Fmr LLC Reduces Stock Position in MSA Safety Incorporated (NYSE:MSA)

FMR LLC lowered its stake in MSA Safety Incorporated (NYSE:MSA - Free Report) by 37.7% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 25,862 shares of the industrial products company's stock after selling 15,624 shares during the quarter. FMR LLC owned 0.07% of MSA Safety worth $4,586,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Mutual of America Capital Management LLC raised its position in MSA Safety by 0.3% in the third quarter. Mutual of America Capital Management LLC now owns 21,267 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $3,771,000 after acquiring an additional 71 shares during the period. Legacy Wealth Asset Management LLC raised its position in MSA Safety by 1.3% in the third quarter. Legacy Wealth Asset Management LLC now owns 5,418 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $961,000 after acquiring an additional 72 shares during the period. Creative Financial Designs Inc. ADV raised its position in MSA Safety by 4.3% in the third quarter. Creative Financial Designs Inc. ADV now owns 2,052 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $364,000 after acquiring an additional 84 shares during the period. Bank of Montreal Can raised its position in MSA Safety by 1.6% in the second quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 6,845 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $1,307,000 after acquiring an additional 109 shares during the period. Finally, Creative Planning raised its position in MSA Safety by 5.3% in the third quarter. Creative Planning now owns 2,246 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $398,000 after acquiring an additional 114 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 92.51% of the company's stock.

MSA Safety Price Performance

Shares of MSA stock traded down $1.99 on Friday, hitting $174.41. 89,495 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 156,799. The firm has a market cap of $6.86 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 25.20 and a beta of 0.99. MSA Safety Incorporated has a 52 week low of $160.02 and a 52 week high of $200.60. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $172.29 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $178.08. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.48, a current ratio of 2.68 and a quick ratio of 1.56.

MSA Safety (NYSE:MSA - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly 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 company 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%. MSA Safety's revenue for the quarter was down 3.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $1.78 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts predict that MSA Safety Incorporated will post 7.64 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

MSA Safety Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, December 10th. Shareholders of record on Friday, November 15th were issued a $0.51 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Friday, November 15th. This represents a $2.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.17%. MSA Safety's dividend payout ratio is currently 29.48%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

MSA has been the topic of several recent research reports. B. Riley initiated coverage on shares of MSA Safety in a research report on Tuesday, November 5th. They issued a "buy" rating and a $200.00 price target on the stock. Jefferies Financial Group started coverage on shares of MSA Safety in a research report on Thursday. They issued a "hold" rating and a $200.00 price target on the stock. One analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, two have assigned a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of "Buy" and a consensus price target of $205.00.

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.