MSA Safety Incorporated (NYSE:MSA) Shares Purchased by Conestoga Capital Advisors LLC

Conestoga Capital Advisors LLC grew its stake in shares of MSA Safety Incorporated (NYSE:MSA) by 34.2% in the fourth quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The fund owned 590,718 shares of the industrial products company’s stock after buying an additional 150,402 shares during the quarter. Conestoga Capital Advisors LLC’s holdings in MSA Safety were worth $97,923,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of MSA. UMB Bank n.a. raised its stake in MSA Safety by 78.4% during the fourth quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 182 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $30,000 after purchasing an additional 80 shares during the period. Blue Trust Inc. increased its holdings in shares of MSA Safety by 486.0% during the 3rd quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 252 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $47,000 after buying an additional 209 shares during the last quarter. Hilltop National Bank increased its holdings in shares of MSA Safety by 23.5% during the 4th quarter. Hilltop National Bank now owns 520 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $86,000 after buying an additional 99 shares during the last quarter. Quarry LP boosted its holdings in MSA Safety by 690.5% in the third quarter. Quarry LP now owns 751 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $133,000 after acquiring an additional 656 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Covestor Ltd grew its position in MSA Safety by 985.1% during the third quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 803 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $143,000 after acquiring an additional 729 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 92.51% of the company’s stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research firms have recently weighed in on MSA. Jefferies Financial Group initiated coverage on MSA Safety in a research note on Thursday, December 12th. They issued a “hold” rating and a $200.00 price objective on the stock. DA Davidson began coverage on shares of MSA Safety in a research report on Thursday, December 19th. They set a “buy” rating and a $195.00 price target on the stock. Finally, B. Riley started coverage on shares of MSA Safety in a research report on Tuesday, November 5th. They issued a “buy” rating and a $200.00 price objective for the company. One analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, three have issued a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Buy” and a consensus price target of $202.50.

MSA Safety Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE:MSA opened at $164.69 on Monday. The business’s 50-day simple moving average is $168.07 and its 200 day simple moving average is $173.37. The company has a market cap of $6.47 billion, a P/E ratio of 23.80 and a beta of 1.00. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.48, a quick ratio of 1.56 and a current ratio of 2.68. MSA Safety Incorporated has a one year low of $153.79 and a one year high of $200.60.

MSA Safety Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 10th. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 14th will be paid a dividend of $0.51 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 14th. This represents a $2.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.24%. MSA Safety’s dividend payout ratio is currently 29.48%.

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.