MSA Safety Incorporated (NYSE:MSA) CEO Nishan J. Vartanian Sells 11,000 Shares of Stock

MSA Safety Incorporated (NYSE:MSA) CEO Nishan J. Vartanian sold 11,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, May 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $185.29, for a total transaction of $2,038,190.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 56,800 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $10,524,472. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link.

MSA Safety Price Performance

Shares of MSA opened at $183.93 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 1.48, a current ratio of 2.51 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.57. MSA Safety Incorporated has a twelve month low of $126.75 and a twelve month high of $196.02. The stock has a market capitalization of $7.24 billion, a P/E ratio of 27.25 and a beta of 1.01. The company has a 50 day moving average of $187.56 and a 200-day moving average of $173.73.

MSA Safety (NYSE:MSA) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Monday, April 29th. The industrial products company reported $1.61 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.47 by $0.14. The company had revenue of $413.00 million for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $428.38 million. MSA Safety had a return on equity of 31.51% and a net margin of 14.81%. The business’s revenue was up 3.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $1.36 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that MSA Safety Incorporated will post 7.75 EPS for the current fiscal year.

MSA Safety Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, June 10th. Investors of record on Wednesday, May 15th will be paid a $0.51 dividend. This is an increase from MSA Safety’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.47. This represents a $2.04 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.11%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, May 14th. MSA Safety’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 27.85%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On MSA Safety

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Contravisory Investment Management Inc. bought a new position in MSA Safety during the fourth quarter worth $25,000. Exchange Traded Concepts LLC bought a new position in MSA Safety in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $26,000. Quadrant Capital Group LLC raised its holdings in shares of MSA Safety by 51.2% during the 4th quarter. Quadrant Capital Group LLC now owns 183 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $31,000 after buying an additional 62 shares in the last quarter. Global Retirement Partners LLC acquired a new position in MSA Safety during the fourth quarter worth about $46,000. Finally, CWM LLC lifted its holdings in shares of MSA Safety by 50.7% in the first quarter. CWM LLC now owns 306 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $59,000 after acquiring an additional 103 shares during the last quarter. 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 equities research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $189.50.

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.