MSA Safety Incorporated (NYSE:MSA) Stock Holdings Cut by Pacer Advisors Inc.

Pacer Advisors Inc. decreased its stake in MSA Safety Incorporated (NYSE:MSA - Free Report) by 24.4% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 5,860 shares of the industrial products company's stock after selling 1,890 shares during the period. Pacer Advisors Inc.'s holdings in MSA Safety were worth $971,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other large investors have also modified their holdings of the stock. UMB Bank n.a. lifted its holdings in MSA Safety by 78.4% in the 4th quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 182 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $30,000 after buying an additional 80 shares in the last quarter. Blue Trust Inc. lifted its stake in shares of MSA Safety by 486.0% in the third quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 252 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $47,000 after acquiring an additional 209 shares in the last quarter. Hilltop National Bank lifted its stake in shares of MSA Safety by 23.5% in the fourth quarter. Hilltop National Bank now owns 520 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $86,000 after acquiring an additional 99 shares in the last quarter. Quarry LP boosted its holdings in MSA Safety by 690.5% in the third quarter. Quarry LP now owns 751 shares of the industrial products company's stock valued at $133,000 after purchasing an additional 656 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Covestor Ltd grew its stake in MSA Safety by 985.1% during the 3rd quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 803 shares of the industrial products company's stock valued at $143,000 after purchasing an additional 729 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 92.51% of the company's stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

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

MSA Safety Stock Performance

Shares of MSA Safety stock traded down $1.08 on Friday, reaching $165.25. 108,534 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 130,869. MSA Safety Incorporated has a 1-year low of $153.79 and a 1-year high of $200.60. The firm has a market cap of $6.50 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 23.88 and a beta of 1.00. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.48, a quick ratio of 1.56 and a current ratio of 2.68. The company's 50-day moving average is $167.25 and its two-hundred day moving average is $172.89.

MSA Safety Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 10th. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 14th will be paid a $0.51 dividend. This represents a $2.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.23%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 14th. MSA Safety's payout ratio 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.