Victory Capital Management Inc. Sells 25,195 Shares of MSA Safety Incorporated (NYSE:MSA)

Victory Capital Management Inc. lowered its stake in MSA Safety Incorporated (NYSE:MSA - Free Report) by 28.8% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 62,259 shares of the industrial products company's stock after selling 25,195 shares during the quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. owned about 0.16% of MSA Safety worth $10,321,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Several other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in MSA. Mutual of America Capital Management LLC raised its stake in MSA Safety by 0.3% during the 3rd quarter. Mutual of America Capital Management LLC now owns 21,267 shares of the industrial products company's stock valued at $3,771,000 after purchasing an additional 71 shares during the period. UMB Bank n.a. lifted its holdings 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 worth $30,000 after buying an additional 80 shares in the last quarter. US Bancorp DE lifted its holdings in shares of MSA Safety by 3.9% in the fourth quarter. US Bancorp DE now owns 2,190 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $363,000 after buying an additional 83 shares in the last quarter. Tidal Investments LLC grew its stake in MSA Safety by 1.1% during the third quarter. Tidal Investments LLC now owns 8,060 shares of the industrial products company's stock valued at $1,429,000 after acquiring an additional 90 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Hilltop National Bank increased its holdings in MSA Safety by 23.5% in the 4th quarter. Hilltop National Bank now owns 520 shares of the industrial products company's stock valued at $86,000 after acquiring an additional 99 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 92.51% of the company's stock.

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MSA Safety Trading Up 1.0 %

Shares of MSA traded up $1.51 during midday trading on Monday, hitting $151.90. The stock had a trading volume of 141,422 shares, compared to its average volume of 155,066. MSA Safety Incorporated has a 1 year low of $148.59 and a 1 year high of $200.61. 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's 50 day moving average is $161.20 and its 200 day moving average is $168.67. The firm has a market cap of $5.96 billion, a PE ratio of 21.07 and a beta of 0.99.

MSA Safety (NYSE:MSA - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 12th. The industrial products company reported $2.25 earnings per share (EPS) 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 forecast that MSA Safety Incorporated will post 8.06 EPS for the current fiscal year.

MSA Safety Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 10th. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 14th were paid a $0.51 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 14th. This represents a $2.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.34%. MSA Safety's payout ratio is 28.29%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research analysts have commented on MSA shares. DA Davidson started coverage on shares of MSA Safety in a report on Thursday, December 19th. They set a "buy" rating and a $195.00 price objective for the company. Jefferies Financial Group started coverage on MSA Safety in a research note on Thursday, December 12th. They issued a "hold" rating and a $200.00 price objective on the stock. Finally, Robert W. Baird lowered their target price 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. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, two have assigned a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, MSA Safety presently has an average rating of "Buy" and a consensus price target of $197.00.

Insider Activity

In other MSA Safety news, CAO Jonathan D. Buck sold 717 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction on Monday, February 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $159.00, for a total transaction of $114,003.00. Following the transaction, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 3,673 shares in the company, valued at $584,007. This trade represents a 16.33 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Insiders own 6.20% of the company's stock.

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.