Lazard Asset Management LLC Sells 3,699 Shares of MSA Safety Incorporated (NYSE:MSA)

Lazard Asset Management LLC decreased its stake in MSA Safety Incorporated (NYSE:MSA - Free Report) by 3.3% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 108,145 shares of the industrial products company's stock after selling 3,699 shares during the period. Lazard Asset Management LLC owned 0.28% of MSA Safety worth $17,925,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of the stock. Lighthouse Investment Partners LLC grew its holdings in shares of MSA Safety by 298.1% in the 4th quarter. Lighthouse Investment Partners LLC now owns 28,000 shares of the industrial products company's stock valued at $4,642,000 after acquiring an additional 20,967 shares in the last quarter. Janus Henderson Group PLC grew its holdings in shares of MSA Safety by 7.7% in the 4th quarter. Janus Henderson Group PLC now owns 334,893 shares of the industrial products company's stock valued at $55,514,000 after acquiring an additional 23,931 shares in the last quarter. Jefferies Financial Group Inc. bought a new position in shares of MSA Safety in the 4th quarter valued at about $237,000. Deutsche Bank AG grew its holdings in shares of MSA Safety by 2.4% in the 4th quarter. Deutsche Bank AG now owns 22,611 shares of the industrial products company's stock valued at $3,748,000 after acquiring an additional 536 shares in the last quarter. Finally, D. E. Shaw & Co. Inc. grew its holdings in shares of MSA Safety by 77.5% in the 4th quarter. D. E. Shaw & Co. Inc. now owns 78,409 shares of the industrial products company's stock valued at $12,998,000 after acquiring an additional 34,228 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 92.51% of the company's stock.

MSA Safety Stock Performance

MSA stock traded up $0.89 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $159.46. 299,241 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 180,943. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $149.30 and a 200-day simple moving average of $160.75. 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 stock has a market capitalization of $6.27 billion, a PE ratio of 22.12 and a beta of 0.96. MSA Safety Incorporated has a 1-year low of $127.86 and a 1-year high of $200.61.

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

MSA Safety Increases Dividend

The business 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 dividend of $0.53 per share. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, May 15th. This is an increase from MSA Safety's previous quarterly dividend of $0.51. This represents a $2.12 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.33%. MSA Safety's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 29.24%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other MSA Safety news, CAO Jonathan D. Buck sold 717 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $159.00, for a total transaction 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 $584,007. This trade represents a 16.33% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, Chairman Nishan J. Vartanian sold 30,000 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, May 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $161.32, for a total transaction of $4,839,600.00. Following the sale, the chairman now owns 35,401 shares of the company's stock, valued at $5,710,889.32. This trade represents a 45.87% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Company insiders own 0.70% of the company's stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research firms recently commented on MSA. DA Davidson reduced their price target on MSA Safety from $188.00 to $183.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a report on Monday, May 5th. B. Riley reiterated a "buy" rating and set a $195.00 price target (down previously from $200.00) on shares of MSA Safety in a report on Thursday, May 1st. StockNews.com upgraded MSA Safety from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a report on Saturday, May 10th. Finally, Robert W. Baird set a $166.00 price target on MSA Safety in a report on Monday, May 5th. Two 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 stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $191.80.

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.