LPL Financial LLC Increases Stock Position in MSA Safety Incorporated (NYSE:MSA)

LPL Financial LLC raised its stake in shares of MSA Safety Incorporated (NYSE:MSA) by 2.7% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 74,940 shares of the industrial products company’s stock after purchasing an additional 1,952 shares during the period. LPL Financial LLC owned 0.19% of MSA Safety worth $12,423,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Cerity Partners LLC grew its holdings in MSA Safety by 5.7% during the 3rd quarter. Cerity Partners LLC now owns 7,792 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $1,382,000 after buying an additional 420 shares in the last quarter. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company grew its holdings in shares of MSA Safety by 0.8% in the third quarter. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company now owns 31,554 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $5,596,000 after purchasing an additional 247 shares in the last quarter. Bridgewater Associates LP bought a new stake in MSA Safety in the third quarter worth $306,000. Glenmede Trust Co. NA raised its stake in MSA Safety by 54.7% during the third quarter. Glenmede Trust Co. NA now owns 2,504 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $444,000 after purchasing an additional 885 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Verition Fund Management LLC bought a new position in MSA Safety during the third quarter valued at $1,148,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 92.51% of the company’s stock.

MSA Safety Stock Performance

MSA stock opened at $149.77 on Thursday. MSA Safety Incorporated has a twelve month low of $144.12 and a twelve month high of $200.61. The firm has a market cap of $5.88 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.77 and a beta of 0.99. The business’s fifty day simple moving average is $158.14 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $166.49. 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 quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 12th. The industrial products company reported $2.25 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.23 by $0.02. MSA Safety had a net margin of 15.76% and a return on equity of 28.64%. Analysts predict that MSA Safety Incorporated will post 8.06 earnings per share for the current year.

MSA Safety Announces Dividend

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

Insider Activity at MSA Safety

In other MSA Safety news, CAO Jonathan D. Buck sold 717 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $159.00, for a total value of $114,003.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 3,673 shares in the company, valued at approximately $584,007. The trade was a 16.33 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. 6.20% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several analysts have recently issued reports on MSA shares. DA Davidson started coverage on shares of MSA Safety in a research report on Thursday, December 19th. They set a “buy” rating and a $195.00 target price on the stock. Jefferies Financial Group assumed coverage on MSA Safety in a research report on Thursday, December 12th. They set a “hold” rating and a $200.00 price objective on the stock. Finally, Robert W. Baird dropped their target price on MSA Safety from $190.00 to $175.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, February 18th. Two investment 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 stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Buy” and a consensus target price of $197.00.

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.