MML Investors Services LLC Sells 2,352 Shares of MSA Safety Incorporated (NYSE:MSA)

MML Investors Services LLC trimmed its holdings in shares of MSA Safety Incorporated (NYSE:MSA) by 56.9% in the third quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 1,778 shares of the industrial products company’s stock after selling 2,352 shares during the period. MML Investors Services LLC’s holdings in MSA Safety were worth $315,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Cooke & Bieler LP bought a new position in shares of MSA Safety in the second quarter valued at about $60,236,000. Conestoga Capital Advisors LLC raised its stake in shares of MSA Safety by 43.5% in the third quarter. Conestoga Capital Advisors LLC now owns 440,316 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $78,086,000 after acquiring an additional 133,373 shares during the last quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. lifted its position in shares of MSA Safety by 748.6% during the second quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. now owns 65,552 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $12,303,000 after purchasing an additional 57,827 shares in the last quarter. State Street Corp grew its stake 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 valued at $299,939,000 after purchasing an additional 40,569 shares during the last quarter. Finally, American Century Companies Inc. increased its holdings in shares of MSA Safety by 453.6% in the second quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 41,799 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $7,845,000 after purchasing an additional 34,248 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 92.51% of the company’s stock.

MSA Safety Stock Up 1.6 %

NYSE:MSA opened at $168.94 on Wednesday. The stock’s fifty day simple moving average is $171.75 and its 200-day simple moving average is $177.68. The firm has a market capitalization of $6.64 billion, a P/E ratio of 24.41 and a beta of 0.99. The company has a quick ratio of 1.56, a current ratio of 2.68 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.48. MSA Safety Incorporated has a 12-month low of $160.02 and a 12-month high of $200.60.

MSA Safety (NYSE:MSA) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, October 23rd. The industrial products company reported $1.83 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.78 by $0.05. The company had revenue of $432.68 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $449.95 million. MSA Safety had a return on equity of 29.14% and a net margin of 15.16%. The company’s revenue for the quarter was down 3.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $1.78 EPS. Equities research analysts expect that MSA Safety Incorporated will post 7.66 earnings per share for the current year.

MSA Safety Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, December 10th. Stockholders of record on Friday, November 15th were given 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 1.21%. MSA Safety’s dividend payout ratio is 29.48%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research firms have issued reports on MSA. DA Davidson began coverage on MSA Safety in a report on Thursday, December 19th. They set a “buy” rating and a $195.00 price objective on the stock. Jefferies Financial Group initiated coverage on MSA Safety in a report on Thursday, December 12th. They issued a “hold” rating and a $200.00 price target on the stock. Finally, B. Riley initiated coverage on MSA Safety in a report on Tuesday, November 5th. They set a “buy” rating and a $200.00 price objective for the company. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, three have given a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, MSA Safety has a consensus rating of “Buy” and a consensus target price of $202.50.

MSA Safety 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.