MSA Safety Incorporated (NYSE:MSA) Short Interest Up 21.1% in February

MSA Safety Incorporated (NYSE:MSA) saw a significant increase in short interest during the month of February. As of February 28th, there was short interest totalling 417,200 shares, an increase of 21.1% from the February 13th total of 344,600 shares. Currently, 1.1% of the shares of the stock are sold short. Based on an average trading volume of 169,900 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 2.5 days.

Insider Transactions at MSA Safety

In other MSA Safety news, CAO Jonathan D. Buck sold 717 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $159.00, for a total transaction of $114,003.00. Following the sale, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 3,673 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $584,007. This trade represents a 16.33 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Insiders own 6.20% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Trading of MSA Safety

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the business. GSA Capital Partners LLP purchased a new stake in MSA Safety during the third quarter worth approximately $737,000. Victory Capital Management Inc. boosted its position in MSA Safety by 33.4% during the 3rd quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. now owns 87,454 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $15,509,000 after purchasing an additional 21,902 shares during the period. ING Groep NV purchased a new stake in MSA Safety during the 3rd quarter worth $1,011,000. Mutual of America Capital Management LLC increased its holdings in MSA Safety by 0.3% in the 3rd quarter. Mutual of America Capital Management LLC now owns 21,267 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $3,771,000 after purchasing an additional 71 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Thrivent Financial for Lutherans raised its position in MSA Safety by 3.4% in the third quarter. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans now owns 9,245 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $1,640,000 after purchasing an additional 300 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 92.51% of the company’s stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of analysts recently issued reports on the stock. Jefferies Financial Group initiated coverage on shares of MSA Safety in a research report on Thursday, December 12th. They set a “hold” rating and a $200.00 target price on the stock. Robert W. Baird decreased their price objective on MSA Safety from $190.00 to $175.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, February 18th. Finally, DA Davidson started coverage on MSA Safety in a research report on Thursday, December 19th. They issued a “buy” rating and a $195.00 price objective for the company. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, two have issued a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of “Buy” and a consensus price target of $197.00.

MSA Safety Trading Down 0.4 %

NYSE:MSA traded down $0.65 during trading hours on Tuesday, reaching $151.38. 118,658 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 155,140. The firm has a market cap of $5.94 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.00 and a beta of 0.99. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $160.99 and a 200 day simple moving average of $168.47. MSA Safety has a 52-week low of $148.59 and a 52-week high of $200.61. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.42, a current ratio of 2.79 and a quick ratio of 1.76.

MSA Safety (NYSE:MSA) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, February 12th. The industrial products company reported $2.25 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.23 by $0.02. MSA Safety had a return on equity of 28.64% and a net margin of 15.76%. As a group, analysts predict that MSA Safety will post 8.06 EPS for the current year.

MSA Safety Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 10th. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 14th were paid a $0.51 dividend. This represents a $2.04 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.35%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, February 14th. MSA Safety’s dividend payout ratio is currently 28.29%.

MSA Safety Company 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.