Fact based stock research
MSA Safety (NYSE:MSA)
US5534981064
How to read the ranks
For every stock, we judge its performance against its peers and rank it on a scale of 1 to 100. The higher the rank, the better the stock performs than its peers. And, we do this for six investment strategies:
Value - shows how good of a value the stock is. Green is "inexpensive"; red is "expensive".
Growth - shows a company's growth potential. Green is "high growth" expected; red is "tough times ahead".
Safety - relates to the amount of debt a company has. Green is low debt level; red is high debt level.
Combined Financial - this isn't an average of the first three ranks but rather a consolidated view across several financial indicators. Green = good; red = tread carefully.
(NEW) Sentiment - quantifies professional analyst ratings and holdings as well as market pulse. Green = positive sentiment; red = skepticism (Only available to Premium Subscribers).
(NEW) 360° View - the ultimate rating with all financial and non-financial indicators.
MSA Safety stock research in summary
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Combined Rank of 50 (better than 50% compared with investment alternatives), MSA Safety (Office Services & Supplies, USA) shares have above-average financial characteristics compared with similar stocks. Shares of MSA Safety are a good value (attractively priced) with a consolidated Value Rank of 55 (better than 55% of alternatives) but show below-average growth (Growth Rank of 45), and are riskily financed (Safety Rank of 39), which means above-average debt burdens. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: A Combined Rank of 50, is a buy recommendation based on MSA Safety's financial characteristics. As the company MSA Safety's key financial metrics exhibit good value (Obermatt Value Rank of 55) but low growth (Obermatt Growth Rank of 45) and risky financing practices (Obermatt Safety Rank of 39), it may be a risky investment, because debt in times of crises can make things worse. The good value, better than 55% of comparable companies, may indicate the company's future is challenging. If you believe that low growth is temporary or just due to a specific current event, you may conclude that the good value of the stock provides an attractive investment opportunity. Obermatt Premium subscribers can further check the stock’s Sentiment Ranks, which also flow into the Obermatt 360° View for investors. ...read more
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360° Viewnew| Country | USA |
| Industry | Office Services & Supplies |
| Index | Dividends USA, Human Rights, S&P MIDCAP |
| Size class | Large |
18-Apr-2024. Stock data may be delayed. Log in or sign up to get the most recent research.
Analysts rarely agree on a stock’s future. So, who do you believe? Obermatt translates those collective views into a single Sentiment Rank. That plus the financial ranks give you the ultimate 360° View. Sign up to access them.
It’s easier said than done. When your stock drops, it’s easy to want to sell it and find a better performer. Think twice, or even three times, before trading. Those fees (especially the hidden ones) can eat up your gains.
Review the performance ranks of the individual metrics that form each investment strategy.
Research History: MSA Safety
| RESEARCH HISTORY | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VALUE | ||||||||
| VALUE | 52 |
|
67 |
|
57 |
|
55 |
|
| GROWTH | ||||||||
| GROWTH | 29 |
|
43 |
|
45 |
|
45 |
|
| SAFETY | ||||||||
| SAFETY | 60 |
|
73 |
|
48 |
|
39 |
|
| SENTIMENT | ||||||||
| SENTIMENT | n/a |
|
23 |
|
77 |
|
new |
|
| 360° VIEW | ||||||||
| 360° VIEW | n/a |
|
41 |
|
65 |
|
new |
|
Combined financial peformance in Detail
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Combined Rank of 50 (better than 50% compared with investment alternatives), MSA Safety (Office Services & Supplies, USA) shares have above-average financial characteristics compared with similar stocks. Shares of MSA Safety are a good value (attractively priced) with a consolidated Value Rank of 55 (better than 55% of alternatives) but show below-average growth (Growth Rank of 45), and are riskily financed (Safety Rank of 39), which means above-average debt burdens. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: A Combined Rank of 50, is a buy recommendation based on MSA Safety's financial characteristics. As the company MSA Safety's key financial metrics exhibit good value (Obermatt Value Rank of 55) but low growth (Obermatt Growth Rank of 45) and risky financing practices (Obermatt Safety Rank of 39), it may be a risky investment, because debt in times of crises can make things worse. The good value, better than 55% of comparable companies, may indicate the company's future is challenging. If you believe that low growth is temporary or just due to a specific current event, you may conclude that the good value of the stock provides an attractive investment opportunity. Obermatt Premium subscribers can further check the stock’s Sentiment Ranks, which also flow into the Obermatt 360° View for investors. ...read more
