSA Safety in a research report on Thursday, December 12th. They set a “hold” rating and a $200.00 target price for the company. Finally, DA Davidson assumed coverage on shares of MSA Safety in a research report on Thursday, December 19th. They set a “buy” rating and a $195.00 target price for the company. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, two have assigned a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Buy” and an average target price of $197.00.

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.