Baillie Gifford & Co. Sells 7,333 Shares of MSA Safety Incorporated (NYSE:MSA)

Baillie Gifford & Co. decreased its holdings in MSA Safety Incorporated (NYSE:MSA) by 6.3% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 108,897 shares of the industrial products company’s stock after selling 7,333 shares during the quarter. Baillie Gifford & Co.’s holdings in MSA Safety were worth $18,052,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. ORG Partners LLC bought a new stake in MSA Safety during the fourth quarter worth $1,131,000. Great Valley Advisor Group Inc. lifted its position in shares of MSA Safety by 67.6% during the third quarter. Great Valley Advisor Group Inc. now owns 23,385 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $4,147,000 after purchasing an additional 9,433 shares in the last quarter. Barclays PLC boosted its holdings in MSA Safety by 62.0% during the third quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 16,688 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $2,959,000 after purchasing an additional 6,384 shares during the last quarter. Milestone Asset Management LLC bought a new stake in MSA Safety in the 4th quarter worth about $759,000. Finally, GSA Capital Partners LLP purchased a new stake in MSA Safety in the 3rd quarter valued at about $737,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 92.51% of the company’s stock.

MSA Safety Stock Performance

MSA Safety stock opened at $158.28 on Tuesday. MSA Safety Incorporated has a 1-year low of $153.79 and a 1-year high of $200.60. The company has a current ratio of 2.68, a quick ratio of 1.56 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.48. The firm has a market capitalization of $6.22 billion, a PE ratio of 22.87 and a beta of 1.00. The firm’s 50 day simple moving average is $165.48 and its 200 day simple moving average is $171.28.

MSA Safety (NYSE:MSA) last released its quarterly 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 net margin of 15.16% and a return on equity of 29.14%. As a group, analysts expect that MSA Safety Incorporated will post 7.67 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

MSA Safety Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 10th. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 14th will be issued a $0.51 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 14th. This represents a $2.04 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.29%. MSA Safety’s payout ratio is currently 28.29%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research firms have recently commented on MSA. DA Davidson initiated coverage on MSA Safety in a research note on Thursday, December 19th. They set a “buy” rating and a $195.00 target price on the stock. B. Riley began coverage on shares of MSA Safety in a research note on Tuesday, November 5th. They issued a “buy” rating and a $200.00 target price on the stock. Finally, 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 on the stock. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, three have given a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of “Buy” and a consensus target price of $202.50.

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.