abrdn plc Sells 11,624 Shares of MSA Safety Incorporated (NYSE:MSA)

abrdn plc reduced its position in MSA Safety Incorporated (NYSE:MSA) by 4.9% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 225,819 shares of the industrial products company’s stock after selling 11,624 shares during the quarter. abrdn plc owned about 0.57% of MSA Safety worth $37,461,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of MSA. Copeland Capital Management LLC purchased a new position in MSA Safety in the fourth quarter worth $29,894,000. Geode Capital Management LLC grew its holdings in MSA Safety by 27.6% in the third quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 781,705 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $138,658,000 after purchasing an additional 169,168 shares during the last quarter. Conestoga Capital Advisors LLC grew its holdings in shares of MSA Safety by 34.2% during the fourth quarter. Conestoga Capital Advisors LLC now owns 590,718 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $97,923,000 after buying an additional 150,402 shares during the last quarter. State Street Corp grew its holdings in shares of MSA Safety by 2.5% during the third quarter. State Street Corp now owns 1,691,319 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $299,939,000 after buying an additional 40,569 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC grew its holdings in shares of MSA Safety by 51.6% during the third quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC now owns 97,571 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $17,303,000 after buying an additional 33,204 shares during the last quarter. 92.51% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

MSA has been the topic of a number of research analyst reports. DA Davidson initiated coverage on shares of MSA Safety in a report on Thursday, December 19th. They set a “buy” rating and a $195.00 price objective on the stock. B. Riley initiated coverage on shares of MSA Safety in a report on Tuesday, November 5th. They set a “buy” rating and a $200.00 price objective on the stock. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group initiated coverage on shares of MSA Safety in a research report on Thursday, December 12th. They set a “hold” rating and a $200.00 target price for the company. One research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, three have assigned a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of “Buy” and an average target price of $202.50.

MSA Safety Trading Up 0.5 %

NYSE MSA opened at $165.19 on Thursday. The company has a fifty day moving average of $167.60 and a 200 day moving average of $172.99. The company has a market capitalization of $6.49 billion, a PE ratio of 23.87 and a beta of 1.00. MSA Safety Incorporated has a 1 year low of $153.79 and a 1 year high of $200.60. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.48, a current ratio of 2.68 and a quick ratio of 1.56.

MSA Safety Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 10th. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 14th will be given a $0.51 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 14th. This represents a $2.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.23%. MSA Safety’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) 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.