Tearsheet

MSA Safety (MSA)


Market Price (12/4/2025): $163.19 | Market Cap: $6.4 Bil
Sector: Industrials | Industry: Office Services & Supplies

MSA Safety (MSA)


Market Price (12/4/2025): $163.19
Market Cap: $6.4 Bil
Sector: Industrials
Industry: Office Services & Supplies

Investment Highlights Why It Matters Which of these 2 stories sounds closer for this stock?

1. Generates cash flow

The stock generated 4% or more of the share price (called cash flow yield), and shows moderate 10-15% or more growth.

2. Riding a trend

Think Tesla during the pandemic of 2020 when EVs were riding a cultural high, or Nvidia in the current AI boom, or even Figma. These companies don’t have enough yield, or, enough growth, or both - however - they are riding a trend. They have momentum. These can be more volatile - they don’t have the floor of strong cash flow


0 Attractive operating margins
Op Mgn LTMOperating Margin = Operating Income / Revenue Reflects profitability before taxes and before impact of capital structure (interest payments). is 21%
Weak multi-year price returns
2Y Excs Rtn is -52%, 3Y Excs Rtn is -50%
 
1 Attractive cash flow generation
CFO/Rev LTMCash Flow from Operations / Revenue (Sales), Last Twelve Months (LTM) is 19%, FCF/Rev LTMFree Cash Flow / Revenue (Sales), Last Twelve Months (LTM) is 15%
  
2 Low stock price volatility
Vol 12M is 24%
  
3 Megatrend and thematic drivers
Megatrends include Automation & Robotics, Renewable Energy Transition, and Water Infrastructure. Themes include Industrial Robotics, Show more.
  
0 Attractive operating margins
Op Mgn LTMOperating Margin = Operating Income / Revenue Reflects profitability before taxes and before impact of capital structure (interest payments). is 21%
1 Attractive cash flow generation
CFO/Rev LTMCash Flow from Operations / Revenue (Sales), Last Twelve Months (LTM) is 19%, FCF/Rev LTMFree Cash Flow / Revenue (Sales), Last Twelve Months (LTM) is 15%
2 Low stock price volatility
Vol 12M is 24%
3 Megatrend and thematic drivers
Megatrends include Automation & Robotics, Renewable Energy Transition, and Water Infrastructure. Themes include Industrial Robotics, Show more.
4 Weak multi-year price returns
2Y Excs Rtn is -52%, 3Y Excs Rtn is -50%

Valuation, Metrics & Events

MSA Stock


Why The Stock Moved


Qualitative Assessment

AI Generated Analysis | Feedback

Here are five key points highlighting why MSA Safety's stock (MSA) moved by -4.1% between August 31, 2025, and December 4, 2025:

1. Revised Sales Outlook and Fire Service Headwinds: Despite reporting strong third-quarter results, MSA Safety maintained a cautious low-single-digit organic sales growth outlook for 2025. This was partly attributed to "timing headwinds in the fire service" caused by the delayed announcement of the annual Assistance to Firefighter Grants program in the U.S. and the U.S. government shutdown, which are expected to push some fourth-quarter sales into 2026.

2. Margin Pressures from Macro Factors: The company's third-quarter margins faced pressure from ongoing inflation, tariffs, and transactional foreign exchange rates, despite the implementation of pricing and productivity initiatives to mitigate these impacts.

Show more

Stock Movement Drivers

Return vs. Risk


Price Returns Compared

 202020212022202320242025Total [1]
Returns
MSA Return20%2%-3%19%-1%0%40%
Peers Return25%10%-10%18%35%6%110%
S&P 500 Return16%27%-19%24%23%16%112%

Monthly Win Rates [3]
MSA Win Rate58%50%50%42%50%50% 
Peers Win Rate62%55%42%43%58%52% 
S&P 500 Win Rate58%75%42%67%75%70% 

