MSA Safety (NYSE:MSA) Hits New 52-Week Low – Here’s What Happened

MSA Safety Incorporated (NYSE:MSA)’s share price reached a new 52-week low during mid-day trading on Tuesday . The company traded as low as $159.94 and last traded at $161.11, with a volume of 22545 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at $162.54.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. DA Davidson started coverage on shares of MSA Safety in a research note on Thursday, December 19th. They issued a “buy” rating and a $195.00 price objective for the company. Jefferies Financial Group assumed coverage on shares of MSA Safety in a report on Thursday, December 12th. They issued a “hold” rating and a $200.00 price target for the company. Finally, B. Riley initiated coverage on shares of MSA Safety in a report on Tuesday, November 5th. They set a “buy” rating and a $200.00 price objective on the stock. One research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, three have issued a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of “Buy” and a consensus target price of $202.50.

MSA Safety Trading Down 1.6 %

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.48, a quick ratio of 1.56 and a current ratio of 2.68. The firm has a market capitalization of $6.29 billion, a P/E ratio of 23.12 and a beta of 1.00. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $170.98 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $176.80.

MSA Safety (NYSE:MSA) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, October 23rd. The industrial products company reported $1.83 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.78 by $0.05. The business had revenue of $432.68 million for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $449.95 million. MSA Safety had a net margin of 15.16% and a return on equity of 29.14%. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was down 3.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $1.78 earnings per share. Equities research analysts forecast that MSA Safety Incorporated will post 7.66 earnings per share for the current year.

MSA Safety Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, December 10th. Investors of record on Friday, November 15th were given a dividend of $0.51 per share. This represents a $2.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.28%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, November 15th. MSA Safety’s payout ratio is 29.48%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On MSA Safety

Large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Blue Trust Inc. grew 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 valued at $47,000 after buying an additional 209 shares during the period. Quarry LP increased its position in MSA Safety by 690.5% in the third quarter. Quarry LP now owns 751 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $133,000 after buying an additional 656 shares during the last quarter. Covestor Ltd raised its stake in shares of MSA Safety by 985.1% in the third quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 803 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $143,000 after buying an additional 729 shares during the period. National Bank of Canada FI purchased a new position in shares of MSA Safety during the 3rd quarter valued at $198,000. Finally, Kowal Investment Group LLC bought a new position in shares of MSA Safety during the 2nd quarter worth $204,000. 92.51% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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.