What Makes MSA Safety (MSA) an Investment Bet?

Ruane, Cunniff LP, an investment adviser managing Sequoia Strategy, released its Q4 2025 investor letter. A copy of the letter can be downloaded here. Sequoia Strategy returned 9% in Q4 compared to 2.7% for the S&P 500 Index. The Strategy delivered a return of 21.9% in 2025 versus 17.9% for the Index. In a year characterized by both strength and volatility, the Strategy outperformed the Index. The firm strives to invest in high-quality, fundamentally and financially strong businesses at reasonable prices. The Strategy is concentrated while it covers a wide range of sectors, business styles, and regions. Please review the Strategy’s top five holdings to gain insights into their key selections for 2025.

In its fourth-quarter 2025 investor letter, Sequoia Strategy highlighted stocks such as MSA Safety Incorporated (NYSE:MSA). The Strategy added MSA Safety Incorporated (NYSE:MSA), a leading manufacturer of workplace safety equipment, to its portfolio during the quarter. On February 6, 2026, MSA Safety Incorporated (NYSE:MSA) stock closed at $193.07 per share. One-month return of MSA Safety Incorporated (NYSE:MSA) was 11.17%, and its shares are up 17.03% over the past twelve months. MSA Safety Incorporated (NYSE:MSA) has a market capitalization of $7.617 billion.

Sequoia Strategy stated the following regarding MSA Safety Incorporated (NYSE:MSA) in its fourth quarter 2025 investor letter:

"Notable new positions added this past year included MSA Safety Incorporated (NYSE:MSA), Accenture Plc, and Align Technology, Inc. We introduce each of these investments below.

MSA Safety, Inc. (“MSA”), headquartered in Cranberry Township, PA, is a leading manufacturer of premium workplace safety equipment for government customers – primarily fire departments – and commercial customers. Its products include the self-contained breathing apparatuses (“SCBA”) used by firefighters, fixed and portable gas detectors used in the oil & gas space and various other industries, and a variety of personal protective equipment such as fall protection and hard hats. In all but one of its core product categories, MSA is the #1 or #2 player. The company’s total revenues amount to roughly $2 billion, and its market capitalization currently stands at approximately $7 billion.

Workplace safety is a typically stable and generally attractive market. Because products protect against serious injury and death, customers are willing to pay a premium for products they know and trust. Over its 111-year history, MSA has established itself as a top brand in workplace safety due to its track record of industry-leading, customer-centric innovation. The company benefits from a growing focus on safety, as regulation and employer behavior trend towards higher safety standards over time..." (Click here to read the full text)

MSA Safety Incorporated (NYSE:MSA) is not on our list of 30 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds. According to our database, 20 hedge fund portfolios held MSA Safety Incorporated (NYSE:MSA) at the end of the third quarter, the same as in the previous quarter. While we acknowledge the potential of MSA Safety Incorporated (NYSE:MSA) as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock.

In another article, we covered MSA Safety Incorporated (NYSE:MSA) and shared Riverwater Partners views on the company last quarter. In addition, please check out our hedge fund investor letters Q4 2025 page for more investor letters from hedge funds and other leading investors.

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Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.