Mutual of America Capital Management LLC Reduces Holdings in MSA Safety Incorporated (NYSE:MSA)

Mutual of America Capital Management LLC reduced its stake in MSA Safety Incorporated (NYSE:MSA) by 4.9% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 22,830 shares of the industrial products company’s stock after selling 1,184 shares during the quarter. Mutual of America Capital Management LLC’s holdings in MSA Safety were worth $3,854,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other large investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in MSA. Norges Bank purchased a new stake in MSA Safety in the 4th quarter valued at $51,983,000. Select Equity Group L.P. purchased a new stake in MSA Safety in the 1st quarter valued at $40,975,000. State Street Corp grew its holdings in MSA Safety by 13.1% in the 2nd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 2,066,285 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $250,165,000 after buying an additional 238,982 shares in the last quarter. Millennium Management LLC grew its holdings in MSA Safety by 3,263.3% in the 2nd quarter. Millennium Management LLC now owns 180,340 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $21,834,000 after buying an additional 174,978 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Morgan Stanley grew its holdings in MSA Safety by 132.6% in the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 290,116 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $41,832,000 after buying an additional 165,373 shares in the last quarter. 92.51% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

MSA Safety Stock Performance

NYSE MSA opened at $187.16 on Wednesday. The stock has a market cap of $7.36 billion, a PE ratio of 129.08 and a beta of 1.01. The company has a current ratio of 2.36, a quick ratio of 1.48 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.60. MSA Safety Incorporated has a twelve month low of $122.57 and a twelve month high of $196.02. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $184.72 and a 200-day simple moving average of $170.97.

MSA Safety (NYSE:MSA) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 14th. The industrial products company reported $2.06 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.88 by $0.18. MSA Safety had a return on equity of 32.44% and a net margin of 3.28%. The business had revenue of $495.00 million during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $467.52 million. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $1.80 EPS. The company’s revenue was up 11.7% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities analysts anticipate that MSA Safety Incorporated will post 7.73 earnings per share for the current year.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several analysts have issued reports on MSA shares. StockNews.com upgraded MSA Safety from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, February 23rd. Stifel Nicolaus increased their price target on MSA Safety from $200.00 to $209.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, December 19th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $189.50.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, CEO Nishan J. Vartanian sold 4,099 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, March 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $185.75, for a total transaction of $761,389.25. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 67,800 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $12,593,850. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. In related news, CEO Nishan J. Vartanian sold 4,099 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, March 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $185.75, for a total transaction of $761,389.25. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 67,800 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $12,593,850. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, Director Rebecca B. Roberts sold 1,100 shares of the stock in a transaction dated 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 directly owns 8,474 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,540,912.16. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last 90 days, insiders have sold 5,504 shares of company stock valued at $1,017,991. Corporate insiders own 6.07% of the company’s stock.

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.