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MSA Safety Incorporated (MSA)
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MSA Safety (MSA) AI Stock Analysis

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MSA

MSA Safety

(NYSE:MSA)

Rating:75Outperform
Price Target:
$196.00
▲(14.98% Upside)
MSA Safety's strong financial performance and strategic leadership changes are significant strengths. However, technical indicators and valuation suggest moderate growth potential, while earnings call insights highlight both opportunities and challenges. Overall, the company is well-positioned but faces some operational pressures.
Positive Factors
Acquisition Impact
MSA Safety announced the acquisition of M&C TechGroup, a leading provider of gas analysis systems, expanding MSA's fixed gas detection business.
Earnings
MSA posted better-than-expected second-quarter results with revenue exceeding consensus due to operational outperformance and benefits from the acquisition of M&C TechGroup.
Product Growth
Strength in portable gas detection is expected to accelerate MSA’s progress toward its 2028 outlook for roughly $12.00 of adjusted EPS.
Negative Factors
Near-term Headwinds
There are expected headwinds from difficult SCBA comparisons, tariffs, and slowing short-cycle activity in the near term.
Operating Margins
Adjusted operating margins fell reflecting transactional FX, inflation, volume, and tariff headwinds.
Standard Delays
The finalization of new SCBA standards (NFPA 1852) has been delayed following administrative cuts at the regulatory body (NIOSH) earlier this year.

MSA Safety (MSA) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

MSA Safety Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionMSA Safety Incorporated develops, manufactures, and supplies safety products that protect people and facility infrastructures in the oil, gas, petrochemical, fire service, construction, industrial manufacturing applications, utilities, military, and mining industries in North America, Latin America, and internationally. The company's core product offerings include permanently installed fixed gas and flame detection instruments, such as permanently installed gas detection monitoring systems, and flame detectors and open-path infrared gas detectors, as well as replacement components and related services to detect the presence or absence of various gases in the air. Its core product offerings also comprise breathing apparatus products, such as self-contained breathing apparatus; hand-held portable gas detection instruments; industrial head protection products; firefighter helmets and protective apparel; and fall protection equipment, including confined space equipment, harnesses, lanyards, and self-retracting lifelines, as well as engineered systems. In addition, the company offers air-purifying respirators, eye and face protection products, ballistic helmets, and gas masks. It serves distributors and end-users through indirect and direct sales channels. The company offers its product under the V-Gard, Cairns, and Gallet brand names. MSA Safety Incorporated was founded in 1914 and is based in Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania.
How the Company Makes MoneyMSA generates revenue through the sale of its safety products and services, which include equipment rentals and maintenance. The primary revenue streams consist of direct sales to customers, contracts with government agencies, and partnerships with distributors worldwide. MSA's focus on innovation leads to the development of advanced technologies, such as smart helmets and wireless gas detectors, which command higher price points. Additionally, the company benefits from long-term relationships with key clients in various industries, ensuring steady demand for its safety solutions and contributing to recurring revenue through service contracts and product upgrades.

MSA Safety Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Aug 04, 2025
(Q2-2025)
|
% Change Since: |
Next Earnings Date:Oct 22, 2025
Earnings Call Sentiment Neutral
The earnings call highlighted several achievements, including better-than-expected backlog conversion, growth in Detection and fall protection, and strategic capital deployment. However, these were balanced by challenges such as declining operating margins, sales declines in Fire Service and Industrial PPE, and pressures from tariffs and foreign exchange. The overall sentiment of the call is balanced given the mix of positive growth strategies and financial pressures.
Q2-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Better-than-Expected Backlog Conversion
Financial results for the second quarter exceeded original expectations primarily due to better-than-expected backlog conversion in Fire Service and Detection.
M&C TechGroup Acquisition
The M&C TechGroup acquisition contributed $11 million to reported sales for the quarter and is expected to add approximately $0.10 accretive to adjusted EPS for the full year.
Growth in Detection and Industrial PPE
Detection grew 6% organically despite a challenging year-over-year comparison, and fall protection saw double-digit growth in the second quarter.
Continued Dividend Growth and Share Repurchases
For the 55th consecutive year, MSA increased its annual dividend and repurchased $30 million of stock this quarter.
Strong Cash Flow and Balance Sheet
Quarterly operating cash flow increased more than 25% from a year ago, supporting strategic investments and maintaining a strong balance sheet with net leverage of 1.1x.
Negative Updates
Operating Margins Decline
Operating margins declined compared to last year due to gross margin pressures from transactional foreign currency headwinds and inflation, with adjusted operating margin down 200 basis points year-over-year.
Decline in Fire Service and Industrial PPE Sales
Organic sales in Fire Service declined mid-single digits year-over-year, and Industrial PPE organic sales were down low single digits.
Tariff and FX Pressures on Gross Margins
Gross margins at 46.6% were down 170 basis points from last year, reflecting transactional FX and inflation headwinds, with tariffs expected to have a more pronounced impact in the second half.
Sequential Decline in Backlog
The backlog declined more than expected in the second quarter, though it remains within normalized levels.
Company Guidance
During the MSA Safety Second Quarter 2025 Earnings Conference Call, the company provided guidance and numerous metrics regarding their financial performance and outlook. For Q2 2025, MSA Safety reported consolidated sales growth of 3%, with organic sales remaining flat, and adjusted earnings per share at $1.93. The M&C TechGroup acquisition contributed $11 million to reported sales. Despite facing gross margin pressures, including a 170 basis point decline primarily due to foreign currency headwinds and inflation, the company maintained strong demand in product categories like Detection, which achieved mid-single-digit organic growth. The Fire Service segment saw a mid-single-digit decline, while Industrial PPE sales were down low single digits. Throughout the year, MSA Safety anticipates low single-digit organic growth, with M&C expected to add approximately 2 percentage points to full-year revenue growth. The company also maintained robust capital allocation strategies, including organic growth investments, M&A activities, and shareholder returns through dividends and share repurchases.

