abrdn plc Boosts Stake in MSA Safety Incorporated (NYSE:MSA)

abrdn plc boosted its position in MSA Safety Incorporated (NYSE:MSA - Free Report) by 4.5% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 233,346 shares of the industrial products company's stock after buying an additional 9,949 shares during the period. abrdn plc owned approximately 0.59% of MSA Safety worth $39,396,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

A number of other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of MSA. Contravisory Investment Management Inc. purchased a new stake in MSA Safety in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Exchange Traded Concepts LLC purchased a new stake in MSA Safety in the 4th quarter worth approximately $26,000. Global Retirement Partners LLC purchased a new stake in MSA Safety in the 4th quarter worth approximately $46,000. Fifth Third Bancorp boosted its position in MSA Safety by 28.2% in the 4th quarter. Fifth Third Bancorp now owns 336 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $57,000 after purchasing an additional 74 shares in the last quarter. Finally, McGlone Suttner Wealth Management Inc. purchased a new stake in MSA Safety in the 4th quarter worth approximately $61,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 92.51% of the company's stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Separately, StockNews.com raised MSA Safety from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research note on Friday, February 23rd. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $189.50.

MSA Safety Price Performance

NYSE MSA traded up $2.32 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, hitting $190.04. The stock had a trading volume of 75,495 shares, compared to its average volume of 137,199. The firm's 50 day moving average is $185.96 and its 200 day moving average is $172.01. MSA Safety Incorporated has a twelve month low of $122.57 and a twelve month high of $196.02. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.60, a current ratio of 2.36 and a quick ratio of 1.48. The stock has a market capitalization of $7.47 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 129.60 and a beta of 1.01.

MSA Safety (NYSE:MSA - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 14th. The industrial products company reported $2.06 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.88 by $0.18. MSA Safety had a return on equity of 32.44% and a net margin of 3.28%. The firm had revenue of $495.00 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $467.52 million. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $1.80 EPS. The firm's revenue was up 11.7% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities research analysts forecast that MSA Safety Incorporated will post 7.73 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other MSA Safety news, Director Rebecca B. Roberts sold 1,100 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction on Tuesday, February 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $181.84, for a total value of $200,024.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now directly owns 8,474 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $1,540,912.16. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. In other MSA Safety news, CEO Nishan J. Vartanian sold 4,099 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction on Tuesday, March 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $185.75, for a total value of $761,389.25. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 67,800 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $12,593,850. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, Director Rebecca B. Roberts sold 1,100 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, February 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $181.84, for a total value of $200,024.00. Following the transaction, the director now owns 8,474 shares of the company's stock, valued at $1,540,912.16. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 5,504 shares of company stock valued at $1,017,991 in the last three months. 6.07% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

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.