MSA Safety Incorporated (NYSE:MSA) Shares Sold by Renaissance Technologies LLC

Renaissance Technologies LLC trimmed its stake in shares of MSA Safety Incorporated (NYSE:MSA) by 14.1% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 68,800 shares of the industrial products company’s stock after selling 11,300 shares during the quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC owned 0.18% of MSA Safety worth $11,405,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Vanguard Group Inc. increased its stake in shares of MSA Safety by 0.6% during the fourth quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 3,883,844 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $643,825,000 after buying an additional 22,190 shares during the period. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased its position in shares of MSA Safety by 9.5% in the 4th quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 1,999,779 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $331,503,000 after purchasing an additional 173,210 shares during the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of MSA Safety by 3.2% in the 4th quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 806,438 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $133,718,000 after purchasing an additional 24,733 shares in the last quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp lifted its position in shares of MSA Safety by 2.3% during the 4th quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 767,634 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $127,251,000 after purchasing an additional 17,052 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Cooke & Bieler LP grew its stake in shares of MSA Safety by 25.3% during the fourth quarter. Cooke & Bieler LP now owns 651,366 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $107,977,000 after purchasing an additional 131,458 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 92.51% of the company’s stock.

MSA Safety Stock Down 1.3 %

Shares of NYSE MSA opened at $142.79 on Wednesday. The stock has a market cap of $5.61 billion, a PE ratio of 19.80 and a beta of 0.97. MSA Safety Incorporated has a 52-week low of $127.86 and a 52-week high of $200.61. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $152.55 and a 200 day moving average price of $163.44. 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 announced its earnings results on Wednesday, February 12th. The industrial products company reported $2.25 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.23 by $0.02. MSA Safety had a net margin of 15.76% and a return on equity of 28.64%. Equities research analysts forecast that MSA Safety Incorporated will post 8.06 earnings per share for the current year.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of brokerages have issued reports on MSA. DA Davidson assumed coverage on MSA Safety in a report on Thursday, December 19th. They set a “buy” rating and a $195.00 price target for the company. Robert W. Baird lowered their price target on MSA Safety from $175.00 to $161.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a report on Tuesday. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, two have assigned a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Buy” and a consensus price target of $194.20.

Insider Buying and Selling at MSA Safety

In other news, CAO Jonathan D. Buck sold 717 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $159.00, for a total value of $114,003.00. Following the transaction, the chief accounting officer now owns 3,673 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $584,007. The trade was a 16.33 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. 6.20% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

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.