Teacher Retirement System of Texas Has $384,000 Stake in MSA Safety Incorporated (NYSE:MSA)

Teacher Retirement System of Texas cut its holdings in MSA Safety Incorporated (NYSE:MSA - Free Report) by 86.1% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 2,317 shares of the industrial products company's stock after selling 14,342 shares during the period. Teacher Retirement System of Texas' holdings in MSA Safety were worth $384,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

A number of other hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the business. State Street Corp lifted its position in shares of MSA Safety by 2.5% during the 3rd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 1,691,319 shares of the industrial products company's stock valued at $299,939,000 after acquiring an additional 40,569 shares during the period. Geode Capital Management LLC lifted its position in MSA Safety by 27.6% during the third quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 781,705 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $138,658,000 after purchasing an additional 169,168 shares during the period. Bank of New York Mellon Corp grew its stake in MSA Safety by 2.3% during the fourth quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 767,634 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $127,251,000 after buying an additional 17,052 shares in the last quarter. Cooke & Bieler LP increased its holdings in MSA Safety by 25.3% in the 4th quarter. Cooke & Bieler LP now owns 651,366 shares of the industrial products company's stock valued at $107,977,000 after buying an additional 131,458 shares during the period. Finally, Conestoga Capital Advisors LLC raised its position in shares of MSA Safety by 34.2% in the 4th quarter. Conestoga Capital Advisors LLC now owns 590,718 shares of the industrial products company's stock valued at $97,923,000 after buying an additional 150,402 shares in the last quarter. 92.51% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research analysts recently issued reports on MSA shares. Jefferies Financial Group assumed coverage on shares of MSA Safety in a research note on Thursday, December 12th. They issued a "hold" rating and a $200.00 price objective on the stock. Robert W. Baird decreased their price target on MSA Safety from $190.00 to $175.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, February 18th. Finally, DA Davidson started coverage on MSA Safety in a research note on Thursday, December 19th. They issued a "buy" rating and a $195.00 price objective on the stock. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, two have issued a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of "Buy" and an average price target of $197.00.

MSA Safety Price Performance

MSA stock traded down $8.91 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $134.16. 296,533 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 165,303. MSA Safety Incorporated has a 52 week low of $133.95 and a 52 week high of $200.61. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $157.11 and a 200 day moving average price of $165.93. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.42, a current ratio of 2.79 and a quick ratio of 1.76. The stock has a market capitalization of $5.27 billion, a PE ratio of 18.61 and a beta of 0.97.

MSA Safety (NYSE:MSA - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data 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%. As a group, analysts expect that MSA Safety Incorporated will post 8.06 EPS for the current fiscal year.

MSA Safety Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 10th. Investors of record on Friday, February 14th were paid a $0.51 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, February 14th. This represents a $2.04 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.52%. MSA Safety's dividend payout ratio is 28.29%.

Insider Activity at MSA Safety

In other MSA Safety news, CAO Jonathan D. Buck sold 717 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $159.00, for a total value of $114,003.00. Following the sale, the chief accounting officer now 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 filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. 6.20% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

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.