Max Drawdowns [4]
MSA Max Drawdown-31%-6%-27%-11%-5%-21% 
Peers Max Drawdown-38%-6%-34%-10%-12%-24% 
S&P 500 Max Drawdown-31%-1%-25%-1%-2%-15% 


[1] Cumulative total returns since the beginning of 2020
[2] Peers: HON, MMM, AXON, DD, GNTX. See MSA Returns vs. Peers.
[3] Win Rate = % of calendar months in which monthly returns were positive
[4] Max drawdown represents maximum peak-to-trough decline within a year
[5] 2025 data is for the year up to 12/3/2025 (YTD)

How Low Can It Go

Unique KeyEventMSAS&P 500
2022 Inflation Shock2022 Inflation Shock  
2022 Inflation Shock% Loss% Loss-36.6%-25.4%
2022 Inflation Shock% Gain to Breakeven% Gain to Breakeven57.8%34.1%
2022 Inflation ShockTime to BreakevenTime to Breakeven272 days464 days
2020 Covid Pandemic2020 Covid Pandemic  
2020 Covid Pandemic% Loss% Loss-38.4%-33.9%
2020 Covid Pandemic% Gain to Breakeven% Gain to Breakeven62.3%51.3%
2020 Covid PandemicTime to BreakevenTime to Breakeven199 days148 days
2018 Correction2018 Correction  
2018 Correction% Loss% Loss-20.6%-19.8%
2018 Correction% Gain to Breakeven% Gain to Breakeven26.0%24.7%
2018 CorrectionTime to BreakevenTime to Breakeven109 days120 days
2008 Global Financial Crisis2008 Global Financial Crisis  
2008 Global Financial Crisis% Loss% Loss-71.5%-56.8%
2008 Global Financial Crisis% Gain to Breakeven% Gain to Breakeven250.7%131.3%
2008 Global Financial CrisisTime to BreakevenTime to Breakeven1838 days1480 days

Compare to HON, MMM, AXON, DD, GNTX


In The Past

MSA Safety's stock fell -36.6% during the 2022 Inflation Shock from a high on 2/16/2021. A -36.6% loss requires a 57.8% gain to breakeven.

Preserve Wealth

Limiting losses and compounding gains is essential to preserving wealth over time.

Asset Allocation

Actively managed asset allocation strategies protect wealth. Learn more.

About MSA Safety (MSA)

Better Bets than MSA Safety (MSA)

Trade Ideas

Select past ideas related to MSA. For more, see Trefis Trade Ideas.

