MSA Safety Incorporated (NYSE:MSA) Shares Sold by Fruth Investment Management

Fruth Investment Management reduced its position in shares of MSA Safety Incorporated (NYSE:MSA) by 2.4% in the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The firm owned 12,100 shares of the industrial products company’s stock after selling 300 shares during the period. Fruth Investment Management’s holdings in MSA Safety were worth $2,005,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. UMB Bank n.a. lifted its holdings in MSA Safety by 78.4% during the 4th 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 during the last quarter. Blue Trust Inc. raised its position in shares of MSA Safety by 486.0% during the 3rd quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 252 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $47,000 after acquiring an additional 209 shares in the last quarter. Hilltop National Bank lifted its stake in MSA Safety by 23.5% during the fourth quarter. Hilltop National Bank now owns 520 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $86,000 after purchasing an additional 99 shares during the last quarter. Quarry LP boosted its holdings in MSA Safety by 690.5% in the third quarter. Quarry LP now owns 751 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $133,000 after purchasing an additional 656 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Covestor Ltd increased its stake in 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 purchasing an additional 729 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 92.51% of the company’s stock.

MSA Safety Stock Performance

MSA opened at $165.19 on Thursday. MSA Safety Incorporated has a 1-year low of $153.79 and a 1-year high of $200.60. The stock has a market cap of $6.49 billion, a P/E ratio of 23.87 and a beta of 1.00. The stock’s 50 day simple moving average is $167.60 and its 200 day simple moving average is $172.99. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.48, a current ratio of 2.68 and a quick ratio of 1.56.

MSA Safety Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 10th. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 14th will be given a $0.51 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 14th. This represents a $2.04 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.23%. MSA Safety’s dividend payout ratio is currently 29.48%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

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

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.