MSA Safety Incorporated (NYSE:MSA) Shares Sold by Trillium Asset Management LLC

Trillium Asset Management LLC reduced its position in MSA Safety Incorporated (NYSE:MSA) by 4.5% during the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The firm owned 42,301 shares of the industrial products company’s stock after selling 2,013 shares during the quarter. Trillium Asset Management LLC’s holdings in MSA Safety were worth $7,013,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of MSA. Raymond James Financial Inc. acquired a new position in shares of MSA Safety in the 4th quarter valued at about $43,689,000. Copeland Capital Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of MSA Safety in the 4th quarter valued at about $29,894,000. Geode Capital Management LLC lifted its stake 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 purchasing an additional 169,168 shares in the last quarter. Conestoga Capital Advisors LLC lifted its stake in shares of MSA Safety by 34.2% in the 4th quarter. Conestoga Capital Advisors LLC now owns 590,718 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $97,923,000 after purchasing an additional 150,402 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Cooke & Bieler LP lifted its stake in shares of MSA Safety by 25.3% in the 4th quarter. Cooke & Bieler LP now owns 651,366 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $107,977,000 after purchasing an additional 131,458 shares in the last quarter. 92.51% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

MSA Safety Stock Performance

Shares of MSA opened at $151.73 on Thursday. The business’s 50 day moving average is $160.63 and its two-hundred day moving average is $168.14. MSA Safety Incorporated has a 52-week low of $148.59 and a 52-week high of $200.61. The firm has a market cap of $5.96 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.04 and a beta of 0.99. 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 (NYSE:MSA) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, February 12th. The industrial products company reported $2.25 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.23 by $0.02. MSA Safety had a return on equity of 28.64% and a net margin of 15.76%. Analysts forecast that MSA Safety Incorporated will post 8.06 EPS for the current fiscal year.

MSA Safety Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 10th. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 14th were given a dividend of $0.51 per share. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 14th. This represents a $2.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.34%. MSA Safety’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 28.29%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other MSA Safety news, CAO Jonathan D. Buck sold 717 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on 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 approximately $584,007. The trade was a 16.33 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. 6.20% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

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

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.