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Side-by-side financial comparison of MSA Safety Inc (MSA) and VSE CORP (VSEC). Click either name above to swap in a different company.

MSA Safety Inc is the larger business by last-quarter revenue ($510.9M vs $301.2M, roughly 1.7× VSE CORP). MSA Safety Inc runs the higher net margin — 17.0% vs 4.5%, a 12.5% gap on every dollar of revenue. On growth, MSA Safety Inc posted the faster year-over-year revenue change (2.2% vs 0.7%). MSA Safety Inc produced more free cash flow last quarter ($106.0M vs $30.9M). Over the past eight quarters, VSE CORP's revenue compounded faster (11.7% CAGR vs 11.2%).

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.

VSE Corporation is a leading provider of aftermarket distribution and repair services. Operating through its two key segments, VSE significantly enhances the productivity and longevity of its customers' high-value, business-critical assets. The aviation segment is a leading provider of aftermarket parts distribution and maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) services for components and engine accessories to commercial, business, and general aviation operators. The fleet segment specializes i...

MSA vs VSEC — Head-to-Head

Bigger by revenue
MSA
MSA
1.7× larger
MSA
$510.9M
$301.2M
VSEC
Growing faster (revenue YoY)
MSA
MSA
+1.5% gap
MSA
2.2%
0.7%
VSEC
Higher net margin
MSA
MSA
12.5% more per $
MSA
17.0%
4.5%
VSEC
More free cash flow
MSA
MSA
$75.1M more FCF
MSA
$106.0M
$30.9M
VSEC
Faster 2-yr revenue CAGR
VSEC
VSEC
Annualised
VSEC
11.7%
11.2%
MSA

Income Statement — Q4 FY2025 vs Q4 FY2025

Metric
MSA
MSA
VSEC
VSEC
Revenue
$510.9M
$301.2M
Net Profit
$86.9M
$13.6M
Gross Margin
46.9%
Operating Margin
22.3%
10.8%
Net Margin
17.0%
4.5%
Revenue YoY
2.2%
0.7%
Net Profit YoY
-1.2%
3.9%
EPS (diluted)
$2.22
$0.64

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
VSEC
VSEC
Q4 25
$510.9M
$301.2M
Q3 25
$468.4M
$282.9M
Q2 25
$474.1M
$272.1M
Q1 25
$421.3M
$256.0M
Q4 24
$499.7M
$299.0M
Q3 24
$432.7M
$273.6M
Q2 24
$462.5M
$266.0M
Q1 24
$413.3M
$241.5M
Net Profit
MSA
MSA
VSEC
VSEC
Q4 25
$86.9M
$13.6M
Q3 25
$69.6M
$3.9M
Q2 25
$62.8M
$3.2M
Q1 25
$59.6M
$-9.0M
Q4 24
$87.9M
$13.1M
Q3 24
$66.6M
$11.7M
Q2 24
$72.2M
$-2.8M
Q1 24
$58.1M
$-6.6M
Gross Margin
MSA
MSA
VSEC
VSEC
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
VSEC
VSEC
Q4 25
22.3%
10.8%
Q3 25
20.1%
3.6%
Q2 25
18.1%
8.3%
Q1 25
18.5%
9.6%
Q4 24
23.5%
9.2%
Q3 24
21.1%
8.7%
Q2 24
21.6%
2.3%
Q1 24
19.4%
10.0%
Net Margin
MSA
MSA
VSEC
VSEC
Q4 25
17.0%
4.5%
Q3 25
14.9%
1.4%
Q2 25
13.2%
1.2%
Q1 25
14.1%
-3.5%
Q4 24
17.6%
4.4%
Q3 24
15.4%
4.3%
Q2 24
15.6%
-1.0%
Q1 24
14.1%
-2.7%
EPS (diluted)
MSA
MSA
VSEC
VSEC
Q4 25
$2.22
$0.64
Q3 25
$1.77
$0.19
Q2 25
$1.59
$0.16
Q1 25
$1.51
$-0.44
Q4 24
$2.22
$0.79
Q3 24
$1.69
$0.63
Q2 24
$1.83
$-0.16
Q1 24
$1.47
$-0.41

Balance Sheet & Financial Strength

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

Metric
MSA
MSA
VSEC
VSEC
Cash + ST InvestmentsLiquidity on hand
$165.1M
$69.4M
Total DebtLower is stronger
$580.9M
$292.8M
Stockholders' EquityBook value
$1.4B
$1.4B
Total Assets
$2.6B
$2.0B
Debt / EquityLower = less leverage
0.42×
0.20×

8-quarter trend — quarters aligned by calendar period.

