MSA Safety (NYSE: MSA) boosts buyback with new $500M share repurchase plan

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

MSA Safety Incorporated announced that its Board of Directors approved a new share repurchase program authorizing up to $500 million of the company’s common stock. This new program, approved on February 20, 2026, replaces the prior $200 million authorization from 2024 and has no termination date.

Repurchases may occur at the company’s discretion through open market purchases, block trades, privately negotiated transactions and trading plans under Rules 10b5-1 and 10b-18. The company is not obligated to repurchase a specific number of shares and may modify, suspend or discontinue the program at any time.

Management highlighted MSA Safety’s long-standing cash generation record and reiterated its expectation of annual free cash flow conversion in the 90–100% range as it advances its Accelerate growth strategy. The company reported 2025 revenues of $1.9 billion and employs approximately 5,300 people across more than 40 international locations.

Positive

• New $500 million share repurchase authorization replaces a prior $200 million program, is open-ended with no termination date, and indicates Board confidence in the company’s cash generation and long-term strategy.

Negative

• None.

Insights

Equity Capital Allocation Analyst

MSA adds a larger, open-ended $500M buyback authorization.

MSA Safety has authorized a new share repurchase program of up to $500 million, replacing its prior $200 million plan. The Board did not set a termination date, giving the company broad flexibility in timing and pacing repurchases.

The authorization sits alongside management’s expectation of 90–100% annual free cash flow conversion as it executes the Accelerate strategy. With $1.9 billion in 2025 revenue, the size of the program is meaningful relative to the company’s scale and signals confidence in ongoing cash generation.

Actual repurchase activity will depend on market conditions, applicable securities laws and other factors, as the company is not obligated to buy a specific number of shares and can modify, suspend or discontinue the program. Subsequent disclosures in future company filings may detail execution under this authorization.

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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

________________

FORM 8-K

________________

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): February 26, 2026 (February 20, 2026)

MSA SAFETY INCORPORATED

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Pennsylvania			1-15579			46-4914539
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)			(Commission File Number)			(IRS Employer Identification Number)

1000 Cranberry Woods Drive
Cranberry Township,			Pennsylvania						16066-5207
(Address of principal executive offices)									(Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: 724-776-8600

Former name or former address, if changed since last report: N/A

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

☐ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

☐ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class			Trading Symbol(s)			Name of each exchange on which registered
Common stock, no par value			MSA			New York Stock Exchange

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (17 CFR §230.405) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (17 CFR §240.12b-2).

Emerging growth company ☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

Item 8.01 Other Events

On February 20, 2026, the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of MSA Safety Incorporated (the “Company”) approved a new stock repurchase program to replace the Company’s existing program. The Board did not set a termination date for the new program.

The new program authorizes up to $500 million in repurchases of Company common stock. The timing, manner, price and amount of any repurchases under the program will be determined by the Company in its discretion. Acquisitions pursuant to the program may be made from time to time through a combination of open market repurchases, privately negotiated transactions, through block trades and pursuant to any trading plan that may be adopted in accordance with Rules 10b5-1 and/or 10b-18 of the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company is not obligated to repurchase any specific number of shares and the program may be modified, suspended or discontinued at any time. A press release announcing the repurchase program was issued and is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated by reference herein.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) The following exhibits are furnished with this report on Form 8-K.

Exhibit No.			Description
99.1			MSA Safety Incorporated Press Release dated February 26, 2026.
104			Cover Page Interactive Data File (the cover page XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document)

SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

MSA SAFETY INCORPORATED
(Registrant)
By						/s/ Julie A. Beck
						Julie A. Beck
						Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

February 26, 2026

EXHIBIT 99.1

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FROM: MSA Safety Incorporated

Ticker: MSA (NYSE)

Media Relations Contact: Mark Deasy (412) 559-8154

Investor Relations Contact: Larry De Maria – (917) 245-7463

MSA Safety Announces Share Repurchase Program

PITTSBURGH, February 26, 2026 – MSA Safety Incorporated (NYSE: MSA) announced that on February 20, 2026, its Board of Directors authorized a new share repurchase program of up to $500 million of the company's common stock. The program replaces the previous $200 million share repurchase program, authorized in 2024. The timing, price and volume of the repurchases will be determined by market conditions, applicable securities laws and other factors. The Board did not set a termination date for the new program.

