MSA Safety Incorporated Beat Analyst Estimates: See What The Consensus Is Forecasting For This Year

MSA Safety Incorporated (NYSE:MSA) last week reported its latest first-quarter results, which makes it a good time for investors to dive in and see if the business is performing in line with expectations. MSA Safety missed revenue estimates by 3.6%, coming in atUS$413m, although statutory earnings per share (EPS) of US$1.47 beat expectations, coming in 8.1% ahead of analyst estimates. The analysts typically update their forecasts at each earnings report, and we can judge from their estimates whether their view of the company has changed or if there are any new concerns to be aware of. So we collected the latest post-earnings statutory consensus estimates to see what could be in store for next year.

Check out our latest analysis for MSA Safety

Taking into account the latest results, the consensus forecast from MSA Safety's two analysts is for revenues of US$1.86b in 2024. This reflects a reasonable 3.4% improvement in revenue compared to the last 12 months. Statutory earnings per share are predicted to rise 9.4% to US$7.41. Before this earnings report, the analysts had been forecasting revenues of US$1.88b and earnings per share (EPS) of US$7.24 in 2024. So the consensus seems to have become somewhat more optimistic on MSA Safety's earnings potential following these results.

There's been no major changes to the consensus price target of US$198, suggesting that the improved earnings per share outlook is not enough to have a long-term positive impact on the stock's valuation.

Of course, another way to look at these forecasts is to place them into context against the industry itself. The period to the end of 2024 brings more of the same, according to the analysts, with revenue forecast to display 4.6% growth on an annualised basis. That is in line with its 5.6% annual growth over the past five years. Compare this with the broader industry (in aggregate), which analyst estimates suggest will see revenues grow 6.7% annually. So it's pretty clear that MSA Safety is expected to grow slower than similar companies in the same industry.

The Bottom Line

The most important thing here is that the analysts upgraded their earnings per share estimates, suggesting that there has been a clear increase in optimism towards MSA Safety following these results. On the plus side, there were no major changes to revenue estimates; although forecasts imply they will perform worse than the wider industry. There was no real change to the consensus price target, suggesting that the intrinsic value of the business has not undergone any major changes with the latest estimates.

Following on from that line of thought, we think that the long-term prospects of the business are much more relevant than next year's earnings. We have analyst estimates for MSA Safety going out as far as 2025, and you can see them free on our platform here.

And what about risks? Every company has them, and we've spotted 2 warning signs for MSA Safety you should know about.

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This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.