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

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MSA

MSA Safety

(NYSE:MSA)

Rating:75Outperform
Price Target:
$193.00
▲(13.79% Upside)
MSA Safety's strong financial performance and strategic corporate actions are the primary drivers of its solid stock score. While technical indicators and valuation suggest caution, the company's resilience and strategic initiatives, such as the new CFO appointment, provide a positive outlook. Challenges in certain segments and margin pressures are notable risks that should be monitored.
Positive Factors
Acquisition
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 Performance
MSA's gas detection segment drove positive organic revenue growth, overcoming tough comparisons and indicating strong performance in the portable gas business.
Negative Factors
Financial Performance
Adjusted operating margins fell reflecting transactional FX, inflation, volume, and tariff headwinds.
Market Uncertainty
Uncertainty around the timing of new NFPA standard changes could shift SCBA orders from customers waiting for the next-gen XR model into the fourth quarter of 2025 or early 2026.
Regulatory 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: -4.12%|
Next Earnings Date:Oct 22, 2025
Earnings Call Sentiment Neutral
The earnings call reflected a mixed performance with strong growth in the Detection and Industrial PPE segments, bolstered by strategic acquisitions and capital deployment. However, challenges in the Fire Service segment, gross margin pressures, and a lower book-to-bill ratio indicate some areas of concern. The company's resilience and operational strength through strategic actions and innovation provide a balanced view.
Q2-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Strong Performance in Detection and Fall Protection
Detection segment achieved mid-single-digit organic growth, driven by fixed and portable gas detection. Fall protection saw double-digit growth, contributing to the overall strength in the Industrial PPE category.
Successful Integration of M&C TechGroup
The acquisition of M&C TechGroup contributed $11 million to reported sales for the quarter and is expected to add approximately $0.10 accretive to adjusted EPS for the year.
Strategic Capital Deployment
MSA Safety increased its annual dividend for the 55th consecutive year and repurchased $30 million of stock this quarter. The company also made a strategic footprint investment in Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania, to support future R&D and manufacturing expansion.
Resilience and Operational Strength
Despite gross margin pressures, the company maintained an adjusted operating margin of 21.4%, reflecting the operational capabilities built through the MSA business system deployment and customer-led innovation.
Negative Updates
Decline in Fire Service Sales
Organic sales in the Fire Service segment declined mid-single digits year-over-year, impacted by market dynamics surrounding the NFPA standard change and delayed AFG funding.
Gross Margin Pressures
Gross margins declined by 170 basis points from last year, primarily due to transactional foreign currency headwinds, inflation, and the early impacts of tariffs.
Challenges in Industrial PPE
Organic sales in Industrial PPE were down low single digits, with contractions in head protection and ballistic helmets offsetting the strength in fall protection.
Book-to-Bill Ratio Below 1
The backlog declined more than expected in the second quarter, and the book-to-bill ratio was slightly below 1, indicating potential future order challenges.
Company Guidance
In the second quarter of 2025, MSA Safety reported a consolidated sales growth of 3%, with adjusted earnings per share reaching $1.93. The M&C TechGroup acquisition contributed $11 million to the quarter's reported sales. Despite operating margins declining due to gross margin pressures from foreign currency headwinds and inflation, the company managed to partially offset these challenges through pricing and improved productivity. Detection showed mid-single-digit organic growth, while Industrial PPE sales saw a low single-digit contraction. The backlog, though declining more than expected, remained within normalized levels. The company maintained a low single-digit full-year organic growth outlook, with M&C expected to add 2% to revenue growth and be $0.10 accretive to adjusted EPS. Operating margins were down 200 basis points from the previous year, primarily due to gross margin contractions. MSA Safety also increased its annual dividend for the 55th consecutive year and repurchased $30 million of stock during the quarter.

MSA Safety Financial Statement Overview

Summary
MSA Safety demonstrates strong financial health with consistent revenue growth, robust profitability, and effective cash flow generation. The improvement in leverage metrics and consistent equity growth highlight financial stability. 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
Neutral
Last Price169.61
Price Trends
50DMA
171.30
Negative
100DMA
161.54
Positive
200DMA
162.64
Positive
Market Momentum
MACD
-0.22
Positive
RSI
43.09
Neutral
STOCH
17.87
Positive
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For MSA, the sentiment is Neutral. The current price of 169.61 is below the 20-day moving average (MA) of 175.28, below the 50-day MA of 171.30, and above the 200-day MA of 162.64, indicating a neutral trend. The MACD of -0.22 indicates Positive momentum. The RSI at 43.09 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 17.87 is Positive, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Neutral 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 (71)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
79
Outperform
$1.11B25.3227.48%1.69%-1.05%-2.78%
77
Outperform
$3.44B17.9617.80%1.33%8.62%3.59%
76
Outperform
$7.21B12.9917.13%2.53%3.80%-3.18%
75
Outperform
$6.66B24.2724.23%1.23%0.55%1.85%
74
Outperform
$4.75B64.31-26.27%20.00%-547.75%
71
Outperform
¥267.81B14.808.32%2.78%6.12%11.24%
67
Neutral
$4.64B29.8156.23%0.90%2.17%25.34%
* Industrials Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
MSA
MSA Safety
169.61
-4.49
-2.58%
BRC
Brady
72.32
1.85
2.63%
BCO
Brink's Company
110.23
7.34
7.13%
NSSC
Napco Security Technologies
30.49
-26.56
-46.56%
ADT
Adt
8.68
1.31
17.77%
REZI
Resideo Technologies
31.38
12.38
65.16%

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.

The most recent analyst rating on (MSA) stock is a Hold with a $200.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on MSA Safety stock, see the MSA Stock Forecast page.

Executive/Board ChangesShareholder Meetings
MSA Safety Elects New Directors at Annual Meeting
Neutral
May 14, 2025

At the annual meeting of shareholders held on May 13, 2025, MSA Safety Incorporated elected Robert A. Bruggeworth, Gregory B. Jordan, and William R. Sperry as directors to serve until 2028. Ernst & Young LLP was selected as the independent registered public accounting firm for 2025, and the advisory vote approved the executive compensation for the company’s named executive officers.

The most recent analyst rating on (MSA) stock is a Buy with a $200.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on MSA Safety stock, see the MSA Stock Forecast page.

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 14, 2025