MSA Safety Incorporated (NYSE:MSA) Shares Purchased by Handelsbanken Fonder AB

Handelsbanken Fonder AB increased its position in MSA Safety Incorporated (NYSE:MSA) by 11.0% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 210,244 shares of the industrial products company’s stock after acquiring an additional 20,900 shares during the period. Handelsbanken Fonder AB owned approximately 0.53% of MSA Safety worth $34,852,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Copeland Capital Management LLC acquired a new position in MSA Safety in the 4th quarter worth approximately $29,894,000. Geode Capital Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of MSA Safety by 27.6% in the 3rd quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 781,705 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $138,658,000 after acquiring an additional 169,168 shares during the last quarter. Conestoga Capital Advisors LLC increased its stake in shares of MSA Safety by 34.2% in the fourth quarter. Conestoga Capital Advisors LLC now owns 590,718 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $97,923,000 after acquiring an additional 150,402 shares during the period. State Street Corp raised its holdings in shares of MSA Safety by 2.5% during the third quarter. State Street Corp now owns 1,691,319 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $299,939,000 after purchasing an additional 40,569 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC raised its holdings in shares of MSA Safety by 51.6% during the third quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC now owns 97,571 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $17,303,000 after purchasing an additional 33,204 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 92.51% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several brokerages have weighed in on MSA. Jefferies Financial Group initiated coverage on MSA Safety in a research report on Thursday, December 12th. They set a “hold” rating and a $200.00 price target on the stock. B. Riley initiated coverage on MSA Safety in a report on Tuesday, November 5th. They set a “buy” rating and a $200.00 target price on the stock. Robert W. Baird reduced their price target on MSA Safety from $190.00 to $175.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday. Finally, DA Davidson initiated coverage on MSA Safety in a research report on Thursday, December 19th. They issued a “buy” rating and a $195.00 price objective on the stock. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, three have issued a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Buy” and an average price target of $197.00.

MSA Safety Price Performance

Shares of MSA Safety stock opened at $159.21 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $6.25 billion, a PE ratio of 22.08 and a beta of 1.00. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $164.38 and a 200 day moving average price of $170.96. 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 $153.79 and a twelve month high of $200.60.

MSA Safety (NYSE:MSA) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 12th. The industrial products company reported $2.25 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.23 by $0.02. MSA Safety had a return on equity of 28.62% and a net margin of 15.76%. Sell-side analysts predict that MSA Safety Incorporated will post 8.01 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

MSA Safety Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 10th. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 14th will be issued a dividend of $0.51 per share. This represents a $2.04 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.28%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 14th. MSA Safety’s payout ratio is 28.29%.

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.