MetLife Investment Management LLC Grows Position in MSA Safety Incorporated (NYSE:MSA)

MetLife Investment Management LLC increased its stake in MSA Safety Incorporated (NYSE:MSA - Free Report) by 9.0% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 22,120 shares of the industrial products company's stock after purchasing an additional 1,821 shares during the quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC owned about 0.06% of MSA Safety worth $3,667,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in MSA. Champlain Investment Partners LLC increased its position in shares of MSA Safety by 99.2% during the fourth quarter. Champlain Investment Partners LLC now owns 1,354,310 shares of the industrial products company's stock valued at $224,504,000 after buying an additional 674,560 shares during the period. Norges Bank bought a new stake in MSA Safety during the 4th quarter worth approximately $72,693,000. Raymond James Financial Inc. purchased a new stake in MSA Safety in the 4th quarter worth approximately $43,689,000. First Trust Advisors LP grew its position in shares of MSA Safety by 554.3% during the 4th quarter. First Trust Advisors LP now owns 284,552 shares of the industrial products company's stock valued at $47,170,000 after purchasing an additional 241,061 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Copeland Capital Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of MSA Safety in the fourth quarter worth $29,894,000. 92.51% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Insider Transactions at MSA Safety

In other MSA Safety news, CAO Jonathan D. Buck sold 717 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, February 24th. The shares were 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. This represents a 16.33 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Company insiders own 0.70% of the company's stock.

MSA Safety Price Performance

Shares of NYSE MSA traded up $1.35 during trading hours on Tuesday, reaching $153.95. 323,455 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 177,539. The company has a market capitalization of $6.04 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.35 and a beta of 0.97. The company's 50-day simple moving average is $149.95 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $161.80. The company has a quick ratio of 1.76, a current ratio of 2.79 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.42. MSA Safety Incorporated has a 52-week low of $127.86 and a 52-week high of $200.61.

MSA Safety (NYSE:MSA - Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, April 29th. The industrial products company reported $1.68 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.59 by $0.09. MSA Safety had a net margin of 15.76% and a return on equity of 28.64%. Equities research analysts forecast that MSA Safety Incorporated will post 8.06 EPS for the current year.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Separately, Robert W. Baird decreased their target price on MSA Safety from $175.00 to $161.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, April 15th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, two have issued a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of "Buy" and an average target price of $194.20.

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.