Smithfield Trust Co Has $699,000 Position in MSA Safety Incorporated (NYSE:MSA)

Smithfield Trust Co lowered its holdings in MSA Safety Incorporated (NYSE:MSA - Free Report) by 42.0% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 4,221 shares of the industrial products company's stock after selling 3,057 shares during the period. Smithfield Trust Co's holdings in MSA Safety were worth $699,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in MSA. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. raised its stake in MSA Safety by 1.5% during the 4th quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 424,356 shares of the industrial products company's stock valued at $70,345,000 after purchasing an additional 6,119 shares during the period. SRS Capital Advisors Inc. grew its holdings in shares of MSA Safety by 120.6% during the fourth quarter. SRS Capital Advisors Inc. now owns 225 shares of the industrial products company's stock valued at $37,000 after buying an additional 123 shares in the last quarter. US Bancorp DE raised its position in MSA Safety by 3.9% during the fourth quarter. US Bancorp DE now owns 2,190 shares of the industrial products company's stock valued at $363,000 after buying an additional 83 shares during the period. Anchor Capital Advisors LLC lifted its stake in MSA Safety by 18.8% in the 4th quarter. Anchor Capital Advisors LLC now owns 10,700 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $1,774,000 after acquiring an additional 1,694 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Proficio Capital Partners LLC acquired a new stake in MSA Safety during the 4th quarter worth about $3,930,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 92.51% of the company's stock.

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Insider Activity

In related news, CAO Jonathan D. Buck sold 717 shares of the business's stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $159.00, for a total value of $114,003.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 3,673 shares in the company, valued at approximately $584,007. The trade was a 16.33 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. 6.20% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

MSA Safety Stock Down 0.4 %

Shares of MSA Safety stock traded down $0.69 during trading on Friday, hitting $157.75. 176,859 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 148,192. The stock has a market cap of $6.19 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.88 and a beta of 0.99. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.42, a quick ratio of 1.76 and a current ratio of 2.79. MSA Safety Incorporated has a twelve month low of $153.79 and a twelve month high of $200.60. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $162.57 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $169.69.

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

MSA Safety Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 10th. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 14th will be issued a dividend of $0.51 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 14th. This represents a $2.04 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.29%. MSA Safety's dividend payout ratio is 28.29%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities research analysts have commented on MSA shares. DA Davidson started coverage on MSA Safety in a research report on Thursday, December 19th. They set a "buy" rating and a $195.00 price objective for the company. Robert W. Baird decreased 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. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group started coverage on MSA Safety in a research report on Thursday, December 12th. They set a "hold" rating and a $200.00 price objective for the company. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, two have issued a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, MSA Safety currently has an average rating of "Buy" and an average price target of $197.00.

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.