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Side-by-side financial comparison of MSA Safety Inc (MSA) and STAR GROUP, L.P. (SGU). Click either name above to swap in a different company.

STAR GROUP, L.P. is the larger business by last-quarter revenue ($539.3M vs $510.9M, roughly 1.1× MSA Safety Inc). MSA Safety Inc runs the higher net margin — 17.0% vs 6.6%, a 10.4% gap on every dollar of revenue. On growth, STAR GROUP, L.P. posted the faster year-over-year revenue change (10.5% vs 2.2%). MSA Safety Inc produced more free cash flow last quarter ($106.0M vs $-59.7M).

Mine Safety Appliances, or MSA Safety Incorporated, is an American manufacturer and supplier of safety equipment designed for use in a variety of hazardous conditions in industries such as construction, the military, fire service, and chemical, oil, and gas production. MSA is based in the Pittsburgh suburb of Cranberry.

Lone Star Funds, legal name of main entity Lone Star Global Acquisitions, Ltd. is a global private equity firm that invests in corporate equity, real estate, credit, and other financial assets. The founder of Lone Star established its first fund in 1995 and Lone Star has to date organized 25 private equity funds with total capital commitments since inception of over $95 billion. Lone Star's investors include corporate and public pension funds, sovereign wealth funds, university endowments, fo...

MSA vs SGU — Head-to-Head

Bigger by revenue
SGU
SGU
1.1× larger
SGU
$539.3M
$510.9M
MSA
Growing faster (revenue YoY)
SGU
SGU
+8.2% gap
SGU
10.5%
2.2%
MSA
Higher net margin
MSA
MSA
10.4% more per $
MSA
17.0%
6.6%
SGU
More free cash flow
MSA
MSA
$165.8M more FCF
MSA
$106.0M
$-59.7M
SGU

Income Statement — Q4 FY2025 vs Q1 FY2026

Metric
MSA
MSA
SGU
SGU
Revenue
$510.9M
$539.3M
Net Profit
$86.9M
$35.8M
Gross Margin
46.9%
Operating Margin
22.3%
10.1%
Net Margin
17.0%
6.6%
Revenue YoY
2.2%
10.5%
Net Profit YoY
-1.2%
8.8%
EPS (diluted)
$2.22

Green = leading value per metric. Periods may differ when fiscal calendars don't align.

8-Quarter Revenue & Profit Trend

Side-by-side quarterly history. Quarters aligned by calendar period so offset fiscal years line up.

Revenue
MSA
MSA
SGU
SGU
Q4 25
$510.9M
$539.3M
Q3 25
$468.4M
Q2 25
$474.1M
Q1 25
$421.3M
Q4 24
$499.7M
Q3 24
$432.7M
Q2 24
$462.5M
Q1 24
$413.3M
Net Profit
MSA
MSA
SGU
SGU
Q4 25
$86.9M
$35.8M
Q3 25
$69.6M
Q2 25
$62.8M
Q1 25
$59.6M
Q4 24
$87.9M
Q3 24
$66.6M
Q2 24
$72.2M
Q1 24
$58.1M
Gross Margin
MSA
MSA
SGU
SGU
Q4 25
46.9%
Q3 25
46.5%
Q2 25
46.6%
Q1 25
45.9%
Q4 24
46.9%
Q3 24
47.9%
Q2 24
48.2%
Q1 24
47.3%
Operating Margin
MSA
MSA
SGU
SGU
Q4 25
22.3%
10.1%
Q3 25
20.1%
Q2 25
18.1%
Q1 25
18.5%
Q4 24
23.5%
Q3 24
21.1%
Q2 24
21.6%
Q1 24
19.4%
Net Margin
MSA
MSA
SGU
SGU
Q4 25
17.0%
6.6%
Q3 25
14.9%
Q2 25
13.2%
Q1 25
14.1%
Q4 24
17.6%
Q3 24
15.4%
Q2 24
15.6%
Q1 24
14.1%
EPS (diluted)
MSA
MSA
SGU
SGU
Q4 25
$2.22
Q3 25
$1.77
Q2 25
$1.59
Q1 25
$1.51
Q4 24
$2.22
Q3 24
$1.69
Q2 24
$1.83
Q1 24
$1.47

Balance Sheet & Financial Strength

Snapshot of each company's liquidity, leverage and book value from the latest quarter.

