MSA Safety Incorporated (NYSE:MSA) Shares Sold by Nixon Peabody Trust Co.

Nixon Peabody Trust Co. lessened its stake in shares of MSA Safety Incorporated (NYSE:MSA) by 8.0% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 347,550 shares of the industrial products company’s stock after selling 30,175 shares during the period. MSA Safety accounts for approximately 4.7% of Nixon Peabody Trust Co.’s investment portfolio, making the stock its 5th biggest position. Nixon Peabody Trust Co.’s holdings in MSA Safety were worth $57,613,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. ORG Partners LLC acquired a new position in shares of MSA Safety during the 4th quarter worth about $1,131,000. Redmond Asset Management LLC acquired a new stake in MSA Safety in the 4th quarter valued at about $362,000. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC raised its holdings in MSA Safety by 27.1% in the 4th quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC now owns 124,041 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $20,468,000 after acquiring an additional 26,470 shares during the last quarter. Great Valley Advisor Group Inc. raised its holdings in MSA Safety by 67.6% in the 3rd quarter. Great Valley Advisor Group Inc. now owns 23,385 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $4,147,000 after acquiring an additional 9,433 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Barclays PLC raised its holdings in MSA Safety by 62.0% in the 3rd quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 16,688 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $2,959,000 after acquiring an additional 6,384 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 92.51% of the company’s stock.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other MSA Safety news, CAO Jonathan D. Buck sold 717 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Monday, February 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $159.00, for a total transaction of $114,003.00. Following the transaction, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 3,673 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $584,007. This trade represents a 16.33 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. 6.07% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

MSA Safety Price Performance

MSA Safety stock opened at $163.83 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $6.43 billion, a PE ratio of 22.72 and a beta of 1.00. MSA Safety Incorporated has a 52-week low of $153.79 and a 52-week high of $200.60. The company has a quick ratio of 1.76, a current ratio of 2.79 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.42. The company’s 50 day moving average is $163.49 and its two-hundred day moving average is $170.37.

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%. On average, research analysts expect that MSA Safety Incorporated will post 8.06 EPS for the current fiscal year.

MSA Safety Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 10th. Investors of record on Friday, February 14th will be paid a dividend of $0.51 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 14th. This represents a $2.04 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.25%. MSA Safety’s dividend payout ratio is currently 28.29%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of analysts have commented on MSA shares. Jefferies Financial Group began 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. DA Davidson began coverage on shares of MSA Safety in a research note on Thursday, December 19th. They issued a “buy” rating and a $195.00 price target for the company. Robert W. Baird dropped their price target 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, B. Riley began coverage on shares of MSA Safety in a research note on Tuesday, November 5th. They issued a “buy” rating and a $200.00 price target for the company. Two 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, MSA Safety has a consensus rating of “Buy” and a consensus target price of $197.00.

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.