NWN vs. MSA
NWN (Northwest Natural Holding Company) and MSA (MSA Safety Incorporated) are both stocks. NWN operates in Utilities - Regulated Gas (Utilities), while MSA operates in Security & Protection Services (Industrials). Over the past 10 years, NWN returned 1.85%/yr vs 13.54%/yr for MSA. At a 0.26 correlation, their price movements are largely independent.
Performance
NWN vs. MSA - Performance Comparison
Loading charts...
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, NWN achieves a 6.78% return, which is significantly higher than MSA's -0.18% return. Over the past 10 years, NWN has underperformed MSA with an annualized return of 1.85%, while MSA has yielded a comparatively higher 13.54% annualized return.
NWN
- 1D
- -1.71%
- 1M
- -2.99%
- YTD
- 6.78%
- 6M
- 8.05%
- 1Y
- 28.62%
- 3Y*
- 8.99%
- 5Y*
- 2.11%
- 10Y*
- 1.85%
MSA
- 1D
- -1.46%
- 1M
- -6.18%
- YTD
- -0.18%
- 6M
- -0.35%
- 1Y
- -2.56%
- 3Y*
- 2.22%
- 5Y*
- 0.24%
- 10Y*
- 13.54%
NWN vs. MSA - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
NWN Northwest Natural Holding Company | 6.78% | 23.75% | 6.77% | -14.45% | 1.49% | 10.26% | -35.52% | 25.46% | 4.48% | 2.82% |
MSA MSA Safety Incorporated | -0.18% | -2.14% | -0.71% | 18.52% | -3.15% | 2.14% | 19.79% | 36.10% | 23.61% | 13.97% |
Correlation
The correlation between NWN and MSA is 0.17, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.17 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.25 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.28 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.28 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Mar 27, 1990 | 0.26 |
The correlation between NWN and MSA shifts across timeframes, from 0.17 (1 year) to 0.28 (5 years), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
Fundamentals
NWN:
$4.01
MSA:
$9.85
NWN:
12.21
MSA:
16.13
NWN:
3.21
MSA:
0.06
NWN:
1.17
MSA:
2.45
NWN:
$1.29B
MSA:
$1.92B
NWN:
$288.00M
MSA:
$897.30M
NWN:
$426.96M
MSA:
$465.55M
Compare stocks, funds, or ETFs
Search for stocks, ETFs, and funds for a quick comparison or use the comparison tool for more options.
Return for Risk
NWN vs. MSA — Risk / Return Rank
NWN
MSA
NWN vs. MSA - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Northwest Natural Holding Company (NWN) and MSA Safety Incorporated (MSA). Risk-adjusted metrics are performance indicators that assess an investment's returns in relation to its risk, enabling a more accurate comparison of different investment options.
| NWN | MSA | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +1.55 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +1.90 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.27 | 1.00 | +0.27 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.14 | -0.12 | +2.26 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 6.57 | -0.26 | +6.83 |
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month. | |||
Loading charts...
Sharpe Ratios by Period
| NWN | MSA | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.44 | -0.11 | +1.55 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.09 | 0.01 | +0.08 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.07 | 0.47 | -0.41 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.31 | 0.34 | -0.03 |
Drawdowns
NWN vs. MSA - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum NWN drawdown since its inception was -46.27%, smaller than the maximum MSA drawdown of -70.32%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for NWN and MSA.
Loading charts...
Drawdown Indicators
| NWN | MSA | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -46.27% | -70.32% | +24.05% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -13.46% | -21.29% | +7.83% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -18.39% | -34.28% | +15.89% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -32.09% | -34.28% | +2.19% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -46.27% | -38.39% | -7.88% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -17.02% | -21.29% | +4.27% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -12.14% | -17.44% | +5.30% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 4.37% | 9.79% | -5.42% |
Volatility
NWN vs. MSA - Volatility Comparison
Northwest Natural Holding Company (NWN) and MSA Safety Incorporated (MSA) have volatilities of 6.35% and 6.61%, respectively, indicating that both stocks experience similar levels of price fluctuations. This suggests that the risk associated with both stocks, as measured by volatility, is nearly the same. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
Loading charts...
Volatility by Period
| NWN | MSA | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 6.35% | 6.61% | -0.26% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 15.58% | 17.65% | -2.07% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 20.02% | 23.93% | -3.91% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 22.87% | 24.71% | -1.84% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 28.15% | 28.78% | -0.63% |
Dividends
NWN vs. MSA - Dividend Comparison
NWN's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 4.02%, more than MSA's 1.34% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
MSA MSA Safety Incorporated | 1.34% | 1.31% | 1.21% | 1.11% | 1.26% | 1.16% | 1.14% | 1.30% | 1.58% | 1.78% | 1.89% | 2.92% |
NWN Northwest Natural Holding Company | 4.02% | 4.20% | 4.94% | 4.99% | 4.06% | 3.94% | 4.16% | 2.58% | 3.13% | 3.16% | 3.13% | 3.68% |
Financials
NWN vs. MSA - Financials Comparison
This section allows you to compare key financial metrics between Northwest Natural Holding Company and MSA Safety Incorporated. You can select fields from income statements, balance sheets, and cash flow statements to easily visualize and compare the financial health of both companies.
Total Revenue: Total amount of money received from sales and other business activities
NWN vs. MSA - Profitability Comparison
NWN - Gross Margin
Gross margin is calculated as gross profit divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Northwest Natural Holding Company reported a gross profit of 0.00 and revenue of 490.40M. Therefore, the gross margin over that period was 0.0%.
MSA - Gross Margin
Gross margin is calculated as gross profit divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, MSA Safety Incorporated reported a gross profit of 219.58M and revenue of 463.63M. Therefore, the gross margin over that period was 47.4%.
NWN - Operating Margin
Operating margin is calculated as operating income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Northwest Natural Holding Company reported an operating income of 162.87M and revenue of 490.40M, resulting in an operating margin of 33.2%.
MSA - Operating Margin
Operating margin is calculated as operating income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, MSA Safety Incorporated reported an operating income of 93.01M and revenue of 463.63M, resulting in an operating margin of 20.1%.
NWN - Net Margin
Net margin is calculated as net income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Northwest Natural Holding Company reported a net income of 97.49M and revenue of 490.40M, resulting in a net margin of 19.9%.
MSA - Net Margin
Net margin is calculated as net income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, MSA Safety Incorporated reported a net income of 71.27M and revenue of 463.63M, resulting in a net margin of 15.4%.
Frequently Asked Questions
NWN and MSA have a correlation of 0.17, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
MSA has higher volatility (6.61%) compared to NWN (6.35%). In terms of maximum drawdown, NWN dropped -46.27% vs MSA's -70.32%.
NWN currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.44 vs -0.11), meaning it's delivered slightly more return per unit of risk over the trailing 12 months. However, this ranking shifts over time - use the Risk/Return Score above for a more comprehensive view that combines Sharpe, Sortino, and other measures used by quantitative funds.
Find the right allocation for NWN and MSA
Add both to a portfolio and optimize allocations for your target — whether that's maximizing returns, minimizing drawdowns, or balancing risk across holdings.
Open Portfolio Optimizer