MSA Safety (NYSE:MSA) Posts Earnings Results, Beats Expectations By $0.02 EPS

MSA Safety (NYSE:MSA - Get Free Report) released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday. The industrial products company reported $2.25 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.23 by $0.02, Zacks reports. MSA Safety had a return on equity of 29.14% and a net margin of 15.16%.

MSA Safety Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:MSA traded down $5.01 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $158.28. The stock had a trading volume of 148,491 shares, compared to its average volume of 120,822. The company has a current ratio of 2.68, a quick ratio of 1.56 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.48. The company has a market cap of $6.22 billion, a P/E ratio of 22.87 and a beta of 1.00. MSA Safety has a 1 year low of $153.79 and a 1 year high of $200.60. The business's 50 day moving average price is $165.87 and its 200 day moving average price is $171.47.

MSA Safety Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 10th. Investors of record on Friday, February 14th will be given a $0.51 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 14th. This represents a $2.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.29%. MSA Safety's dividend payout ratio is currently 29.48%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

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

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.