Universal Beteiligungs und Servicegesellschaft mbH Takes $444,000 Position in MSA Safety Incorporporated (NYSE:MSA)

Key Points

• Universal Beteiligungs und Servicegesellschaft mbH purchased a new stake in MSA Safety Incorporporated worth approximately $444,000, acquiring 3,027 shares during the 1st quarter.
• Major institutional investors, including Pictet Asset Management and Envestnet Asset Management, have significantly increased their stakes in MSA, with institutional ownership now at 92.51%.
• Wall Street analysts have a consensus rating of "Hold" for MSA Safety Incorporporated, with a price target averaging $189.20, reflecting mixed sentiments on the stock's potential.

Universal Beteiligungs und Servicegesellschaft mbH bought a new stake in shares of MSA Safety Incorporporated (NYSE:MSA - Free Report) during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund bought 3,027 shares of the industrial products company's stock, valued at approximately $444,000.

Other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. Pictet Asset Management Holding SA raised its stake in MSA Safety Incorporporated by 12.6% during the fourth quarter. Pictet Asset Management Holding SA now owns 5,797 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $961,000 after acquiring an additional 650 shares in the last quarter. Alliancebernstein L.P. grew its holdings in shares of MSA Safety Incorporporated by 2.8% in the 4th quarter. Alliancebernstein L.P. now owns 61,302 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $10,162,000 after purchasing an additional 1,642 shares during the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC increased its position in shares of MSA Safety Incorporporated by 3.2% during the 4th quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 806,438 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $133,718,000 after purchasing an additional 24,733 shares in the last quarter. ExodusPoint Capital Management LP bought a new position in MSA Safety Incorporporated during the 4th quarter valued at about $3,613,000. Finally, Envestnet Asset Management Inc. boosted its position in MSA Safety Incorporporated by 65.8% in the fourth quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 72,825 shares of the industrial products company's stock valued at $12,072,000 after buying an additional 28,914 shares in the last quarter. 92.51% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

MSA has been the topic of several research analyst reports. Stifel Nicolaus began coverage on shares of MSA Safety Incorporporated in a research note on Wednesday, July 16th. They set a "hold" rating and a $182.00 price objective on the stock. Robert W. Baird set a $166.00 price target on MSA Safety Incorporporated in a research report on Monday, May 5th. DA Davidson raised their price target on MSA Safety Incorporporated from $183.00 to $203.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Tuesday, July 22nd. B. Riley reiterated a "buy" rating and issued a $195.00 price objective (down previously from $200.00) on shares of MSA Safety Incorporporated in a research report on Thursday, May 1st. Finally, Wall Street Zen cut MSA Safety Incorporporated from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Friday, July 18th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, MSA Safety Incorporporated has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $189.20.

Insider Transactions at MSA Safety Incorporporated

In other news, Chairman Nishan J. Vartanian sold 30,000 shares of MSA Safety Incorporporated stock in a transaction 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 completion of the sale, the chairman directly owned 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 transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Corporate insiders own 0.70% of the company's stock.

MSA Safety Incorporporated Price Performance

MSA opened at $175.16 on Monday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.40, a current ratio of 2.94 and a quick ratio of 1.84. The stock has a market capitalization of $6.89 billion, a P/E ratio of 24.16 and a beta of 0.96. The company's 50 day simple moving average is $169.88 and its 200-day simple moving average is $160.26. MSA Safety Incorporporated has a one year low of $127.86 and a one year high of $187.41.

About MSA Safety Incorporporated

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.

This instant news alert was generated by narrative science technology and financial data from MarketBeat in order to provide readers with the fastest and most accurate reporting. This story was reviewed by MarketBeat's editorial team prior to publication. Please send any questions or comments about this story to contact@marketbeat.com.