Two Sigma Investments LP Boosts Stake in MSA Safety Incorporated (NYSE:MSA)

Two Sigma Investments LP increased its stake in MSA Safety Incorporated (NYSE:MSA - Free Report) by 16.8% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 13,464 shares of the industrial products company's stock after buying an additional 1,932 shares during the period. Two Sigma Investments LP's holdings in MSA Safety were worth $2,232,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. SRS Capital Advisors Inc. grew its position in shares of MSA Safety by 120.6% in the 4th quarter. SRS Capital Advisors Inc. now owns 225 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $37,000 after buying an additional 123 shares during the period. JFS Wealth Advisors LLC boosted its stake in MSA Safety by 97.6% during the fourth quarter. JFS Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 251 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $42,000 after acquiring an additional 124 shares in the last quarter. First Horizon Advisors Inc. grew its holdings in MSA Safety by 81.3% in the fourth quarter. First Horizon Advisors Inc. now owns 330 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $55,000 after purchasing an additional 148 shares during the period. Covestor Ltd increased its stake in shares of MSA Safety by 8.2% during the fourth quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 869 shares of the industrial products company's stock valued at $144,000 after purchasing an additional 66 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Occudo Quantitative Strategies LP bought a new position in shares of MSA Safety during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $215,000. 92.51% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

MSA Safety Stock Up 0.1%

NYSE MSA traded up $0.09 during mid-day trading on Thursday, reaching $165.13. The stock had a trading volume of 175,183 shares, compared to its average volume of 185,814. The stock has a market cap of $6.49 billion, a PE ratio of 22.90 and a beta of 0.95. MSA Safety Incorporated has a 1 year low of $127.86 and a 1 year 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. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $152.44 and a 200 day moving average price of $159.79.

MSA Safety (NYSE:MSA - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, April 29th. The industrial products company reported $1.68 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates 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 the consensus estimate of $402.60 million. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $1.61 earnings per share. The company's quarterly revenue was up 1.9% on a year-over-year basis. On average, research analysts expect that MSA Safety Incorporated will post 8.06 earnings per share for the current year.

MSA Safety Increases Dividend

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

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

MSA has been the topic of a number of analyst reports. DA Davidson dropped their price target on MSA Safety from $188.00 to $183.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, May 5th. Wall Street Zen upgraded MSA Safety from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research note on Saturday, May 10th. Robert W. Baird set a $166.00 target price on MSA Safety in a report on Monday, May 5th. Finally, B. Riley reissued a "buy" rating and issued a $195.00 target price (down from $200.00) on shares of MSA Safety in a research note 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 issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $191.80.

Insider Transactions at MSA Safety

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 transaction, 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 ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Company 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.