Zacks Investment Management Trims Stake in MSA Safety Incorporated (NYSE:MSA)

Zacks Investment Management cut its position in MSA Safety Incorporated (NYSE:MSA - Free Report) by 98.5% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 1,333 shares of the industrial products company's stock after selling 85,461 shares during the period. Zacks Investment Management's holdings in MSA Safety were worth $236,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

A number of other large investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Cetera Investment Advisers purchased a new stake in MSA Safety during the 1st quarter valued at approximately $1,758,000. Fifth Third Wealth Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of MSA Safety during the second quarter valued at about $210,000. New York State Teachers Retirement System increased its holdings in shares of MSA Safety by 5.4% in the second quarter. New York State Teachers Retirement System now owns 44,855 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $8,419,000 after purchasing an additional 2,316 shares during the last quarter. Van Lanschot Kempen Investment Management N.V. purchased a new stake in shares of MSA Safety in the second quarter worth about $4,149,000. Finally, Bank of New York Mellon Corp boosted its stake in MSA Safety by 3.0% during the second quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 770,641 shares of the industrial products company's stock valued at $144,642,000 after buying an additional 22,366 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 92.51% of the company's stock.

MSA Safety Trading Down 0.8 %

Shares of NYSE:MSA traded down $1.38 during trading hours on Thursday, hitting $176.40. 140,356 shares of the company's stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 157,056. The firm has a market capitalization of $6.93 billion, a P/E ratio of 25.65 and a beta of 0.99. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $172.14 and a 200-day moving average price of $178.21. MSA Safety Incorporated has a 1 year low of $160.02 and a 1 year high of $200.60. 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 data on Wednesday, October 23rd. The industrial products company reported $1.83 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate 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 return on equity of 29.14% and a net margin of 15.16%. MSA Safety's quarterly revenue was down 3.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $1.78 EPS. Equities analysts expect that MSA Safety Incorporated will post 7.64 earnings per share for the current year.

MSA Safety Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, December 10th. Investors of record on Friday, November 15th were issued a dividend of $0.51 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, November 15th. This represents a $2.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.16%. MSA Safety's payout ratio is 29.48%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several analysts have recently issued reports on the company. B. Riley started coverage on MSA Safety in a report on Tuesday, November 5th. They set a "buy" rating and a $200.00 price objective on the stock. Jefferies Financial Group assumed coverage on MSA Safety in a research report on Thursday. They set a "hold" rating and a $200.00 price objective 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 stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of "Buy" and a consensus price target of $205.00.

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.