MSA Safety Incorporporated (NYSE:MSA) Issues Earnings Results

Key Points

• MSA beat expectations: Q results showed EPS of $1.99 vs. consensus $1.85 and revenue of $463.63M (vs. $451.28M), with a net margin of 14.88% and ROE of 24.48%.
• The board approved a $500.0 million share repurchase program — up to ~6.6% of outstanding shares — signaling management views the stock as potentially undervalued.
• Shares traded down about 0.2% to $165.45 midday despite the beat; analysts hold a consensus "Hold" rating with an average price target of $204.50, and institutions own roughly 92.5% of the stock.

MSA Safety Incorporporated (NYSE:MSA - Get Free Report) released its earnings results on Monday. The industrial products company reported $1.99 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $1.85 by $0.14, FiscalAI reports. MSA Safety Incorporporated had a net margin of 14.88% and a return on equity of 24.48%. The company had revenue of $463.63 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $451.28 million.

MSA Safety Incorporporated Stock Down 0.2%

MSA stock traded down $0.35 during mid-day trading on Monday, hitting $165.45. 196,560 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 223,137. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.42, a quick ratio of 1.82 and a current ratio of 3.01. The firm has a market cap of $6.42 billion, a P/E ratio of 23.37 and a beta of 0.97. The firm's 50 day simple moving average is $176.16 and its 200 day simple moving average is $172.11. MSA Safety Incorporporated has a 1-year low of $151.10 and a 1-year high of $208.92.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other MSA Safety Incorporporated news, CAO Jonathan D. Buck sold 1,100 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, February 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $203.48, for a total transaction of $223,828.00. Following the sale, the chief accounting officer directly owned 3,234 shares in the company, valued at approximately $658,054.32. This trade represents a 25.38% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Company insiders own 0.70% of the company's stock.

Institutional Trading of MSA Safety Incorporporated

Hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. raised its holdings in MSA Safety Incorporporated by 700.0% during the 3rd quarter. Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. now owns 144 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $25,000 after buying an additional 126 shares during the period. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC raised its holdings in MSA Safety Incorporporated by 94.1% during the 2nd quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 198 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $33,000 after buying an additional 96 shares during the period. Quarry LP raised its holdings in MSA Safety Incorporporated by 94.0% during the 4th quarter. Quarry LP now owns 423 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $68,000 after buying an additional 205 shares during the period. Danske Bank A S acquired a new stake in MSA Safety Incorporporated during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $69,000. Finally, Canada Pension Plan Investment Board raised its holdings in MSA Safety Incorporporated by 125.0% during the 2nd quarter. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board now owns 900 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $151,000 after buying an additional 500 shares during the period. 92.51% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research analysts recently weighed in on MSA shares. B. Riley Financial reissued a "buy" rating on shares of MSA Safety Incorporporated in a research note on Thursday, February 12th. Jefferies Financial Group reissued a "hold" rating and set a $180.00 price objective (down from $200.00) on shares of MSA Safety Incorporporated in a research note on Tuesday, March 31st. National Bank Financial set a $235.00 price objective on shares of MSA Safety Incorporporated in a research note on Wednesday, February 18th. Robert W. Baird reduced their price objective on shares of MSA Safety Incorporporated from $205.00 to $195.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, March 30th. Finally, DA Davidson lifted their price objective on shares of MSA Safety Incorporporated from $186.00 to $235.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 18th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and five have assigned a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, MSA Safety Incorporporated has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $204.50.

MSA Safety Incorporporated announced that its Board of Directors has approved a stock repurchase program on Thursday, February 26th that authorizes the company to buyback $500.00 million in outstanding shares. This buyback authorization authorizes the industrial products company to repurchase up to 6.6% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback programs are generally a sign that the company's board believes its stock is undervalued.

MSA Safety Incorporporated Company Profile

MSA Safety Incorporated develops, manufactures and supplies a wide range of safety products designed to protect workers in hazardous environments. The company's offerings span personal protective equipment such as industrial helmets, face shields, protective clothing and fall protection devices, as well as fixed and portable gas detection and monitoring systems. MSA's products are used in industries including oil and gas, mining, construction, fire service, and chemical processing to guard against risks such as gas leaks, impacts, flame exposure and falls from height.

Key product lines include self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) and air-purifying respirators, gas detectors and sensors, head and face protection, and fall arrest systems.

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