MSA Safety Incorporated (NYSE:MSA) Shares Purchased by Voloridge Investment Management LLC

Voloridge Investment Management LLC raised its holdings in MSA Safety Incorporated (NYSE:MSA - Free Report) by 275.1% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 89,929 shares of the industrial products company's stock after acquiring an additional 65,953 shares during the period. Voloridge Investment Management LLC owned approximately 0.23% of MSA Safety worth $14,908,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Covestor Ltd grew its stake in shares of MSA Safety by 8.2% in the 4th quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 869 shares of the industrial products company's stock valued at $144,000 after buying an additional 66 shares during the period. Arizona State Retirement System boosted its position in shares of MSA Safety by 0.7% during the 4th quarter. Arizona State Retirement System now owns 10,851 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $1,799,000 after purchasing an additional 78 shares during the period. UMB Bank n.a. boosted its position in shares of MSA Safety by 78.4% during the 4th quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 182 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $30,000 after purchasing an additional 80 shares during the period. US Bancorp DE boosted its position in shares of MSA Safety by 3.9% during the 4th quarter. US Bancorp DE now owns 2,190 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $363,000 after purchasing an additional 83 shares during the period. Finally, Treasurer of the State of North Carolina boosted its position in shares of MSA Safety by 0.7% during the 4th quarter. Treasurer of the State of North Carolina now owns 16,276 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $2,698,000 after purchasing an additional 110 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 92.51% of the company's stock.

Insider Activity

In other news, Chairman Nishan J. Vartanian sold 30,000 shares of the firm's 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 sale, the chairman now directly owns 35,401 shares in the company, valued at approximately $5,710,889.32. This trade represents a 45.87% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Company insiders own 0.70% of the company's stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

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

MSA Safety Stock Up 3.0%

Shares of MSA Safety stock traded up $4.68 during trading hours on Tuesday, reaching $162.43. 179,387 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 182,725. MSA Safety Incorporated has a 1 year low of $127.86 and a 1 year high of $200.61. The stock's fifty day moving average is $150.57 and its 200 day moving average is $160.16. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.42, a quick ratio of 1.76 and a current ratio of 2.79. The firm has a market cap of $6.38 billion, a PE ratio of 22.53 and a beta of 0.96.

MSA Safety (NYSE:MSA - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, April 29th. The industrial products company reported $1.68 earnings per share for the quarter, beating 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 analyst estimates of $402.60 million. During the same period last year, the business earned $1.61 EPS. The company's revenue was up 1.9% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that MSA Safety Incorporated will post 8.06 earnings per share for the current year.

MSA Safety Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, June 10th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, May 15th will be issued a $0.53 dividend. This represents a $2.12 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.31%. This is a positive change from MSA Safety's previous quarterly dividend of $0.51. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, May 15th. MSA Safety's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 29.24%.

MSA Safety 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.