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Side-by-side financial comparison of MSA Safety Inc (MSA) and ZIFF DAVIS, INC. (ZD). Click either name above to swap in a different company.

MSA Safety Inc is the larger business by last-quarter revenue ($510.9M vs $406.7M, roughly 1.3× ZIFF DAVIS, INC.). MSA Safety Inc runs the higher net margin — 17.0% vs 0.1%, a 16.9% gap on every dollar of revenue. On growth, MSA Safety Inc posted the faster year-over-year revenue change (2.2% vs -1.5%). ZIFF DAVIS, INC. produced more free cash flow last quarter ($157.8M vs $106.0M). Over the past eight quarters, ZIFF DAVIS, INC.'s revenue compounded faster (13.7% 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.

Ziff Davis, Inc. is an American digital media and Internet company. Founded in 1927 by William Bernard Ziff Sr. and Bernard George Davis, the company primarily owns technology- and health-oriented media websites, online shopping-related services, Internet connectivity services, gaming and entertainment brands, and cybersecurity and martech tools. Previously, the company was predominantly a publisher of hobbyist magazines.

MSA vs ZD — Head-to-Head

Bigger by revenue
MSA
MSA
1.3× larger
MSA
$510.9M
$406.7M
ZD
Growing faster (revenue YoY)
MSA
MSA
+3.7% gap
MSA
2.2%
-1.5%
ZD
Higher net margin
MSA
MSA
16.9% more per $
MSA
17.0%
0.1%
ZD
More free cash flow
ZD
ZD
$51.8M more FCF
ZD
$157.8M
$106.0M
MSA
Faster 2-yr revenue CAGR
ZD
ZD
Annualised
ZD
13.7%
11.2%
MSA

Income Statement — Q4 FY2025 vs Q4 FY2025

Metric
MSA
MSA
ZD
ZD
Revenue
$510.9M
$406.7M
Net Profit
$86.9M
$370.0K
Gross Margin
46.9%
85.9%
Operating Margin
22.3%
21.2%
Net Margin
17.0%
0.1%
Revenue YoY
2.2%
-1.5%
Net Profit YoY
-1.2%
-99.4%
EPS (diluted)
$2.22
$0.06

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
ZD
ZD
Q4 25
$510.9M
$406.7M
Q3 25
$468.4M
$363.7M
Q2 25
$474.1M
$352.2M
Q1 25
$421.3M
$328.6M
Q4 24
$499.7M
$412.8M
Q3 24
$432.7M
$353.6M
Q2 24
$462.5M
$320.8M
Q1 24
$413.3M
$314.5M
Net Profit
MSA
MSA
ZD
ZD
Q4 25
$86.9M
$370.0K
Q3 25
$69.6M
$-3.6M
Q2 25
$62.8M
$26.3M
Q1 25
$59.6M
$24.2M
Q4 24
$87.9M
$64.1M
Q3 24
$66.6M
$-48.6M
Q2 24
$72.2M
$36.9M
Q1 24
$58.1M
$10.6M
Gross Margin
MSA
MSA
ZD
ZD
Q4 25
46.9%
85.9%
Q3 25
46.5%
85.4%
Q2 25
46.6%
86.1%
Q1 25
45.9%
85.6%
Q4 24
46.9%
87.1%
Q3 24
47.9%
85.5%
Q2 24
48.2%
84.4%
Q1 24
47.3%
85.4%
Operating Margin
MSA
MSA
ZD
ZD
Q4 25
22.3%
21.2%
Q3 25
20.1%
7.8%
Q2 25
18.1%
9.5%
Q1 25
18.5%
10.7%
Q4 24
23.5%
19.0%
Q3 24
21.1%
-8.3%
Q2 24
21.6%
8.9%
Q1 24
19.4%
11.4%
Net Margin
MSA
MSA
ZD
ZD
Q4 25
17.0%
0.1%
Q3 25
14.9%
-1.0%
Q2 25
13.2%
7.5%
Q1 25
14.1%
7.4%
Q4 24
17.6%
15.5%
Q3 24
15.4%
-13.7%
Q2 24
15.6%
11.5%
Q1 24
14.1%
3.4%
EPS (diluted)
MSA
MSA
ZD
ZD
Q4 25
$2.22
$0.06
Q3 25
$1.77
$-0.09
Q2 25
$1.59
$0.62
Q1 25
$1.51
$0.56
Q4 24
$2.22
$1.53
Q3 24
$1.69
$-1.11
Q2 24
$1.83
$0.77
Q1 24
$1.47
$0.23

Balance Sheet & Financial Strength

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

Metric
MSA
MSA
ZD
ZD
Cash + ST InvestmentsLiquidity on hand
$165.1M
$607.0M
Total DebtLower is stronger
$580.9M
$866.5M
Stockholders' EquityBook value
$1.4B
$1.8B
Total Assets
$2.6B
$3.7B
Debt / EquityLower = less leverage
0.42×
0.49×

8-quarter trend — quarters aligned by calendar period.