Cash + ST Investments
MSA
MSA
VSEC
VSEC
Q4 25
$165.1M
$69.4M
Q3 25
$170.0M
$8.8M
Q2 25
$147.0M
$16.9M
Q1 25
$170.6M
$5.7M
Q4 24
$164.6M
$29.0M
Q3 24
$154.4M
$7.9M
Q2 24
$146.8M
$19.0M
Q1 24
$148.3M
$10.6M
Total Debt
MSA
MSA
VSEC
VSEC
Q4 25
$580.9M
$292.8M
Q3 25
$628.6M
$356.1M
Q2 25
$679.3M
$379.2M
Q1 25
$502.1M
$465.0M
Q4 24
$508.0M
$430.2M
Q3 24
$554.7M
$450.3M
Q2 24
$588.2M
$463.5M
Q1 24
$596.2M
$481.6M
Stockholders' Equity
MSA
MSA
VSEC
VSEC
Q4 25
$1.4B
$1.4B
Q3 25
$1.3B
$983.3M
Q2 25
$1.3B
$979.5M
Q1 25
$1.2B
$975.7M
Q4 24
$1.1B
$988.2M
Q3 24
$1.1B
$787.8M
Q2 24
$1.0B
$781.3M
Q1 24
$994.8M
$612.7M
Total Assets
MSA
MSA
VSEC
VSEC
Q4 25
$2.6B
$2.0B
Q3 25
$2.6B
$1.6B
Q2 25
$2.6B
$1.6B
Q1 25
$2.2B
$1.7B
Q4 24
$2.2B
$1.7B
Q3 24
$2.2B
$1.5B
Q2 24
$2.2B
$1.5B
Q1 24
$2.2B
$1.3B
Debt / Equity
MSA
MSA
VSEC
VSEC
Q4 25
0.42×
0.20×
Q3 25
0.48×
0.36×
Q2 25
0.54×
0.39×
Q1 25
0.42×
0.48×
Q4 24
0.44×
0.44×
Q3 24
0.51×
0.57×
Q2 24
0.57×
0.59×
Q1 24
0.60×
0.79×

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
VSEC
VSEC
Operating Cash FlowLast quarter
$122.4M
$37.6M
Free Cash FlowOCF − Capex
$106.0M
$30.9M
FCF MarginFCF / Revenue
20.8%
10.3%
Capex IntensityCapex / Revenue
3.2%
2.2%
Cash ConversionOCF / Net Profit
1.41×
2.77×
TTM Free Cash FlowTrailing 4 quarters
$295.4M
$5.7M

8-quarter trend — quarters aligned by calendar period.

Operating Cash Flow
MSA
MSA
VSEC
VSEC
Q4 25
$122.4M
$37.6M
Q3 25
$112.5M
$24.1M
Q2 25
$67.2M
$11.9M
Q1 25
$61.8M
$-46.6M
Q4 24
$107.9M
$55.4M
Q3 24
$84.3M
$10.2M
Q2 24
$53.3M
$-17.5M
Q1 24
$50.9M
$-79.1M
Free Cash Flow
MSA
MSA
VSEC
VSEC
Q4 25
$106.0M
$30.9M
Q3 25
$100.5M
$18.0M
Q2 25
$37.9M
$6.3M
Q1 25
$51.0M
$-49.5M
Q4 24
$93.5M
$52.1M
Q3 24
$70.1M
$4.4M
Q2 24
$39.0M
$-21.5M
Q1 24
$39.7M
$-86.8M
FCF Margin
MSA
MSA
VSEC
VSEC
Q4 25
20.8%
10.3%
Q3 25
21.4%
6.4%
Q2 25
8.0%
2.3%
Q1 25
12.1%
-19.3%
Q4 24
18.7%
17.4%
Q3 24
16.2%
1.6%
Q2 24
8.4%
-8.1%
Q1 24
9.6%
-35.9%
Capex Intensity
MSA
MSA
VSEC
VSEC
Q4 25
3.2%
2.2%
Q3 25
2.6%
2.1%
Q2 25
6.2%
2.1%
Q1 25
2.6%
1.1%
Q4 24
2.9%
1.1%
Q3 24
3.3%
2.1%
Q2 24
3.1%
1.5%
Q1 24
2.7%
3.2%
Cash Conversion
MSA
MSA
VSEC
VSEC
Q4 25
1.41×
2.77×
Q3 25
1.62×
6.16×
Q2 25
1.07×
3.72×
Q1 25
1.04×
Q4 24
1.23×
4.24×
Q3 24
1.27×
0.87×
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%

VSEC
VSEC

Segment breakdown not available.

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