MSA Safety (NYSE:MSA) Reaches New 12-Month Low – Time to Sell?

MSA Safety Incorporated (NYSE:MSA)’s share price hit a new 52-week low during mid-day trading on Tuesday . The stock traded as low as $159.94 and last traded at $161.11, with a volume of 22545 shares. The stock had previously closed at $162.54.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research analysts have commented on the stock. Jefferies Financial Group started coverage on shares of MSA Safety in a research report on Thursday, December 12th. They set a “hold” rating and a $200.00 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 price objective 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 target price on the stock. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, three have assigned a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Buy” and a consensus target price of $202.50.

MSA Safety Stock Performance

The stock has a market cap of $6.33 billion, a P/E ratio of 23.28 and a beta of 1.00. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.48, a quick ratio of 1.56 and a current ratio of 2.68. The firm’s 50 day moving average is $170.70 and its 200 day moving average is $176.49.

MSA Safety (NYSE:MSA) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, October 23rd. The industrial products company reported $1.83 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.78 by $0.05. MSA Safety had a return on equity of 29.14% and a net margin of 15.16%. The firm had revenue of $432.68 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $449.95 million. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $1.78 EPS. The business’s revenue for the quarter was down 3.1% compared to the same quarter last year. Analysts anticipate that MSA Safety Incorporated will post 7.66 EPS for the current year.

MSA Safety Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, December 10th. Stockholders of record on Friday, November 15th were paid a dividend of $0.51 per share. The ex-dividend date was Friday, November 15th. This represents a $2.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.27%. MSA Safety’s payout ratio is 29.48%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On MSA Safety

A number of large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Blue Trust Inc. increased its stake in shares of MSA Safety by 486.0% in the third quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 252 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $47,000 after acquiring an additional 209 shares during the period. Quarry LP raised its stake in shares of MSA Safety by 690.5% during the 3rd quarter. Quarry LP now owns 751 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $133,000 after buying an additional 656 shares during the last quarter. Covestor Ltd lifted its holdings in shares of MSA Safety by 985.1% in the 3rd quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 803 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $143,000 after buying an additional 729 shares during the period. National Bank of Canada FI purchased a new stake in shares of MSA Safety in the third quarter worth about $198,000. Finally, Kowal Investment Group LLC acquired a new stake in MSA Safety during the second quarter worth about $204,000. 92.51% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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.