Brinks (BCO) vs MSA Safety (MSA)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 7, 2026.
Summary
MSA Safety (MSA) has outperformed Brinks (BCO) over the past year, gaining 4.2% versus a loss of 9.7%. Over five years, BCO leads with a +64.5% price change compared with +19.3% for MSA. MSA Safety is the larger company by market cap ($6.92 billion vs $4.20 billion), about 1.6 times the size, while Brinks is growing revenue faster (+5.0% vs +3.7%).
On valuation, Brinks trades at a lower forward P/E (9.9x vs 18.0x for MSA Safety). MSA Safety offers the higher dividend yield (1.19% vs 1.00%). MSA Safety converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 14.9% versus 3.8%.
Summary generated from market data by MetaCap's automated system. Methodology
Relative performance
Percent change in share price from the first common trading day shown; excludes dividends.
Head-to-head
| Metric | BCO | MSA |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $102.07 | $179.28 |
| Market cap | $4.20B | $6.92B |
| 1-day change | -1.38% | -1.74% |
| YTD return | -12.56% | +11.95% |
| 1-year return | -9.70% | +4.18% |
| 5-year return | +64.47% | +19.26% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 23.68 | 22.30 |
| Forward P/E | 9.86 | 17.99 |
| EPS (TTM) | $4.31 | $8.04 |
| Dividend yield | 1.00% | 1.19% |
| Annual dividend | $1.02 | $2.13 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $5.26B | $1.87B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +4.97% | +3.69% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $199.70M | $278.92M |
| Gross margin | 25.81% | 46.46% |
| Operating margin | 11.13% | 19.83% |
| Net margin | 3.80% | 14.88% |
| 52-week high | $136.37 | $208.92 |
| 52-week low | $91.05 | $151.11 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -25.15% | -14.19% |
| Analyst consensus | strong_buy | none |
| Avg. price target upside | +43.36% | +16.66% |
| Average volume | 478.95K | 260.58K |
| Shares outstanding | 41.18M | 38.58M |
| Employees | 63,600 | 5,300 |
| Sector | Industrials | Health Care |
| Industry | Integrated Freight & Logistics | Industrial Specialties |
Highlighted cells mark the higher value for growth, returns, margins and yield, and the lower value for P/E ratios. Highlighting is a mechanical comparison, not a recommendation.
Key differences
- MSA has outperformed BCO by 13.9 percentage points over the past year.
- MSA Safety is more profitable, keeping 14.9 cents of every revenue dollar as net income versus 3.8 cents for Brinks.
- The two companies sit in different sectors: Brinks in Industrials and MSA Safety in Health Care.
About Brinks
BCO stock →The Brink's Company provides cash and valuables management, digital retail solutions (DRS), and automated teller machines (ATM) managed services in North America, Latin America, Europe, and internationally. The company offers cash-in-transit services, such as armored vehicle transportation of cash and coin; cash replenishment and treasury management of automated teller machines; international transportation, pick-up, packaging, customs clearance, secure vault storage, and inventory management of high-value commodities and goods; and counting, sorting, wrapping, check imaging, cashier balancing, counterfeit detection, account consolidation, and electronic reporting cash management services.
Industrials · Integrated Freight & Logistics · 63,600 employees
About MSA Safety
MSA stock →MSA Safety Incorporated develops, manufactures, and supplies safety products and technology solutions that protect workers and facility infrastructures worldwide. The company offers breathing apparatus products, including self-contained breathing apparatus; firefighter helmets and protective apparel; and fixed gas and flame detection systems, such as fixed gas detection monitoring systems, flame detectors and open-path infrared gas detectors, and refrigerant detection and identification solution, as well as hand-held portable gas detection instruments to detect the presence or absence of various gases in the air.
Health Care · Industrial Specialties · 5,300 employees
BCO vs MSA FAQ
Which is bigger, Brinks or MSA Safety?
MSA Safety (MSA) is larger, with a market capitalization of $6.92B compared with $4.20B for Brinks (BCO).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, BCO or MSA?
MSA returned +4.18% over the past 12 months, compared with -9.70% for BCO (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, BCO or MSA?
MSA has the lower trailing P/E at 22.3, versus 23.7 for BCO. A lower P/E is not by itself a sign of a better investment; it can reflect slower expected growth or higher risk.
Which pays a higher dividend, Brinks or MSA Safety?
MSA Safety has the higher yield at 1.19%, compared with 1.00% for Brinks.
Are Brinks and MSA Safety in the same industry?
No. Brinks is in the Industrials sector, while MSA Safety is in Health Care.