MSA Safety Incorporated (NYSE:MSA) Holdings Boosted by EDENTREE ASSET MANAGEMENT Ltd

EDENTREE ASSET MANAGEMENT Ltd lifted its position in shares of MSA Safety Incorporated (NYSE:MSA - Free Report) by 954.1% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 59,957 shares of the industrial products company's stock after acquiring an additional 54,269 shares during the quarter. MSA Safety makes up 2.9% of EDENTREE ASSET MANAGEMENT Ltd's investment portfolio, making the stock its 7th largest position. EDENTREE ASSET MANAGEMENT Ltd owned approximately 0.15% of MSA Safety worth $9,930,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. PharVision Advisers LLC bought a new position in shares of MSA Safety during the 4th quarter worth $230,000. Voloridge Investment Management LLC grew its stake in shares of MSA Safety by 275.1% during the 4th quarter. Voloridge Investment Management LLC now owns 89,929 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $14,908,000 after acquiring an additional 65,953 shares during the period. Two Sigma Investments LP grew its stake in shares of MSA Safety by 16.8% during the 4th quarter. Two Sigma Investments LP now owns 13,464 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $2,232,000 after acquiring an additional 1,932 shares during the period. Snowden Capital Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of MSA Safety during the 4th quarter worth $360,000. Finally, Raiffeisen Bank International AG bought a new position in shares of MSA Safety during the 4th quarter worth $1,149,000. Institutional investors own 92.51% of the company's stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research firms have recently weighed in on MSA. DA Davidson cut their price target on 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 objective on MSA Safety in a report on Monday, May 5th. Wall Street Zen raised MSA Safety from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a report on Saturday, May 10th. Finally, B. Riley reissued a "buy" rating and set a $195.00 price objective (down previously from $200.00) on shares of MSA Safety in a report on Thursday, May 1st. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, four have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $191.80.

MSA Safety Price Performance

MSA traded down $0.52 during trading on Friday, reaching $157.79. 157,108 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 182,739. The company's 50-day moving average is $150.21 and its two-hundred day moving average is $160.34. The company has a market cap of $6.20 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.88 and a beta of 0.96. 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 12-month low of $127.86 and a 12-month high of $200.61.

MSA Safety (NYSE:MSA - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, April 29th. The industrial products company reported $1.68 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.59 by $0.09. MSA Safety had a return on equity of 28.64% and a net margin of 15.76%. The firm had revenue of $421.34 million for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $402.60 million. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $1.61 EPS. The company's revenue was up 1.9% compared to the same quarter last year. Research analysts forecast that MSA Safety Incorporated will post 8.06 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

MSA Safety Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, June 10th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, May 15th will be issued a $0.53 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, May 15th. This represents a $2.12 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.34%. This is a boost from MSA Safety's previous quarterly dividend of $0.51. MSA Safety's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 29.24%.

Insider Buying and Selling at MSA Safety

In related news, CAO Jonathan D. Buck sold 717 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 24th. The stock was 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 filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, Chairman Nishan J. Vartanian sold 30,000 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated 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 transaction, the chairman now directly owns 35,401 shares in the company, valued at approximately $5,710,889.32. This represents a 45.87% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 0.70% of the company's stock.

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.