MSA Safety Q3 Sales Rise 14.5% With Autronica; Adjusted EPS Up 7.7% to $2.09
MSA Safety grew third-quarter sales 14.5% on the strength of its Autronica Fire and Security acquisition, but GAAP profit fell as deal costs weighed on results. Net sales rose to $536.4 million from $468.4 million a year earlier, according to its 8-K.
Net income declined 16.1% to $58.4 million, or $1.51 a diluted share, from $69.6 million, or $1.77 a share. The company attributed the drop to Autronica acquisition costs. Excluding those and other items, adjusted earnings rose 7.7% to $2.09 a share from $1.94.
Organic sales rose 6%, the company said. Adjusted EBITDA grew 9.9% to $130.7 million, though the margin narrowed to 24.4% from 25.4%. GAAP operating income fell to $88.2 million from $94.3 million, while adjusted operating income rose to $114.9 million from $103.7 million.
"The MSA team continued to advance our Accelerate strategy in the third quarter, delivering 15% sales growth," President and Chief Executive Officer Steve Blanco said.
Autronica deal closes
MSA completed its purchase of Autronica Fire and Security for $563 million, net of cash acquired. Autronica sales are included in the Detection product group from July 9 onward. Detection sales rose 22.4% to $233.9 million, Fire Service sales rose 9.2% to $173.2 million, and Industrial PPE and Other sales rose 9.0% to $129.3 million.
Blanco also pointed to the launch of the G1 City Edition breathing apparatus and an ALTAIR io 6 order that was the company's largest MSA+ connected safety order to date.
Cash, debt and outlook
Free cash flow fell 32.1% to $68.2 million from $100.5 million. To fund the deal, MSA's long-term debt rose to $1.09 billion at Sept. 30 from $572.7 million at the end of 2025.
The company paid $20.8 million in dividends and bought back $12.7 million of stock during the quarter.
"We are maintaining our full-year sales outlook of low-double-digit reported growth," Chief Financial Officer Julie Beck said, adding that net leverage is within the company's target range.
By the numbers
- Net sales: $536.4 million, up 14.5%
- Diluted EPS: $1.51 vs. $1.77
- Adjusted EPS: $2.09, up 7.7%
- Adjusted EBITDA: $130.7 million, up 9.9%
- Free cash flow: $68.2 million
Sources
- MSA Safety Form 8-K with third-quarter 2026 earnings release, filed Nov. 2, 2026 (accession 0000066570-26-000031)
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