Conestoga Capital Advisors LLC Increases Position in MSA Safety Incorporated (NYSE:MSA)

Conestoga Capital Advisors LLC increased its position in MSA Safety Incorporated (NYSE:MSA - Free Report) by 34.2% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 590,718 shares of the industrial products company's stock after buying an additional 150,402 shares during the period. Conestoga Capital Advisors LLC owned about 1.50% of MSA Safety worth $97,923,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the business. ORG Partners LLC purchased a new stake in MSA Safety in the 4th quarter worth $1,131,000. Great Valley Advisor Group Inc. increased its holdings in shares of MSA Safety by 67.6% in the third quarter. Great Valley Advisor Group Inc. now owns 23,385 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $4,147,000 after purchasing an additional 9,433 shares during the last quarter. Barclays PLC lifted its position in shares of MSA Safety by 62.0% in the third quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 16,688 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $2,959,000 after buying an additional 6,384 shares in the last quarter. GSA Capital Partners LLP bought a new position in MSA Safety during the third quarter valued at approximately $737,000. Finally, Jane Street Group LLC grew its holdings in MSA Safety by 78.7% during the 3rd quarter. Jane Street Group LLC now owns 9,671 shares of the industrial products company's stock valued at $1,715,000 after buying an additional 4,259 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 92.51% of the company's stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

MSA has been the subject of a number of research reports. Jefferies Financial Group assumed coverage on MSA Safety in a research report on Thursday, December 12th. They set a "hold" rating and a $200.00 target price for the company. B. Riley initiated coverage on shares of MSA Safety in a research report on Tuesday, November 5th. They set a "buy" rating and a $200.00 price objective for the company. Finally, DA Davidson initiated coverage on shares of MSA Safety in a research report on Thursday, December 19th. They set a "buy" rating and a $195.00 target price on the stock. One analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, three have issued a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of "Buy" and an average target price of $202.50.

MSA Safety Trading Up 1.1 %

Shares of MSA traded up $1.87 during midday trading on Tuesday, hitting $164.52. The stock had a trading volume of 126,939 shares, compared to its average volume of 132,747. The stock's 50 day moving average is $167.60 and its 200 day moving average is $172.99. The firm has a market cap of $6.47 billion, a PE ratio of 23.77 and a beta of 1.00. 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 Incorporated has a 1 year low of $153.79 and a 1 year high of $200.60.

MSA Safety Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 10th. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 14th will be given a dividend of $0.51 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 14th. This represents a $2.04 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.24%. MSA Safety's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 29.48%.

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.