Jonathan D. Buck Sells 717 Shares of MSA Safety Incorporated (NYSE:MSA) Stock

MSA Safety Incorporated (NYSE:MSA) CAO Jonathan D. Buck sold 717 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 24th. The shares were 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 of the company’s stock, valued at $584,007. This represents a 16.33 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink.

MSA Safety Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE MSA traded up $2.15 during trading on Monday, reaching $160.53. The stock had a trading volume of 55,704 shares, compared to its average volume of 132,362. The firm’s 50 day moving average price is $164.06 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $170.79. MSA Safety Incorporated has a one year low of $153.79 and a one year high of $200.60. The stock has a market cap of $6.30 billion, a PE ratio of 22.26 and a beta of 1.00. 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 (NYSE:MSA) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 12th. The industrial products company reported $2.25 EPS for the quarter, beating 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%. On average, research analysts forecast that MSA Safety Incorporated will post 8.06 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

MSA Safety Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 10th. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 14th will be given a dividend of $0.51 per share. This represents a $2.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.27%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 14th. MSA Safety’s payout ratio is 28.29%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Covestor Ltd grew its holdings in MSA Safety by 8.2% in the 4th quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 869 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $144,000 after buying an additional 66 shares in the last quarter. Mutual of America Capital Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of MSA Safety by 0.3% during the third 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. Arizona State Retirement System lifted its holdings in MSA Safety by 0.7% in the fourth quarter. Arizona State Retirement System now owns 10,851 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $1,799,000 after purchasing an additional 78 shares during the period. UMB Bank n.a. grew its position in MSA Safety by 78.4% in the 4th quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 182 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $30,000 after buying an additional 80 shares in the last quarter. Finally, US Bancorp DE increased its stake in MSA Safety by 3.9% during the 4th 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. 92.51% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

MSA has been the subject of a number of analyst reports. DA Davidson started coverage on MSA Safety in a report on Thursday, December 19th. They issued a “buy” rating and a $195.00 price target for the company. B. Riley initiated coverage on MSA Safety in a research note on Tuesday, November 5th. They set a “buy” rating and a $200.00 target price for the company. Robert W. Baird dropped their price target on shares of MSA Safety from $190.00 to $175.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, February 18th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group assumed coverage on shares of MSA Safety in a research note on Thursday, December 12th. They set a “hold” rating and a $200.00 price objective on the stock. Two 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 company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, MSA Safety currently has a consensus rating of “Buy” and an average price target of $197.00.

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.