MSA Safety (NYSE:MSA) Hits New 12-Month High at $196.34

MSA Safety Incorporated (NYSE:MSA) shares hit a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Monday . The company traded as high as $196.34 and last traded at $196.34, with a volume of 2255 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at $193.06.

MSA Safety Trading Up 0.9 %

The stock has a market cap of $7.67 billion, a P/E ratio of 28.60 and a beta of 0.99. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.57, a quick ratio of 1.54 and a current ratio of 2.51. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $184.68 and a 200-day moving average price of $181.16.

MSA Safety (NYSE:MSA) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Monday, April 29th. The industrial products company reported $1.61 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.47 by $0.14. The firm had revenue of $413.00 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $428.38 million. MSA Safety had a return on equity of 31.51% and a net margin of 14.81%. The company’s revenue for the quarter was up 3.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $1.36 EPS. On average, equities research analysts expect that MSA Safety Incorporated will post 7.75 EPS for the current year.

MSA Safety Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, June 10th. Investors of record on Wednesday, May 15th were issued a dividend of $0.51 per share. This represents a $2.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.05%. This is a boost from MSA Safety’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.47. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, May 14th. MSA Safety’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 30.22%.

Insider Activity at MSA Safety

In related news, CEO Nishan J. Vartanian sold 11,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, May 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $185.29, for a total transaction of $2,038,190.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 56,800 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $10,524,472. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. 6.20% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On MSA Safety

Large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Contravisory Investment Management Inc. purchased a new position in MSA Safety in the 4th quarter worth approximately $25,000. Exchange Traded Concepts LLC purchased a new position in MSA Safety in the 4th quarter worth approximately $26,000. Quadrant Capital Group LLC increased its stake in MSA Safety by 51.2% in the 4th quarter. Quadrant Capital Group LLC now owns 183 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $31,000 after purchasing an additional 62 shares during the period. GAMMA Investing LLC increased its stake in MSA Safety by 198.8% in the 2nd quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 245 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $46,000 after purchasing an additional 163 shares during the period. Finally, Global Retirement Partners LLC purchased a new position in MSA Safety in the 4th quarter worth approximately $46,000. 92.51% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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.