MSA Safety Financial Statement Overview

Summary
MSA Safety demonstrates a strong financial position with consistent revenue growth, robust profitability, and effective cash flow generation. The improvement in leverage metrics and consistent equity growth highlight financial stability. While operational and cash flow metrics reflect efficiency, minor fluctuations in asset levels and cash flow sustainability warrant attention.
Income Statement
85
Very Positive
MSA Safety shows robust revenue growth with a consistent increase from $1.35 billion in 2020 to $1.82 billion in TTM. Gross profit margin remains strong at approximately 47.3% for TTM, indicating efficient cost management. The net profit margin for TTM is 15.8%, reflecting healthy profitability. Notably, EBIT and EBITDA margins are also solid, contributing to high operational efficiency. The consistent growth trajectory and strong margins suggest excellent financial health, though slight fluctuations in profitability should be monitored.
Balance Sheet
78
Positive
The balance sheet showcases a healthy equity position with an increasing stockholders' equity, reaching $1.19 billion in TTM. The debt-to-equity ratio has improved significantly from 0.74 in 2020 to 0.04 in TTM, indicating reduced leverage risk. ROE for TTM is strong at 24.1%, suggesting effective use of equity capital. While the equity ratio of 53.2% supports financial stability, the decrease in total assets over the years requires caution.
Cash Flow
82
Very Positive
Cash flows are strong, with operating cash flow consistently supporting net income, evidenced by an operating cash flow to net income ratio of 1.07 in TTM. Free cash flow remains positive and growing, with a TTM free cash flow of $191.75 million. The free cash flow to net income ratio of 0.67 for TTM indicates robust cash generation relative to earnings, though the decline from the previous year suggests monitoring for sustainability.
BreakdownTTMDec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021Dec 2020
Income Statement
Total Revenue1.83B1.81B1.79B1.53B1.40B1.35B
Gross Profit855.99M860.45M852.14M673.83M615.35M590.45M
EBITDA429.83M476.23M314.19M316.51M84.68M217.25M
Net Income276.97M284.97M58.58M179.63M21.34M124.08M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets2.55B2.21B2.17B2.38B2.40B1.87B
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments146.99M164.56M146.44M162.90M140.90M160.67M
Total Debt0.00565.40M646.19M572.83M597.65M351.80M
Total Liabilities1.30B1.06B1.20B1.45B1.56B1.06B
Stockholders Equity1.25B1.14B966.80M923.74M834.39M809.89M
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow252.51M242.21M50.09M113.51M150.02M157.65M
Operating Cash Flow321.29M296.43M92.86M157.46M199.15M206.56M
Investing Cash Flow-256.14M-53.76M-39.95M-4.48M-415.47M-72.77M
Financing Cash Flow-66.99M-208.69M-52.25M-113.35M203.93M-126.53M

MSA Safety Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Positive
Last Price170.46
Price Trends
50DMA
173.09
Negative
100DMA
165.49
Positive
200DMA
162.88
Positive
Market Momentum
MACD
-0.65
Positive
RSI
47.11
Neutral
STOCH
35.60
Neutral
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For MSA, the sentiment is Positive. The current price of 170.46 is below the 20-day moving average (MA) of 171.34, below the 50-day MA of 173.09, and above the 200-day MA of 162.88, indicating a neutral trend. The MACD of -0.65 indicates Positive momentum. The RSI at 47.11 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 35.60 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Positive sentiment for MSA.

MSA Safety Risk Analysis

MSA Safety disclosed 27 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. MSA Safety reported the most risks in the "Legal & Regulatory" category.
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy
Latest Risks Added 0 New Risks

MSA Safety Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (64)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
78
Outperform
$7.33B12.9917.13%2.53%3.80%-3.18%
75
Outperform
$6.74B24.5724.23%1.21%0.55%1.85%
75
Outperform
$5.23B64.31-26.27%20.00%-547.75%
73
Outperform
$1.40B33.4324.98%1.30%-3.81%-11.48%
68
Neutral
$3.92B21.0316.76%1.17%12.84%-3.06%
67
Neutral
$4.74B30.1756.23%0.87%2.17%25.34%
64
Neutral
$10.73B15.747.56%2.01%2.76%-15.10%
* Industrials Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
MSA
MSA Safety
170.46
4.78
2.89%
BRC
Brady
81.96
10.75
15.10%
BCO
Brink's Company
114.74
10.16
9.72%
NSSC
Napco Security Technologies
39.52
5.85
17.37%
ADT
Adt
8.70
1.89
27.75%
REZI
Resideo Technologies
35.75
17.50
95.89%

MSA Safety Corporate Events

Executive/Board ChangesBusiness Operations and Strategy
MSA Safety Appoints Julie Beck as New CFO
Positive
Aug 13, 2025

On August 13, 2025, MSA Safety announced the appointment of Julie A. Beck as Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, and Treasurer, effective August 18, 2025. Ms. Beck, who previously held the CFO position at Terex Corporation, brings extensive global financial experience and expertise in mergers and acquisitions, inflation management, and business transformation. Her leadership is expected to enhance MSA Safety’s financial strategies and operational growth, succeeding interim CFO Elyse Brody, who will continue as Executive Director of Financial Planning and Analysis and Strategy.

Glossary
BuyA stock rated as a "Buy" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
HoldA stock rated as a "Hold" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly compelling nor unfavorable for investment. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
SellA stock rated as a "Sell" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock may deliver lower returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.

Disclaimer

This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.Date of analysis: Aug 28, 2025