“MSA has a long-standing cash generation record,” commented Steve Blanco, MSA Safety President and Chief Executive Officer. “As we advance our Accelerate strategy to drive profitable growth, we expect to continue to deliver annual free cash flow conversion in the 90 to 100% range, in line with our targets. MSA is committed to a disciplined and balanced capital deployment strategy. The new share repurchase authorization reflects the Board’s confidence in our ability to execute our long-term strategy and create shareholder value, while staying true to our mission of helping to protect workers and safeguard facilities around the world.”

About MSA Safety

MSA Safety Incorporated (NYSE: MSA) is the global leader in advanced safety products, technologies and solutions. Driven by its singular mission of safety, the Company has been at the forefront of safety innovation since 1914, protecting workers and facility infrastructure around the world across a broad range of diverse end markets while creating sustainable value for shareholders. With 2025 revenues of $1.9 billion, MSA Safety is headquartered in Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania and employs a team of approximately 5,300 associates across its more than 40 international locations. For more information, please visit www.MSASafety.com.

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Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Except for historical information, certain matters discussed in this press release may be "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements relate to future events or our future financial performance and involve various assumptions, known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by words such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “predicts,” “potential” or other comparable words. Actual results, performance or outcomes may differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements and may not align with historical performance and events due to a number of factors, including those discussed in the sections of our annual report on Form 10-K entitled “Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” and “Risk Factors,” and those discussed in our Form 10-Q quarterly reports filed after such annual report. MSA’s SEC filings are readily obtainable at no charge at www.sec.gov, as well as on its own investor relations website at http://investors.MSAsafety.com. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements, and caution should be exercised against placing undue reliance upon such statements, which are based only on information currently available to us and speak only as of the date hereof. We are under no duty to update publicly any of the forward-looking statements after the date of this earnings press release, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

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FAQ

What did MSA Safety (MSA) announce regarding share repurchases?

MSA Safety’s Board authorized a new share repurchase program of up to $500 million of common stock. The plan replaces a prior $200 million authorization and has no set termination date, giving management flexibility in how and when to execute buybacks.

How does MSA Safety’s new $500 million buyback compare to the prior program?

The new authorization allows up to $500 million of repurchases, more than doubling the previous $200 million program authorized in 2024. It replaces that earlier plan and provides a larger capacity for potential future share buybacks, subject to management’s discretion.

Is there a termination date for MSA Safety’s new share repurchase program?

The Board did not set a termination date for the new repurchase program. This open-ended structure allows MSA Safety to conduct buybacks over time as conditions permit, while retaining the ability to modify, suspend or discontinue the program whenever it deems appropriate.

How will MSA Safety decide when to repurchase shares under the program?

The timing, price and volume of share repurchases will depend on market conditions, applicable securities laws and other factors. Management can use open market purchases, block trades, privately negotiated transactions and trading plans under Rules 10b5-1 and 10b-18.

What financial performance context did MSA Safety provide with this announcement?

MSA Safety reported 2025 revenues of $1.9 billion and highlighted a long-standing record of cash generation. Management reiterated expectations for annual free cash flow conversion in the 90–100% range as it advances its Accelerate strategy focused on profitable growth.

Is MSA Safety obligated to repurchase a specific number of shares?

No, MSA Safety is not obligated to buy a specific number of shares under the program. The authorization simply permits up to $500 million in repurchases, and the company may modify, suspend or discontinue the program at any time based on its assessment.

Filing Exhibits & Attachments

5 documents

Press Releases

• EX-99.1 EX-99.1 10.5 KB

Other Documents

• EX-101 XBRL TAXONOMY EXTENSION SCHEMA DOCUMENT 2.0 KB
• EX-101 XBRL TAXONOMY EXTENSION DEFINITION LINKBASE DOCUMENT 2.8 KB
• EX-101 XBRL TAXONOMY EXTENSION LABEL LINKBASE DOCUMENT 23.2 KB
• EX-101 XBRL TAXONOMY EXTENSION PRESENTATION LINKBASE DOCUMENT 13.8 KB