Handelsbanken Fonder AB Purchases 20,900 Shares of MSA Safety Incorporated (NYSE:MSA)

Handelsbanken Fonder AB grew its position in shares of MSA Safety Incorporated (NYSE:MSA - Free Report) by 11.0% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 210,244 shares of the industrial products company's stock after acquiring an additional 20,900 shares during the quarter. Handelsbanken Fonder AB owned about 0.53% of MSA Safety worth $34,852,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of the company. ORG Partners LLC bought a new position in MSA Safety during the fourth quarter valued at $1,131,000. Great Valley Advisor Group Inc. raised its position in shares of MSA Safety by 67.6% during the 3rd quarter. Great Valley Advisor Group Inc. now owns 23,385 shares of the industrial products company's stock valued at $4,147,000 after buying an additional 9,433 shares in the last quarter. Barclays PLC lifted its holdings in shares of MSA Safety by 62.0% in the 3rd quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 16,688 shares of the industrial products company's stock valued at $2,959,000 after acquiring an additional 6,384 shares during the last quarter. Milestone Asset Management LLC purchased a new position in MSA Safety in the fourth quarter worth about $759,000. Finally, GSA Capital Partners LLP purchased a new position in MSA Safety in the third quarter worth about $737,000. 92.51% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

MSA Safety Trading Down 0.4 %

Shares of MSA stock traded down $0.71 on Friday, reaching $158.30. 166,180 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 134,752. The company's fifty day simple moving average is $164.38 and its 200 day simple moving average is $170.96. The stock has a market capitalization of $6.21 billion, a PE ratio of 21.96 and a beta of 1.00. The company has a current ratio of 2.79, a quick ratio of 1.76 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.42. MSA Safety Incorporated has a 52 week low of $153.79 and a 52 week high of $200.60.

MSA Safety (NYSE:MSA - Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, February 12th. The industrial products company reported $2.25 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.23 by $0.02. MSA Safety had a return on equity of 28.64% and a net margin of 15.76%. As a group, analysts forecast that MSA Safety Incorporated will post 8.06 EPS for the current year.

MSA Safety Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 10th. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 14th will be paid a $0.51 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 14th. This represents a $2.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.29%. MSA Safety's dividend payout ratio is currently 28.29%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research firms have recently issued reports on MSA. Robert W. Baird lowered their price objective on MSA Safety from $190.00 to $175.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday. DA Davidson began coverage on MSA Safety in a report on Thursday, December 19th. They set a "buy" rating and a $195.00 price target on the stock. Jefferies Financial Group began coverage on shares of MSA Safety in a research note on Thursday, December 12th. They set a "hold" rating and a $200.00 price objective for the company. Finally, B. Riley initiated coverage on shares of MSA Safety in a research note on Tuesday, November 5th. They issued a "buy" rating and a $200.00 target price on the stock. Two investment analysts have 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. According to MarketBeat.com, MSA Safety presently has a consensus rating of "Buy" and a consensus price target of $197.00.

About MSA Safety

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.