Northwest & Ethical Investments L.P. Sells 399 Shares of MSA Safety Incorporated (NYSE:MSA)

Northwest & Ethical Investments L.P. lessened its holdings in MSA Safety Incorporated (NYSE:MSA) by 1.9% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 20,263 shares of the industrial products company’s stock after selling 399 shares during the period. Northwest & Ethical Investments L.P.’s holdings in MSA Safety were worth $3,359,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Mutual of America Capital Management LLC raised its position in MSA Safety by 0.3% in the third quarter. Mutual of America Capital Management LLC now owns 21,267 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $3,771,000 after acquiring an additional 71 shares during the period. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans increased its stake in shares of MSA Safety by 3.4% in the 3rd quarter. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans now owns 9,245 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $1,640,000 after purchasing an additional 300 shares in the last quarter. B. Metzler seel. Sohn & Co. Holding AG bought a new position in MSA Safety in the 3rd quarter worth $260,000. BNP PARIBAS ASSET MANAGEMENT Holding S.A. lifted its position in MSA Safety by 10.6% during the third quarter. BNP PARIBAS ASSET MANAGEMENT Holding S.A. now owns 126,082 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $22,359,000 after purchasing an additional 12,039 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. grew its holdings in MSA Safety by 6.9% during the third quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 418,237 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $74,170,000 after purchasing an additional 26,835 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 92.51% of the company’s stock.

Insider Buying and Selling at MSA Safety

In other news, CAO Jonathan D. Buck sold 717 shares of the firm’s 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 completion of the transaction, the chief accounting officer now owns 3,673 shares in the company, valued at $584,007. This trade represents a 16.33 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. 6.20% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

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

MSA Safety Stock Performance

NYSE MSA opened at $150.38 on Friday. 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 twelve month low of $148.59 and a twelve month high of $200.61. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $160.41 and a 200-day moving average price of $168.02. The firm has a market cap of $5.90 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.86 and a beta of 0.99.

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

MSA Safety Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 10th. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 14th were issued a $0.51 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, February 14th. This represents a $2.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.36%. MSA Safety’s dividend payout ratio is currently 28.29%.

MSA Safety 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.