MSA Safety Incorporated (NYSE:MSA) Shares Purchased by American Century Companies Inc.

American Century Companies Inc. increased its stake in shares of MSA Safety Incorporated (NYSE:MSA) by 38.8% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 56,365 shares of the industrial products company’s stock after acquiring an additional 15,761 shares during the quarter. American Century Companies Inc. owned about 0.14% of MSA Safety worth $9,344,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of MSA. State Street Corp grew its stake in shares of MSA Safety by 2.5% during the 3rd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 1,691,319 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $299,939,000 after purchasing an additional 40,569 shares during the period. Geode Capital Management LLC grew its position in MSA Safety by 27.6% during the third quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 781,705 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $138,658,000 after buying an additional 169,168 shares during the period. Bank of New York Mellon Corp increased its holdings in MSA Safety by 2.3% in the fourth quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 767,634 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $127,251,000 after buying an additional 17,052 shares in the last quarter. Cooke & Bieler LP lifted its position in shares of MSA Safety by 25.3% during the 4th quarter. Cooke & Bieler LP now owns 651,366 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $107,977,000 after acquiring an additional 131,458 shares during the period. Finally, Conestoga Capital Advisors LLC boosted its stake in shares of MSA Safety by 34.2% during the 4th quarter. Conestoga Capital Advisors LLC now owns 590,718 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $97,923,000 after acquiring an additional 150,402 shares in the last quarter. 92.51% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

MSA Safety Price Performance

MSA opened at $149.77 on Thursday. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $158.14 and a 200 day moving average price of $166.49. The company has a current ratio of 2.79, a quick ratio of 1.76 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.42. MSA Safety Incorporated has a 1 year low of $144.12 and a 1 year high of $200.61. The stock has a market cap of $5.88 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.77 and a beta of 0.99.

MSA Safety (NYSE:MSA) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 12th. The industrial products company reported $2.25 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.23 by $0.02. MSA Safety had a net margin of 15.76% and a return on equity of 28.64%. Analysts forecast that MSA Safety Incorporated will post 8.06 EPS for the current fiscal year.

MSA Safety Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 10th. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 14th were issued a $0.51 dividend. This represents a $2.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.36%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 14th. MSA Safety’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 28.29%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other MSA Safety news, CAO Jonathan D. Buck sold 717 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 24th. The stock was 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 owns 3,673 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $584,007. This represents a 16.33 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Company insiders own 6.20% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research firms have recently weighed in on MSA. 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 for the company. Robert W. Baird decreased their target price on shares of MSA Safety from $190.00 to $175.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, February 18th. Finally, DA Davidson began coverage on shares of MSA Safety in a report on Thursday, December 19th. They issued a “buy” rating and a $195.00 price target on the stock. Two equities research 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 company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock 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.