Mountain Pacific Investment Advisers LLC Raises Stock Holdings in MSA Safety Incorporated (NYSE:MSA)

Mountain Pacific Investment Advisers LLC raised its stake in MSA Safety Incorporated (NYSE:MSA - Free Report) by 3.1% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 136,767 shares of the industrial products company's stock after purchasing an additional 4,086 shares during the period. MSA Safety accounts for 1.6% of Mountain Pacific Investment Advisers LLC's holdings, making the stock its 27th biggest holding. Mountain Pacific Investment Advisers LLC owned 0.35% of MSA Safety worth $22,672,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Several other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in MSA. American Century Companies Inc. grew its stake in MSA Safety by 453.6% in the second quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 41,799 shares of the industrial products company's stock valued at $7,845,000 after acquiring an additional 34,248 shares during the period. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. grew its holdings in shares of MSA Safety by 11.0% during the second quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 45,334 shares of the industrial products company's stock valued at $8,509,000 after buying an additional 4,497 shares during the last quarter. Vanguard Personalized Indexing Management LLC increased its position in shares of MSA Safety by 6.9% during the second quarter. Vanguard Personalized Indexing Management LLC now owns 5,585 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $1,017,000 after acquiring an additional 361 shares in the last quarter. Hsbc Holdings PLC bought a new position in MSA Safety in the 2nd quarter valued at about $2,322,000. Finally, Intech Investment Management LLC acquired a new position in MSA Safety during the 2nd quarter valued at about $1,405,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 92.51% of the company's stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research analysts have recently weighed in on MSA shares. B. Riley started coverage on MSA Safety in a report on Tuesday, November 5th. They issued a "buy" rating and a $200.00 target price on the stock. DA Davidson started coverage on shares of MSA Safety in a report on Thursday, December 19th. They set a "buy" rating and a $195.00 price objective on the stock. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group began coverage on shares of MSA Safety in a report on Thursday, December 12th. They set a "hold" rating and a $200.00 price target on the stock. One research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, three have assigned a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of "Buy" and an average price target of $202.50.

MSA Safety Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE MSA traded up $2.24 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, reaching $166.09. 138,852 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 134,156. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $169.45 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $175.00. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.48, a current ratio of 2.68 and a quick ratio of 1.56. The firm has a market capitalization of $6.53 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 24.00 and a beta of 1.00. 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 announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, October 23rd. The industrial products company reported $1.83 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.78 by $0.05. MSA Safety had a net margin of 15.16% and a return on equity of 29.14%. The business had revenue of $432.68 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $449.95 million. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $1.78 earnings per share. The company's revenue for the quarter was down 3.1% on a year-over-year basis. Analysts predict that MSA Safety Incorporated will post 7.67 EPS for the current year.

MSA Safety Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 10th. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 14th will be issued a dividend of $0.51 per share. This represents a $2.04 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.23%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 14th. MSA Safety's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 29.48%.

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.