BDF Gestion Decreases Position in MSA Safety Incorporated (NYSE:MSA)

BDF Gestion trimmed its holdings in shares of MSA Safety Incorporated (NYSE:MSA) by 8.1% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 9,193 shares of the industrial products company’s stock after selling 807 shares during the period. BDF Gestion’s holdings in MSA Safety were worth $1,524,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the stock. State Street Corp lifted its stake in shares of MSA Safety by 2.5% in the 3rd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 1,691,319 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $299,939,000 after acquiring an additional 40,569 shares during the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC increased its position in shares of MSA Safety by 27.6% in the third quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 781,705 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $138,658,000 after acquiring an additional 169,168 shares during the period. Conestoga Capital Advisors LLC raised its stake in shares of MSA Safety by 43.5% during the third quarter. Conestoga Capital Advisors LLC now owns 440,316 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $78,086,000 after acquiring an additional 133,373 shares during the last quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of MSA Safety by 6.9% during the third quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 418,237 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $74,170,000 after purchasing an additional 26,835 shares during the period. Finally, Handelsbanken Fonder AB increased its holdings in MSA Safety by 6.0% during the 3rd quarter. Handelsbanken Fonder AB now owns 189,344 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $33,578,000 after purchasing an additional 10,700 shares during the period. 92.51% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities research analysts have weighed in on MSA shares. DA Davidson started coverage on MSA Safety in a report on Thursday, December 19th. They issued a “buy” rating and a $195.00 price objective for the company. B. Riley began coverage on MSA Safety in a research note on Tuesday, November 5th. They issued a “buy” rating and a $200.00 price target for the company. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group initiated coverage on shares of MSA Safety in a report on Thursday, December 12th. They issued a “hold” rating and a $200.00 price objective for the company. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, three have assigned a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of “Buy” and a consensus price target of $202.50.

MSA Safety Trading Up 1.0 %

MSA opened at $165.30 on Friday. 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 52 week low of $153.79 and a 52 week high of $200.60. The stock has a market cap of $6.50 billion, a PE ratio of 23.89 and a beta of 1.00. The business has a 50 day moving average of $168.40 and a 200-day moving average of $173.96.

MSA Safety Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 10th. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 14th will be issued a dividend of $0.51 per share. This represents a $2.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.23%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 14th. MSA Safety’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 29.48%.

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.