| RESEARCH HISTORY | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VALUE | ||||||||
| VALUE | 52 |
|
67 |
|
57 |
|
55 |
|
| GROWTH | ||||||||
| GROWTH | 29 |
|
43 |
|
45 |
|
45 |
|
| SAFETY | ||||||||
| SAFETY | 60 |
|
73 |
|
48 |
|
39 |
|
| COMBINED | ||||||||
| COMBINED | 41 |
|
67 |
|
52 |
|
50 |
|
Value Metrics in Detail
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Value Rank of 55 (better than 55% compared with alternatives), MSA Safety shares are more attractively priced than the majority of comparable stocks. The Value Rank is based on consolidating four value indicators, with three out of four indicators below average for MSA Safety. Only the metric dividend yield has an above-average rank, reflecting that dividend practices are expected to be higher than 91% of comparable companies, making the stock an attractive buy for dividend investors. However, dividend investors may get disappointed because all other critical financial indicators are below the market median: Price-to-Sales is 29 which means that the stock price compared with what market professionals expect for future profits is higher than 71% of comparable companies, indicating a low value concerning MSA Safety's sales levels. The same is valid for Price-to-Profit (also referred to as price-earnings, P/E) with a rank of 27 which means that the stock price compared with what market professionals expect for future profit levels is higher than 73% of comparable companies. In addition, Price-to-Book (also referred to as market-to-book ratio) with a Price-to-Book Rank of 19 is also low. Compared with invested capital, the stock price is higher than for 81% of comparable investments. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: The overall picture with a consolidated Value Rank of 55, is a buy recommendation based on MSA Safety's stock price compared with the company's operational size and dividend yields. Should dividend investors pick MSA Safety? The company-reported financials speak against it. The company is expensive compared with revenue and invested capital levels, two reliable company size indicators. In addition, it currently has a low level of profits. How can future dividends be paid in the case that profits remain low? Dividend investors should choose MSA Safety only if they reasonably expect the low current profit levels to be transitory. We recommend further analyzing the stock with Obermatt’s Value, Safety, and Sentiment Ranks, including the 360° View, before making an investment decision, which is essential in this case, as the financial indicators are inconclusive. ...read more
| VALUE METRICS | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PRICE VS. REVENUES (P/S) | ||||||||
| PRICE VS. REVENUES (P/S) | 48 |
|
54 |
|
37 |
|
29 |
|
| PRICE VS. PROFITS (P/E) | ||||||||
| PRICE VS. PROFITS (P/E) | 50 |
|
32 |
|
39 |
|
27 |
|
| PRICE VS. CAPITAL (Market-to-Book) | ||||||||
| PRICE VS. CAPITAL (Market-to-Book) | 29 |
|
30 |
|
16 |
|
19 |
|
| DIVIDEND YIELD | ||||||||
| DIVIDEND YIELD | 73 |
|
94 |
|
92 |
|
91 |
|
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: VALUE | ||||||||
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: VALUE | 52 |
|
67 |
|
57 |
|
55 |
|
Growth Metrics in Detail
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Growth Rank of 45 (better than 45% compared with alternatives), MSA Safety shows a below-average growth dynamic in its industry. There is limited momentum in this company. The Growth Rank is based on consolidating four value indicators, with half of the indicators below and half above average for MSA Safety. Profit Growth has a rank of 55, which means that currently professionals expect the company to grow its profits more than 55% of its competitors. This is a good sign for shareholders, which is confirmed by an above-average Stock Returns rank of 91 (above 91% of alternative investments). But Sales Growth has a below the median rank of 14, which means that, currently, professionals expect the company to grow less than 86% of its competitors, and Capital Growth also has a lower rank of 42. