MSA Safety Incorporated (NYSE:MSA) Shares Purchased by New York State Common Retirement Fund

New York State Common Retirement Fund boosted its holdings in MSA Safety Incorporated (NYSE:MSA) by 0.8% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 155,344 shares of the industrial products company’s stock after acquiring an additional 1,220 shares during the quarter. New York State Common Retirement Fund owned 0.40% of MSA Safety worth $25,751,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other large investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. State Street Corp increased its position in 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 boosted its stake in MSA Safety by 27.6% during the 3rd 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 in the last quarter. Conestoga Capital Advisors LLC boosted its stake in MSA Safety by 34.2% during the 4th quarter. Conestoga Capital Advisors LLC now owns 590,718 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $97,923,000 after purchasing an additional 150,402 shares in the last quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. boosted its stake in MSA Safety by 6.9% during the 3rd quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 418,237 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $74,170,000 after purchasing an additional 26,835 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Copeland Capital Management LLC bought a new position in MSA Safety during the 4th quarter valued at $29,894,000. 92.51% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities analysts have issued reports on the company. DA Davidson assumed coverage on MSA Safety in a research note on Thursday, December 19th. They set a “buy” rating and a $195.00 price target for the company. B. Riley assumed coverage on MSA Safety in a research note on Tuesday, November 5th. They set a “buy” rating and a $200.00 price target for the company. Jefferies Financial Group assumed coverage on MSA Safety in a research note on Thursday, December 12th. They set a “hold” rating and a $200.00 price target for the company. Finally, Robert W. Baird decreased their price target on MSA Safety from $190.00 to $175.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, three have given a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of “Buy” and a consensus price target of $197.00.

MSA Safety Stock Performance

MSA opened at $158.30 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $6.21 billion, a PE ratio of 21.96 and a beta of 1.00. 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 business has a fifty day simple moving average of $164.38 and a 200-day simple moving average of $170.96. MSA Safety Incorporated has a fifty-two week low of $153.79 and a fifty-two week high of $200.60.

MSA Safety (NYSE:MSA) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 12th. The industrial products company reported $2.25 earnings per share for the quarter, topping 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, equities analysts predict that MSA Safety Incorporated will post 8.06 EPS for the current fiscal year.

MSA Safety Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 10th. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 14th will be issued a $0.51 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 14th. This represents a $2.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.29%. 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.