Cash + ST Investments
MSA
MSA
ZD
ZD
Q4 25
$165.1M
$607.0M
Q3 25
$170.0M
$503.4M
Q2 25
$147.0M
$457.3M
Q1 25
$170.6M
$431.0M
Q4 24
$164.6M
$505.9M
Q3 24
$154.4M
$386.1M
Q2 24
$146.8M
$687.2M
Q1 24
$148.3M
$751.2M
Total Debt
MSA
MSA
ZD
ZD
Q4 25
$580.9M
$866.5M
Q3 25
$628.6M
Q2 25
$679.3M
Q1 25
$502.1M
Q4 24
$508.0M
$864.3M
Q3 24
$554.7M
Q2 24
$588.2M
Q1 24
$596.2M
Stockholders' Equity
MSA
MSA
ZD
ZD
Q4 25
$1.4B
$1.8B
Q3 25
$1.3B
$1.8B
Q2 25
$1.3B
$1.8B
Q1 25
$1.2B
$1.8B
Q4 24
$1.1B
$1.8B
Q3 24
$1.1B
$1.8B
Q2 24
$1.0B
$1.9B
Q1 24
$994.8M
$1.9B
Total Assets
MSA
MSA
ZD
ZD
Q4 25
$2.6B
$3.7B
Q3 25
$2.6B
$3.5B
Q2 25
$2.6B
$3.5B
Q1 25
$2.2B
$3.5B
Q4 24
$2.2B
$3.7B
Q3 24
$2.2B
$3.4B
Q2 24
$2.2B
$3.7B
Q1 24
$2.2B
$3.7B
Debt / Equity
MSA
MSA
ZD
ZD
Q4 25
0.42×
0.49×
Q3 25
0.48×
Q2 25
0.54×
Q1 25
0.42×
Q4 24
0.44×
0.48×
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
ZD
ZD
Operating Cash FlowLast quarter
$122.4M
$191.1M
Free Cash FlowOCF − Capex
$106.0M
$157.8M
FCF MarginFCF / Revenue
20.8%
38.8%
Capex IntensityCapex / Revenue
3.2%
8.2%
Cash ConversionOCF / Net Profit
1.41×
516.44×
TTM Free Cash FlowTrailing 4 quarters
$295.4M
$287.9M

8-quarter trend — quarters aligned by calendar period.

Operating Cash Flow
MSA
MSA
ZD
ZD
Q4 25
$122.4M
$191.1M
Q3 25
$112.5M
$138.3M
Q2 25
$67.2M
$57.1M
Q1 25
$61.8M
$20.6M
Q4 24
$107.9M
$158.2M
Q3 24
$84.3M
$106.0M
Q2 24
$53.3M
$50.6M
Q1 24
$50.9M
$75.6M
Free Cash Flow
MSA
MSA
ZD
ZD
Q4 25
$106.0M
$157.8M
Q3 25
$100.5M
$108.2M
Q2 25
$37.9M
$26.9M
Q1 25
$51.0M
$-5.0M
Q4 24
$93.5M
$131.1M
Q3 24
$70.1M
$80.1M
Q2 24
$39.0M
$25.1M
Q1 24
$39.7M
$47.4M
FCF Margin
MSA
MSA
ZD
ZD
Q4 25
20.8%
38.8%
Q3 25
21.4%
29.7%
Q2 25
8.0%
7.6%
Q1 25
12.1%
-1.5%
Q4 24
18.7%
31.8%
Q3 24
16.2%
22.7%
Q2 24
8.4%
7.8%
Q1 24
9.6%
15.1%
Capex Intensity
MSA
MSA
ZD
ZD
Q4 25
3.2%
8.2%
Q3 25
2.6%
8.3%
Q2 25
6.2%
8.6%
Q1 25
2.6%
7.8%
Q4 24
2.9%
6.6%
Q3 24
3.3%
7.3%
Q2 24
3.1%
8.0%
Q1 24
2.7%
8.9%
Cash Conversion
MSA
MSA
ZD
ZD
Q4 25
1.41×
516.44×
Q3 25
1.62×
Q2 25
1.07×
2.17×
Q1 25
1.04×
0.85×
Q4 24
1.23×
2.47×
Q3 24
1.27×
Q2 24
0.74×
1.37×
Q1 24
0.88×
7.11×

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%

ZD
ZD

Health And Wellness$114.8M28%
Technology And Shopping$108.9M27%
Cybersecurity And Martech Segment$70.9M17%
Connectivity$60.3M15%
Gaming And Entertainment$51.7M13%
Subscription And Licensing$2.9M1%

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