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: The overall picture with a consolidated Growth Rank of 45, is a hold recommendation for growth and momentum investors. Because revenues and invested capital are the more solid growth indicators, the positive development on the profit side is less relevant. It may have been caused by cost-cutting, which may be a negative growth indicator. Finally, the above-average stock returns recently are a thing of the past and not a good indicator of future returns. Investors should be confident that the cost-cutting initiative leading to higher profits is to benefit the company's future. If not, there is little growth momentum, and investment is only advisable if the Value Ranks suggest a good investment timing for MSA Safety. While momentum is a popular investment factor, the value aspect might be the more important one, in the longer term. We recommend analyzing the stock with Obermatt’s Value, Safety, and Sentiment Ranks to arrive at a 360° View of the stock purchase case, especially since the growth performance is mixed here. ...read more
| GROWTH METRICS | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| REVENUE GROWTH | ||||||||
| REVENUE GROWTH | 25 |
|
37 |
|
25 |
|
14 |
|
| PROFIT GROWTH | ||||||||
| PROFIT GROWTH | 48 |
|
40 |
|
75 |
|
55 |
|
| CAPITAL GROWTH | ||||||||
| CAPITAL GROWTH | n/a |
|
57 |
|
7 |
|
42 |
|
| STOCK RETURNS | ||||||||
| STOCK RETURNS | 46 |
|
69 |
|
71 |
|
91 |
|
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: GROWTH | ||||||||
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: GROWTH | 29 |
|
43 |
|
45 |
|
45 |
|
Safety Metrics in Detail
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Safety Rank of 39 (better than 39% compared with alternatives), the company MSA Safety has financing practices on the riskier side, which means that their overall debt burden is above the industry average. This doesn't mean that the business of MSA Safety is also risky, it only means that the company is on the riskier side in respect to bankruptcy in case things turn sour, assuming that public reporting is correct. The Safety Rank is based on consolidating three financing indicators, with just one indicator above average for MSA Safety. Liquidity is at 81, meaning the company generates more profit to service its debt than 81% of its competitors. This indicates that the company is safer when it comes to debt service. But Refinancing is riskier at a rank of 14, which means that the portion of the debt that is about to be refinanced is above average. It has more debt in the refinancing stage than 86% of its competitors. Leverage is also high at a rank of 41, which means that the company has an above-average debt-to-equity ratio. It has more debt than 59% of its competitors. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: With a consolidated Safety Rank of 39 (worse than 61% compared with alternatives), MSA Safety has a financing structure that is riskier than that of its competitors. High Leverage (a low Obermatt Leverage Rank) is good in good times, because it usually indicates that shareholders get higher returns. The good Liquidity performance of the company is an indicator that this is the case. However, if you expect an economic downturn, you may stay clear of this stock because they have an above-average debt level that needs refinancing soon. If the company is sailing with good winds, as may be visible from the Growth and Sentiment performance, the refinancing risk may be lower than the low Refinancing rank suggests. ...read more
| SAFETY METRICS | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LEVERAGE | ||||||||
| LEVERAGE | 42 |
|
59 |
|
36 |
|
41 |
|
| REFINANCING | ||||||||
| REFINANCING | 58 |
|
21 |
|
17 |
|
14 |
|
| LIQUIDITY | ||||||||
| LIQUIDITY | 48 |
|
87 |
|
88 |
|
81 |
|
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: SAFETY | ||||||||
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: SAFETY | 60 |
|
73 |
|
48 |
|
39 |
|
Sentiment Metrics in Detail
| SENTIMENT | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ANALYST OPINIONS | ||||||||
| ANALYST OPINIONS | n/a |
|
52 |
|
95 |
|
new |
|
| OPINIONS CHANGE | ||||||||
| OPINIONS CHANGE | n/a |
|
13 |
|
50 |
|
new |
|
| PRO HOLDINGS | ||||||||
| PRO HOLDINGS | n/a |
|
69 |
|
81 |
|
new |
|
| MARKET PULSE | ||||||||
| MARKET PULSE | n/a |
|
32 |
|
24 |
|
new |
|
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: SENTIMENT | ||||||||
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: SENTIMENT | n/a |
|
23 |
|
77 |
|
new |
|
Stock analysis by the purely fact based Obermatt Method for MSA Safety from April 18, 2024.
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