Metric
MSA
MSA
SGU
SGU
Cash + ST InvestmentsLiquidity on hand
$165.1M
$19.9M
Total DebtLower is stronger
$580.9M
$254.8M
Stockholders' EquityBook value
$1.4B
Total Assets
$2.6B
$1.1B
Debt / EquityLower = less leverage
0.42×

8-quarter trend — quarters aligned by calendar period.

Cash + ST Investments
MSA
MSA
SGU
SGU
Q4 25
$165.1M
$19.9M
Q3 25
$170.0M
Q2 25
$147.0M
Q1 25
$170.6M
Q4 24
$164.6M
Q3 24
$154.4M
Q2 24
$146.8M
Q1 24
$148.3M
Total Debt
MSA
MSA
SGU
SGU
Q4 25
$580.9M
$254.8M
Q3 25
$628.6M
Q2 25
$679.3M
Q1 25
$502.1M
Q4 24
$508.0M
Q3 24
$554.7M
Q2 24
$588.2M
Q1 24
$596.2M
Stockholders' Equity
MSA
MSA
SGU
SGU
Q4 25
$1.4B
Q3 25
$1.3B
Q2 25
$1.3B
Q1 25
$1.2B
Q4 24
$1.1B
Q3 24
$1.1B
Q2 24
$1.0B
Q1 24
$994.8M
Total Assets
MSA
MSA
SGU
SGU
Q4 25
$2.6B
$1.1B
Q3 25
$2.6B
Q2 25
$2.6B
Q1 25
$2.2B
Q4 24
$2.2B
Q3 24
$2.2B
Q2 24
$2.2B
Q1 24
$2.2B
Debt / Equity
MSA
MSA
SGU
SGU
Q4 25
0.42×
Q3 25
0.48×
Q2 25
0.54×
Q1 25
0.42×
Q4 24
0.44×
Q3 24
0.51×
Q2 24
0.57×
Q1 24
0.60×

Cash Flow & Capital Efficiency

How much cash each business actually produces after reinvestment. Cash flow is harder to manipulate than net income.

Metric
MSA
MSA
SGU
SGU
Operating Cash FlowLast quarter
$122.4M
$-55.2M
Free Cash FlowOCF − Capex
$106.0M
$-59.7M
FCF MarginFCF / Revenue
20.8%
-11.1%
Capex IntensityCapex / Revenue
3.2%
0.8%
Cash ConversionOCF / Net Profit
1.41×
-1.54×
TTM Free Cash FlowTrailing 4 quarters
$295.4M

8-quarter trend — quarters aligned by calendar period.

Operating Cash Flow
MSA
MSA
SGU
SGU
Q4 25
$122.4M
$-55.2M
Q3 25
$112.5M
Q2 25
$67.2M
Q1 25
$61.8M
Q4 24
$107.9M
Q3 24
$84.3M
Q2 24
$53.3M
Q1 24
$50.9M
Free Cash Flow
MSA
MSA
SGU
SGU
Q4 25
$106.0M
$-59.7M
Q3 25
$100.5M
Q2 25
$37.9M
Q1 25
$51.0M
Q4 24
$93.5M
Q3 24
$70.1M
Q2 24
$39.0M
Q1 24
$39.7M
FCF Margin
MSA
MSA
SGU
SGU
Q4 25
20.8%
-11.1%
Q3 25
21.4%
Q2 25
8.0%
Q1 25
12.1%
Q4 24
18.7%
Q3 24
16.2%
Q2 24
8.4%
Q1 24
9.6%
Capex Intensity
MSA
MSA
SGU
SGU
Q4 25
3.2%
0.8%
Q3 25
2.6%
Q2 25
6.2%
Q1 25
2.6%
Q4 24
2.9%
Q3 24
3.3%
Q2 24
3.1%
Q1 24
2.7%
Cash Conversion
MSA
MSA
SGU
SGU
Q4 25
1.41×
-1.54×
Q3 25
1.62×
Q2 25
1.07×
Q1 25
1.04×
Q4 24
1.23×
Q3 24
1.27×
Q2 24
0.74×
Q1 24
0.88×

Financial Flow Comparison

Revenue → gross profit → operating profit → net profit for each company.

Revenue Breakdown by Segment

MSA
MSA

Americas Segment$335.2M66%
International Segment$175.7M34%

SGU
SGU

Home Heating Oil And Propane$372.6M69%
Motor Fuel And Other Petroleum Products$75.4M14%
Equipment Installations$39.6M7%
Equipment Maintenance Service Contracts$30.3M6%
Billable Call Services$21.4M4%

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