Unique KeyDateTickerCompanyCategoryTrade Strategy6M Fwd Rtn12M Fwd Rtn12M Max DD
CNM_11212025_Dip_Buyer_FCFYield11212025CNMCore & MainDip BuyDB | FCFY OPMDip Buy with High FCF Yield and High Margin
Buying dips for companies with high FCF yield and meaningfully high operating margin
7.3%7.3%-1.6%
VRRM_11212025_Dip_Buyer_FCFYield11212025VRRMVerra MobilityDip BuyDB | FCFY OPMDip Buy with High FCF Yield and High Margin
Buying dips for companies with high FCF yield and meaningfully high operating margin
2.3%2.3%-1.2%
LII_11212025_Dip_Buyer_ValueBuy11212025LIILennox InternationalDip BuyDB | P/E OPMDip Buy with Low PE and High Margin
Buying dips for companies with tame PE and meaningfully high operating margin
4.8%4.8%0.0%
DD_11212025_Dip_Buyer_High_FCF_Yield_ExInd_DE_RevG11212025DDDuPont de NemoursDip BuyDB | FCF Yield | Low D/EDip Buy with High Free Cash Flow Yield
Buying dips for companies with significant free cash flow yield (FCF / Market Cap) and reasonable debt / market cap
3.1%3.1%-0.2%
ADP_11212025_Monopoly_xInd_xCD_Getting_Cheaper11212025ADPAutomatic Data ProcessingMonopolyMY | Getting CheaperMonopoly-Like with P/S Decline
Large cap with monopoly-like margins or cash flow generation and getting cheaper based on P/S multiple
1.6%1.6%-1.2%
MSA_12312018_Quality_Momentum_RoomToRun_10%12312018MSAMSA SafetyQualityQ | Momentum | UpsideQuality Stocks with Momentum and Upside
Buying quality stocks with strong momentum but still having room to run
12.5%36.1%-2.0%
Unique KeyDateTickerCompanyCategoryTrade Strategy6M Fwd Rtn12M Fwd Rtn12M Max DD
CNM_11212025_Dip_Buyer_FCFYield11212025CNMCore & MainDip BuyDB | FCFY OPMDip Buy with High FCF Yield and High Margin
Buying dips for companies with high FCF yield and meaningfully high operating margin
7.3%7.3%-1.6%
VRRM_11212025_Dip_Buyer_FCFYield11212025VRRMVerra MobilityDip BuyDB | FCFY OPMDip Buy with High FCF Yield and High Margin
Buying dips for companies with high FCF yield and meaningfully high operating margin
2.3%2.3%-1.2%
LII_11212025_Dip_Buyer_ValueBuy11212025LIILennox InternationalDip BuyDB | P/E OPMDip Buy with Low PE and High Margin
Buying dips for companies with tame PE and meaningfully high operating margin
4.8%4.8%0.0%
DD_11212025_Dip_Buyer_High_FCF_Yield_ExInd_DE_RevG11212025DDDuPont de NemoursDip BuyDB | FCF Yield | Low D/EDip Buy with High Free Cash Flow Yield
Buying dips for companies with significant free cash flow yield (FCF / Market Cap) and reasonable debt / market cap
3.1%3.1%-0.2%
ADP_11212025_Monopoly_xInd_xCD_Getting_Cheaper11212025ADPAutomatic Data ProcessingMonopolyMY | Getting CheaperMonopoly-Like with P/S Decline
Large cap with monopoly-like margins or cash flow generation and getting cheaper based on P/S multiple
1.6%1.6%-1.2%
MSA_12312018_Quality_Momentum_RoomToRun_10%12312018MSAMSA SafetyQualityQ | Momentum | UpsideQuality Stocks with Momentum and Upside
Buying quality stocks with strong momentum but still having room to run
12.5%36.1%-2.0%

Recent Active Movers

Recent Active Movers

More From Trefis

Peer Comparisons for MSA Safety

Peers to compare with:

Financials

MSAHONMMMAXONDDGNTXMedian
NameMSA Safe.Honeywel.3M Axon Ent.DuPont d.Gentex  
Mkt Price163.12193.47173.09543.5539.6623.00168.11
Mkt Cap6.4122.992.442.616.65.029.6
Rev LTM1,86440,67024,8252,55813,5182,4328,038
Op Inc LTM3917,6925,082-282,1434631,303
FCF LTM2836,1641,5881451,316471893
FCF 3Y Avg1735,2122,393166658376517
CFO LTM3497,4852,5412442,0646161,340
CFO 3Y Avg2286,3363,7152411,9865331,259

Growth & Margins

MSAHONMMMAXONDDGNTXMedian
NameMSA Safe.Honeywel.3M Axon Ent.DuPont d.Gentex  
Rev Chg LTM3.3%7.5%1.1%32.0%14.0%3.0%5.4%
Rev Chg 3Y Avg7.8%5.2%-10.3%33.7%1.3%9.9%6.5%
Rev Chg Q8.3%7.0%3.5%30.6%7.3%7.7%7.5%
QoQ Delta Rev Chg LTM2.0%1.7%0.9%7.0%1.6%2.0%1.8%
Op Mgn LTM21.0%18.9%20.5%-1.1%15.9%19.0%19.0%
Op Mgn 3Y Avg21.3%19.5%1.1%4.8%14.9%20.4%17.2%
QoQ Delta Op Mgn LTM-0.3%-0.9%1.0%-1.0%0.1%-0.5%-0.4%
CFO/Rev LTM18.7%18.4%10.2%9.5%15.3%25.3%16.8%
CFO/Rev 3Y Avg12.4%16.4%13.8%12.4%15.9%22.8%14.8%
FCF/Rev LTM15.2%15.2%6.4%5.7%9.7%19.4%12.4%
FCF/Rev 3Y Avg9.4%13.5%8.8%8.7%5.2%16.1%9.1%

