Raiffeisen Bank International AG Invests $1.15 Million in MSA Safety Incorporated (NYSE:MSA)

Raiffeisen Bank International AG purchased a new position in shares of MSA Safety Incorporated (NYSE:MSA - Free Report) in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund purchased 6,925 shares of the industrial products company's stock, valued at approximately $1,149,000.

A number of other large investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Champlain Investment Partners LLC grew its stake in shares of MSA Safety by 99.2% during the fourth quarter. Champlain Investment Partners LLC now owns 1,354,310 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $224,504,000 after purchasing an additional 674,560 shares in the last quarter. Norges Bank purchased a new stake in MSA Safety during the 4th quarter worth about $72,693,000. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD boosted its position in shares of MSA Safety by 31.5% during the 4th quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 1,131,515 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $187,573,000 after acquiring an additional 271,264 shares in the last quarter. Raymond James Financial Inc. acquired a new position in shares of MSA Safety during the 4th quarter worth about $43,689,000. Finally, First Trust Advisors LP increased its holdings in shares of MSA Safety by 554.3% in the 4th quarter. First Trust Advisors LP now owns 284,552 shares of the industrial products company's stock valued at $47,170,000 after acquiring an additional 241,061 shares during the last quarter. 92.51% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, CAO Jonathan D. Buck sold 717 shares of the business'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 transaction, the chief accounting officer now owns 3,673 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $584,007. The trade was a 16.33% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, Chairman Nishan J. Vartanian sold 30,000 shares of the company's stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, May 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $161.32, for a total value of $4,839,600.00. Following the sale, the chairman now owns 35,401 shares of the company's stock, valued at $5,710,889.32. This trade represents a 45.87% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Corporate insiders own 0.70% of the company's stock.

MSA Safety Stock Performance

Shares of MSA traded up $0.11 during mid-day trading on Thursday, reaching $157.62. 57,342 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 181,355. The business's fifty day simple moving average is $149.95 and its 200-day simple moving average is $160.54. The stock has a market capitalization of $6.20 billion, a PE ratio of 21.86 and a beta of 0.96. MSA Safety Incorporated has a 52-week low of $127.86 and a 52-week high of $200.61. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.42, a current ratio of 2.79 and a quick ratio of 1.76.

MSA Safety (NYSE:MSA - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, April 29th. The industrial products company reported $1.68 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $1.59 by $0.09. MSA Safety had a net margin of 15.76% and a return on equity of 28.64%. The firm had revenue of $421.34 million during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $402.60 million. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $1.61 EPS. MSA Safety's quarterly revenue was up 1.9% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities research analysts expect that MSA Safety Incorporated will post 8.06 earnings per share for the current year.

MSA Safety Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, June 10th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, May 15th will be paid a dividend of $0.53 per share. This is an increase from MSA Safety's previous quarterly dividend of $0.51. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, May 15th. This represents a $2.12 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.35%. MSA Safety's dividend payout ratio is 29.24%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

MSA has been the subject of several recent analyst reports. DA Davidson reduced their price objective on shares of MSA Safety from $188.00 to $183.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research report on Monday, May 5th. Robert W. Baird set a $166.00 price target on shares of MSA Safety in a research note on Monday, May 5th. B. Riley reissued a "buy" rating and issued a $195.00 price target (down from $200.00) on shares of MSA Safety in a research report on Thursday, May 1st. Finally, Wall Street Zen raised MSA Safety from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a report on Saturday, May 10th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, four have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $191.80.

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.