MSA Safety Incorporated (NYSE:MSA) Shares Sold by Mutual of America Capital Management LLC

Mutual of America Capital Management LLC decreased its position in MSA Safety Incorporated (NYSE:MSA) by 2.4% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund owned 20,764 shares of the industrial products company’s stock after selling 503 shares during the period. Mutual of America Capital Management LLC owned about 0.05% of MSA Safety worth $3,442,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of MSA. Copeland Capital Management LLC acquired a new stake in MSA Safety in the fourth quarter valued at $29,894,000. Geode Capital Management LLC grew its holdings in MSA Safety by 27.6% in the third quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 781,705 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $138,658,000 after purchasing an additional 169,168 shares during the last quarter. Conestoga Capital Advisors LLC grew its holdings in MSA Safety by 34.2% in the fourth quarter. Conestoga Capital Advisors LLC now owns 590,718 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $97,923,000 after purchasing an additional 150,402 shares during the last quarter. State Street Corp grew its holdings in MSA Safety by 2.5% in the third quarter. State Street Corp now owns 1,691,319 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $299,939,000 after purchasing an additional 40,569 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Van ECK Associates Corp acquired a new stake in MSA Safety in the fourth quarter valued at $5,034,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 92.51% of the company’s stock.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, CAO Jonathan D. Buck sold 717 shares of the stock in a transaction dated 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 approximately $584,007. This represents a 16.33 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. 6.20% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several analysts have weighed in on MSA shares. Jefferies Financial Group started coverage on MSA Safety in a report on Thursday, December 12th. They issued a “hold” rating and a $200.00 target price on the stock. DA Davidson began coverage on MSA Safety in a research report on Thursday, December 19th. They issued a “buy” rating and a $195.00 price objective on the stock. Finally, Robert W. Baird reduced their price objective on MSA Safety from $190.00 to $175.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, February 18th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, two have given a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of “Buy” and a consensus target price of $197.00.

MSA Safety Stock Up 1.0 %

Shares of NYSE:MSA opened at $159.43 on Thursday. The company has a quick ratio of 1.76, a current ratio of 2.79 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.42. MSA Safety Incorporated has a 52-week low of $153.79 and a 52-week high of $200.60. The stock’s fifty day simple moving average is $162.95 and its 200-day simple moving average is $169.90. The company has a market capitalization of $6.26 billion, a P/E ratio of 22.11 and a beta of 1.00.

MSA Safety (NYSE:MSA) last released 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 return on equity of 28.64% and a net margin of 15.76%. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that MSA Safety Incorporated will post 8.06 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

MSA Safety Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 10th. Investors of record on Friday, February 14th will be given a dividend of $0.51 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 14th. This represents a $2.04 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.28%. MSA Safety’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 28.29%.

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.