MSA Safety (MSA) vs NLI (NL)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 8, 2026.
Summary
NLI (NL) has outperformed MSA Safety (MSA) over the past year, gaining 17.4% versus a gain of 4.2%. Over five years, MSA leads with a +19.3% price change compared with +15.8% for NL. NLI offers the higher dividend yield (5.47% vs 1.19%).
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 | MSA | NL |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $179.28 | $6.95 |
| Market cap | $6.92B | — |
| 1-day change | -1.74% | 0.00% |
| YTD return | +11.95% | +27.06% |
| 1-year return | +4.18% | +17.40% |
| 5-year return | +19.26% | +15.83% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 22.30 | — |
| Forward P/E | 17.99 | — |
| EPS (TTM) | $8.04 | $-0.52 |
| Dividend yield | 1.19% | 5.47% |
| Annual dividend | $2.13 | $0.38 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $1.87B | — |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +3.69% | — |
| Net income (latest FY) | $278.92M | — |
| Gross margin | 46.46% | — |
| Operating margin | 19.83% | — |
| Net margin | 14.88% | — |
| 52-week high | $208.92 | $8.60 |
| 52-week low | $151.11 | $5.04 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -14.19% | -19.19% |
| Analyst consensus | none | — |
| Avg. price target upside | +16.66% | — |
| Average volume | 260.31K | 33.01K |
| Shares outstanding | 38.58M | — |
| Employees | 5,300 | 2,812 |
| Sector | Health Care | Basic Materials |
| Industry | Industrial Specialties | Major Chemicals |
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
- NL has outperformed MSA by 13.2 percentage points over the past year.
- NLI offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (5.47% vs 1.19%).
- The two companies sit in different sectors: MSA Safety in Health Care and NLI in Basic Materials.
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
About NLI
NL stock →NLI Holdings, Inc., through its subsidiaries, operates in the component products industry in Europe, North America, the Asia Pacific, and internationally. The company manufactures and sells mechanical and electronic cabinet locks and other locking mechanisms, including disc tumbler locks; pin tumbler locking mechanisms under KeSet, System 64, TuBar, and Turbine brands; and electronic locks under CompX eLock and StealthLock brands for use in various applications, such as mailboxes, ignition systems, file cabinets, desk drawers, tool storage cabinets, high security medical cabinetry, integrated inventory and access control secured narcotics boxes, electronic circuit panels, storage compartments, gas station security, vending, and cash containment machines.
Basic Materials · Major Chemicals · 2,812 employees
MSA vs NL FAQ
Which stock has performed better over the past year, MSA or NL?
NL returned +17.40% over the past 12 months, compared with +4.18% for MSA (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which pays a higher dividend, MSA Safety or NLI?
NLI has the higher yield at 5.47%, compared with 1.19% for MSA Safety.
Are MSA Safety and NLI in the same industry?
No. MSA Safety is in the Health Care sector, while NLI is in Basic Materials.