Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank Acquires 1,892 Shares of MSA Safety Incorporated (NYSE:MSA)

Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank increased its holdings in shares of MSA Safety Incorporated (NYSE:MSA) by 24.2% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 9,706 shares of the industrial products company’s stock after purchasing an additional 1,892 shares during the period. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank’s holdings in MSA Safety were worth $1,609,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. ORG Partners LLC bought a new position in shares of MSA Safety during the 4th quarter valued at about $1,131,000. Redmond Asset Management LLC bought a new position in shares of MSA Safety during the 4th quarter valued at about $362,000. Anchor Capital Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in shares of MSA Safety by 18.8% during the 4th quarter. Anchor Capital Advisors LLC now owns 10,700 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $1,774,000 after purchasing an additional 1,694 shares in the last quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. raised its position in MSA Safety by 1.5% in the 4th quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 424,356 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $70,345,000 after buying an additional 6,119 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC raised its position in MSA Safety by 27.1% in the 4th quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC now owns 124,041 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $20,468,000 after buying an additional 26,470 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 92.51% of the company’s stock.

MSA Safety Stock Up 1.0 %

NYSE:MSA opened at $151.90 on Tuesday. The firm has a market capitalization of $5.96 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.07 and a beta of 0.99. MSA Safety Incorporated has a twelve month low of $148.59 and a twelve month high of $200.61. The stock’s 50 day moving average price is $160.99 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $168.47. The company has a quick ratio of 1.76, a current ratio of 2.79 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.42.

MSA Safety (NYSE:MSA) last posted its quarterly 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%. Equities research analysts expect that MSA Safety Incorporated will post 8.06 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

MSA Safety Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 10th. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 14th were paid a dividend of $0.51 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, February 14th. This represents a $2.04 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.34%. MSA Safety’s dividend payout ratio is currently 28.29%.

Insider Transactions at MSA Safety

In other news, CAO Jonathan D. Buck sold 717 shares of MSA Safety stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $159.00, for a total transaction of $114,003.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 3,673 shares in the company, valued at approximately $584,007. The trade was a 16.33 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. 6.20% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities research analysts recently issued reports on MSA shares. Jefferies Financial Group started coverage on MSA Safety in a research report on Thursday, December 12th. They issued a “hold” rating and a $200.00 target price on the stock. Robert W. Baird dropped their target price on MSA Safety from $190.00 to $175.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research 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 target price on the stock. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, two have given a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Buy” and an average target price of $197.00.

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.