MSA Safety (NYSE:MSA) Reaches New 1-Year Low - Should You Sell?

MSA Safety Incorporated (NYSE:MSA - Get Free Report) shares hit a new 52-week low during mid-day trading on Friday . The stock traded as low as $148.38 and last traded at $148.35, with a volume of 55344 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at $150.56.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of analysts recently weighed in on MSA shares. DA Davidson began coverage on shares of MSA Safety in a report on Thursday, December 19th. They issued a "buy" rating and a $195.00 price objective on the stock. Jefferies Financial Group started coverage on MSA Safety in a report on Thursday, December 12th. They set a "hold" rating and a $200.00 price target on the stock. Finally, Robert W. Baird reduced their price objective on MSA Safety from $190.00 to $175.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, February 18th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, two have given a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of "Buy" and an average price target of $197.00.

MSA Safety Stock Performance

The stock has a market cap of $6.01 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.23 and a beta of 0.99. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.42, a current ratio of 2.79 and a quick ratio of 1.76. The company has a fifty day moving average of $160.11 and a 200 day moving average of $167.54.

MSA Safety (NYSE:MSA - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 12th. The industrial products company reported $2.25 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $2.23 by $0.02. MSA Safety had a return on equity of 28.64% and a net margin of 15.76%. On average, equities analysts predict that MSA Safety Incorporated will post 8.06 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

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MSA Safety Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 10th. Investors of record on Friday, February 14th were issued a $0.51 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, February 14th. This represents a $2.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.33%. MSA Safety's payout ratio is currently 28.29%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other MSA Safety news, CAO Jonathan D. Buck sold 717 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated 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 directly owns 3,673 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $584,007. This represents a 16.33 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. 6.20% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On MSA Safety

A number of large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Jefferies Financial Group Inc. purchased a new position in MSA Safety during the 4th quarter worth approximately $237,000. Great Valley Advisor Group Inc. boosted its position in shares of MSA Safety by 10.9% in the fourth quarter. Great Valley Advisor Group Inc. now owns 25,926 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $4,298,000 after buying an additional 2,541 shares during the period. EDENTREE ASSET MANAGEMENT Ltd grew its holdings in shares of MSA Safety by 954.1% during the fourth quarter. EDENTREE ASSET MANAGEMENT Ltd now owns 59,957 shares of the industrial products company's stock valued at $9,930,000 after buying an additional 54,269 shares in the last quarter. PharVision Advisers LLC purchased a new stake in MSA Safety in the 4th quarter worth about $230,000. Finally, Voloridge Investment Management LLC lifted its stake in MSA Safety by 275.1% in the 4th quarter. Voloridge Investment Management LLC now owns 89,929 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $14,908,000 after acquiring an additional 65,953 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 92.51% of the company's stock.

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.