Advantage Alpha Capital Partners LP Cuts Stock Holdings in MSA Safety Incorporated (NYSE:MSA)

Advantage Alpha Capital Partners LP decreased its holdings in MSA Safety Incorporated (NYSE:MSA - Free Report) by 16.0% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 33,491 shares of the industrial products company's stock after selling 6,367 shares during the period. MSA Safety comprises approximately 1.4% of Advantage Alpha Capital Partners LP's portfolio, making the stock its 27th largest position. Advantage Alpha Capital Partners LP owned 0.09% of MSA Safety worth $5,939,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other large investors have also modified their holdings of the stock. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company grew its holdings in MSA Safety by 0.8% during the 3rd quarter. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company now owns 31,554 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $5,596,000 after acquiring an additional 247 shares in the last quarter. Loomis Sayles & Co. L P purchased a new position in MSA Safety in the third quarter valued at $627,000. Dynamic Technology Lab Private Ltd acquired a new stake in MSA Safety in the third quarter valued at $1,376,000. Daiwa Securities Group Inc. lifted its holdings in MSA Safety by 26.3% during the 3rd 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 during the last quarter. Finally, Cerity Partners LLC boosted its position in shares of MSA Safety by 5.7% during the 3rd quarter. Cerity Partners LLC now owns 7,792 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $1,382,000 after acquiring an additional 420 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 92.51% of the company's stock.

MSA Safety Stock Down 0.8 %

NYSE:MSA traded down $1.43 during midday trading on Tuesday, hitting $174.78. 176,481 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 155,211. MSA Safety Incorporated has a fifty-two week low of $160.02 and a fifty-two week high of $200.60. The company has a market capitalization of $6.87 billion, a PE ratio of 25.46 and a beta of 0.99. The company has a current ratio of 2.68, a quick ratio of 1.56 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.48. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $172.98 and a 200 day simple moving average of $179.31.

MSA Safety (NYSE:MSA - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, October 23rd. The industrial products company reported $1.83 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $1.78 by $0.05. The firm had revenue of $432.68 million during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $449.95 million. MSA Safety had a return on equity of 29.14% and a net margin of 15.16%. The business's revenue was down 3.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $1.78 EPS. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that MSA Safety Incorporated will post 7.64 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

MSA Safety Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, December 10th. Stockholders of record on Friday, November 15th will be given a dividend of $0.51 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, November 15th. This represents a $2.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.17%. MSA Safety's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 29.48%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Separately, B. Riley initiated coverage on MSA Safety in a research report on Tuesday, November 5th. They set a "buy" rating and a $200.00 target price on the stock.

MSA Safety 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.