Xponance Inc. Increases Holdings in MSA Safety Incorporated (NYSE:MSA)

Xponance Inc. boosted its position in shares of MSA Safety Incorporated (NYSE:MSA) by 5.4% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 4,387 shares of the industrial products company’s stock after purchasing an additional 226 shares during the quarter. Xponance Inc.’s holdings in MSA Safety were worth $727,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the company. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans lifted its stake in MSA Safety by 3.4% in the third quarter. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans now owns 9,245 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $1,640,000 after acquiring an additional 300 shares during the period. B. Metzler seel. Sohn & Co. Holding AG purchased a new stake in shares of MSA Safety in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $260,000. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. boosted its stake in shares of MSA Safety by 6.9% during 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 purchasing an additional 26,835 shares in the last quarter. Cerity Partners LLC increased its holdings in MSA Safety by 5.7% during the third quarter. Cerity Partners LLC now owns 7,792 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $1,382,000 after buying an additional 420 shares during the period. Finally, Daiwa Securities Group Inc. raised its stake in MSA Safety by 26.3% in the third quarter. Daiwa Securities Group Inc. now owns 2,527 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $448,000 after buying an additional 526 shares in the last quarter. 92.51% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

MSA Safety Trading Up 0.9 %

Shares of NYSE:MSA opened at $151.15 on Tuesday. The business’s 50-day moving average is $160.11 and its 200 day moving average is $167.54. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.42, a current ratio of 2.79 and a quick ratio of 1.76. MSA Safety Incorporated has a 1 year low of $148.23 and a 1 year high of $200.61. The firm has a market capitalization of $5.93 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.96 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, beating 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%. On average, research analysts predict that MSA Safety Incorporated will post 8.06 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

MSA Safety Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 10th. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 14th were paid a dividend of $0.51 per share. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 14th. This represents a $2.04 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.35%. MSA Safety’s payout ratio is currently 28.29%.

Insider Activity

In related news, CAO Jonathan D. Buck sold 717 shares of MSA Safety stock in a transaction dated 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 $584,007. The trade was a 16.33 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Corporate insiders own 6.20% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research analysts have recently issued reports on the company. Robert W. Baird cut their price target on MSA Safety from $190.00 to $175.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, February 18th. Jefferies Financial Group began coverage on MSA Safety in a research note on Thursday, December 12th. They issued a “hold” rating and a $200.00 target price on the stock. Finally, DA Davidson began coverage on shares of MSA Safety in a research report on Thursday, December 19th. They set a “buy” rating and a $195.00 price target for the company. Two research 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. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of “Buy” and a consensus 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.