10,292 Shares in MSA Safety Incorporated (NYSE:MSA) Bought by Vest Financial LLC

Vest Financial LLC purchased a new position in shares of MSA Safety Incorporated (NYSE:MSA - Free Report) in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor purchased 10,292 shares of the industrial products company's stock, valued at approximately $1,510,000.

A number of other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the business. AEGON ASSET MANAGEMENT UK Plc boosted its stake in MSA Safety by 11.6% during the 1st quarter. AEGON ASSET MANAGEMENT UK Plc now owns 71,722 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $10,528,000 after purchasing an additional 7,435 shares during the period. GAMMA Investing LLC lifted its stake in shares of MSA Safety by 20,345.6% in the 1st quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 39,460 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $5,788,000 after acquiring an additional 39,267 shares during the period. Moody National Bank Trust Division lifted its stake in shares of MSA Safety by 17.4% in the 1st quarter. Moody National Bank Trust Division now owns 1,690 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $248,000 after acquiring an additional 250 shares during the period. Versant Capital Management Inc acquired a new stake in shares of MSA Safety in the 1st quarter worth $165,000. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of MSA Safety in the 4th quarter worth $237,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 92.51% of the company's stock.

MSA Safety Trading Up 0.0%

Shares of MSA stock opened at $165.27 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $6.50 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.92 and a beta of 0.95. The company has a quick ratio of 1.76, a current ratio of 2.79 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.42. MSA Safety Incorporated has a fifty-two week low of $127.86 and a fifty-two week high of $200.61. The firm's 50 day moving average price is $152.80 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $159.77.

MSA Safety (NYSE:MSA - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, April 29th. The industrial products company reported $1.68 EPS 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 business had revenue of $421.34 million for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $402.60 million. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $1.61 earnings per share. The business's revenue for the quarter was up 1.9% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, analysts anticipate that MSA Safety Incorporated will post 8.06 EPS for the current year.

MSA Safety Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, June 10th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, May 15th will be given a dividend of $0.53 per share. This is a boost from MSA Safety's previous quarterly dividend of $0.51. This represents a $2.12 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.28%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, May 15th. MSA Safety's payout ratio is presently 29.24%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, Chairman Nishan J. Vartanian sold 30,000 shares of MSA Safety stock in a transaction on Tuesday, May 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $161.32, for a total value of $4,839,600.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chairman now owns 35,401 shares in the company, valued at approximately $5,710,889.32. The trade was a 45.87% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Insiders own 0.70% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

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

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.

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