Valuation

MSAHONMMMAXONDDGNTXMedian
NameMSA Safe.Honeywel.3M Axon Ent.DuPont d.Gentex  
Mkt Cap6.4122.992.442.616.65.029.6
P/S3.63.33.322.02.42.53.3
P/EBIT16.815.216.0237.446.313.216.4
P/E24.121.824.4218.9-42.316.122.9
P/CFO19.317.932.6230.415.89.918.6
Total Yield4.5%6.8%5.0%0.5%-0.3%8.0%4.7%
Dividend Yield0.3%2.2%0.9%0.0%2.1%1.8%1.3%
FCF Yield 3Y Avg2.5%4.0%4.7%0.6%1.9%5.7%3.2%
D/E0.10.30.20.00.30.00.1
Net D/E0.10.20.1-0.00.2-0.00.1

Returns

MSAHONMMMAXONDDGNTXMedian
NameMSA Safe.Honeywel.3M Axon Ent.DuPont d.Gentex  
1M Rtn4.9%-1.6%7.2%-24.9%14.9%-1.2%1.8%
3M Rtn-3.2%-3.5%14.4%-25.1%31.9%-16.5%-3.4%
6M Rtn-0.5%-8.8%19.0%-30.3%47.5%8.9%4.2%
12M Rtn-5.2%-7.6%34.5%-18.9%22.2%-22.1%-6.4%
3Y Rtn19.5%-0.1%82.0%187.9%47.3%-15.0%33.4%
1M Excs Rtn5.0%-1.6%7.2%-24.9%14.9%-1.2%1.9%
3M Excs Rtn-10.4%-9.4%6.4%-30.9%23.9%-23.2%-9.9%
6M Excs Rtn-15.2%-23.5%4.2%-45.0%32.8%-5.8%-10.5%
12M Excs Rtn-18.5%-23.5%18.5%-29.5%7.7%-36.8%-21.0%
3Y Excs Rtn-50.2%-71.4%12.7%122.7%-20.1%-87.9%-35.2%

Financials

Segment Financials

Revenue by Segment

$ Mil20242023202220212020
Fire Service684579   
Detection635530   
Industrial Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and Other469419   
Breathing Apparatus  322329318
Fall Protection  118103126
Firefighter Helmets & Protective Apparel  204162178
Fixed Gas & Flame Detection  299287293
Industrial Head Protection  144126145
Other  151198173
Portable Gas Detection  163143169
Total1,7881,5281,4001,3481,402


Price Behavior

Short Interest

Short Interest: As Of Date11142025
Short Interest: Shares Quantity1,363,986
Short Interest: % Change Since 1031202512.9%
Average Daily Volume211,335
Days-to-Cover Short Interest6.45
Basic Shares Quantity39,168,000
Short % of Basic Shares3.5%

SEC Filings

Expand for More

Report DateFiling DateFiling
93020251029202510-Q 9/30/2025
6302025805202510-Q 6/30/2025
3312025501202510-Q 3/31/2025
12312024214202510-K 12/31/2024
93020241024202410-Q 9/30/2024
6302024725202410-Q 6/30/2024
3312024430202410-Q 3/31/2024
12312023216202410-K 12/31/2023
93020231025202310-Q 9/30/2023
6302023801202310-Q 6/30/2023
3312023502202310-Q 3/31/2023
12312022216202310-K 12/31/2022
93020221027202210-Q 9/30/2022
6302022728202210-Q 6/30/2022
3312022429202210-Q 3/31/2022
12312021218202210-K 12/31/2021