MSA Safety (NYSE:MSA) Reaches New 52-Week Low - Should You Sell?

MSA Safety Incorporated (NYSE:MSA - Get Free Report) hit a new 52-week low during mid-day trading on Thursday . The company traded as low as $142.20 and last traded at $144.55, with a volume of 964 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at $149.66.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research analysts have recently commented on the company. Jefferies Financial Group initiated coverage on MSA Safety in a research report on Thursday, December 12th. They set a "hold" rating and a $200.00 price target for the company. DA Davidson began coverage on MSA Safety in a research report on Thursday, December 19th. They issued a "buy" rating and a $195.00 target price for the company. Finally, Robert W. Baird cut their price target on shares of MSA Safety from $190.00 to $175.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, February 18th. Two research 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's stock. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of "Buy" and a consensus target price of $197.00.

MSA Safety Stock Down 6.2 %

The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $157.11 and a 200-day moving average price of $165.93. The company has a current ratio of 2.79, a quick ratio of 1.76 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.42. The firm has a market cap of $5.27 billion, a PE ratio of 18.61 and a beta of 0.97.

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

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MSA Safety Announces Dividend

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. This represents a $2.04 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.52%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 14th. MSA Safety's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 28.29%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, CAO Jonathan D. Buck sold 717 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $159.00, for a total transaction of $114,003.00. Following the sale, the chief accounting officer now owns 3,673 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $584,007. This trade represents a 16.33 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. 6.20% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On MSA Safety

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its position in shares of MSA Safety by 0.6% during the 4th quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 3,883,844 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $643,825,000 after buying an additional 22,190 shares during the last quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted its position in MSA Safety by 9.5% in the fourth quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 1,999,779 shares of the industrial products company's stock valued at $331,503,000 after acquiring an additional 173,210 shares during the last quarter. State Street Corp grew its holdings in shares of MSA Safety by 2.5% during the third quarter. State Street Corp now owns 1,691,319 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $299,939,000 after purchasing an additional 40,569 shares during the last quarter. Champlain Investment Partners LLC grew its holdings in shares of MSA Safety by 99.2% during the fourth quarter. Champlain Investment Partners LLC now owns 1,354,310 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $224,504,000 after purchasing an additional 674,560 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD increased its position in shares of MSA Safety by 31.5% during the fourth quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 1,131,515 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $187,573,000 after purchasing an additional 271,264 shares in the last quarter. 92.51% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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.