MSA Safety Incorporated (NYSE:MSA) Stock Position Increased by Millennium Management LLC

Millennium Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of MSA Safety Incorporated (NYSE:MSA - Free Report) by 241.6% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 148,212 shares of the industrial products company's stock after buying an additional 104,829 shares during the period. Millennium Management LLC owned about 0.38% of MSA Safety worth $24,569,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Redmond Asset Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of MSA Safety during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $362,000. Anchor Capital Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in MSA Safety by 18.8% in the 4th quarter. Anchor Capital Advisors LLC now owns 10,700 shares of the industrial products company's stock valued at $1,774,000 after purchasing an additional 1,694 shares in the last quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. lifted its holdings in MSA Safety by 1.5% in the 4th quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 424,356 shares of the industrial products company's stock valued at $70,345,000 after purchasing an additional 6,119 shares in the last quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC lifted 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 purchasing an additional 26,470 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Barclays PLC lifted 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 purchasing an additional 6,384 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 92.51% of the company's stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research analysts have weighed in on MSA shares. Robert W. Baird set a $166.00 price objective on MSA Safety in a report on Monday, May 5th. Wall Street Zen upgraded MSA Safety from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a report on Saturday, May 10th. DA Davidson decreased their price objective on MSA Safety from $188.00 to $183.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a report on Monday, May 5th. Finally, B. Riley restated a "buy" rating and issued a $195.00 price objective (down previously from $200.00) on shares of MSA Safety in a report on Thursday, May 1st. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, four have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $191.80.

MSA Safety Trading Down 0.3%

MSA traded down $0.52 on Friday, hitting $157.79. The company had a trading volume of 157,108 shares, compared to its average volume of 182,739. MSA Safety Incorporated has a 1 year low of $127.86 and a 1 year high of $200.61. The firm has a market cap of $6.20 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.88 and a beta of 0.96. The company has a current ratio of 2.79, a quick ratio of 1.76 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.42. The company's fifty day moving average price is $150.21 and its 200 day moving average price is $160.26.

MSA Safety (NYSE:MSA - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data 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 business had revenue of $421.34 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $402.60 million. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $1.61 earnings per share. The company's revenue was up 1.9% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities 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 disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, June 10th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, May 15th will be given a $0.53 dividend. This is a boost from MSA Safety's previous quarterly dividend of $0.51. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, May 15th. This represents a $2.12 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.34%. MSA Safety's dividend payout ratio is presently 29.24%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other MSA Safety news, Chairman Nishan J. Vartanian sold 30,000 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated 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 directly owns 35,401 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $5,710,889.32. This trade represents a 45.87% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, 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 value of $114,003.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 3,673 shares in the company, valued at approximately $584,007. The trade was a 16.33% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.70% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

About MSA Safety

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.