MSA Safety Incorporated (NYSE:MSA) Shares Sold by Principal Financial Group Inc.

Principal Financial Group Inc. lessened its holdings in MSA Safety Incorporated (NYSE:MSA - Free Report) by 1.5% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 431,089 shares of the industrial products company's stock after selling 6,714 shares during the period. Principal Financial Group Inc. owned about 1.10% of MSA Safety worth $71,462,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. UMB Bank n.a. increased its position in shares of MSA Safety by 78.4% in the fourth quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 182 shares of the industrial products company's stock valued at $30,000 after buying an additional 80 shares in the last quarter. JFS Wealth Advisors LLC increased its holdings in MSA Safety by 97.6% in the 4th quarter. JFS Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 251 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $42,000 after acquiring an additional 124 shares in the last quarter. Blue Trust Inc. raised its position in MSA Safety by 486.0% during 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 during the period. Hilltop National Bank raised its position in MSA Safety by 23.5% during 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 during the period. Finally, Quarry LP lifted its holdings in MSA Safety by 690.5% during 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 in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 92.51% of the company's stock.

MSA Safety Trading Down 1.0 %

NYSE:MSA traded down $1.62 on Friday, reaching $157.39. 50,289 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 131,038. The firm has a market capitalization of $6.18 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.78 and a beta of 1.00. MSA Safety Incorporated has a 52-week low of $153.79 and a 52-week high of $200.60. The company has a quick ratio of 1.76, a current ratio of 2.79 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.42. The business has a fifty day moving average of $164.38 and a 200-day moving average of $170.96.

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

MSA Safety Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 10th. Investors of record on Friday, February 14th will be paid a dividend of $0.51 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 14th. This represents a $2.04 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.30%. MSA Safety's payout ratio is 28.29%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

MSA has been the subject of several research analyst reports. DA Davidson began coverage on shares of MSA Safety in a research report on Thursday, December 19th. They set a "buy" rating and a $195.00 price target for the company. Robert W. Baird decreased their target price on MSA Safety from $190.00 to $175.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday. B. Riley initiated coverage on MSA Safety in a research report on Tuesday, November 5th. They set a "buy" rating and a $200.00 price target for the company. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group began coverage on MSA Safety in a report on Thursday, December 12th. They issued a "hold" rating and a $200.00 price objective on the stock. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, three have assigned a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat, MSA Safety presently has a consensus rating of "Buy" and an average price target of $197.00.

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.