Kronos Worldwide (NYSE:KRO) Reaches New 1-Year Low - Here's What Happened

Key Points

• Kronos Worldwide has reached a new 52-week low with shares trading as low as $4.70, reflecting a significant decline in stock value.
• Research firms have downgraded the stock, with a consensus rating of "Strong Sell" and a target price of $6.50.
• The company reported a loss of ($0.08) EPS for its latest quarterly earnings, missing estimates and showing a revenue of $494.40 million.

Kronos Worldwide Inc (NYSE:KRO - Get Free Report) shares hit a new 52-week low during mid-day trading on Wednesday . The company traded as low as $4.70 and last traded at $4.75, with a volume of 77190 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at $4.79.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research firms have recently weighed in on KRO. Wall Street Zen downgraded Kronos Worldwide from a "hold" rating to a "sell" rating in a report on Saturday, August 9th. The Goldman Sachs Group decreased their price objective on Kronos Worldwide from $8.50 to $6.00 and set a "sell" rating for the company in a report on Friday, October 17th. Finally, Weiss Ratings reissued a "sell (d+)" rating on shares of Kronos Worldwide in a report on Wednesday, October 8th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Sell rating, Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of "Strong Sell" and a consensus target price of $6.50.

Kronos Worldwide Price Performance

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.59, a current ratio of 2.79 and a quick ratio of 1.04. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $5.87 and a 200 day moving average price of $6.32. The firm has a market cap of $544.20 million, a PE ratio of 8.16 and a beta of 1.09.

Kronos Worldwide (NYSE:KRO - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, August 6th. The specialty chemicals company reported ($0.08) EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.13 by ($0.21). Kronos Worldwide had a return on equity of 8.04% and a net margin of 3.57%.The company had revenue of $494.40 million for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $508.47 million.

Kronos Worldwide Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, September 18th. Shareholders of record on Friday, September 5th were given a $0.05 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Friday, September 5th. This represents a $0.20 annualized dividend and a yield of 4.2%. Kronos Worldwide's dividend payout ratio is presently 34.48%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC raised its position in Kronos Worldwide by 365.1% in the first quarter. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC now owns 53,255 shares of the specialty chemicals company's stock worth $398,000 after acquiring an additional 41,805 shares in the last quarter. Nuveen LLC purchased a new position in Kronos Worldwide in the first quarter worth $2,090,000. Allworth Financial LP raised its position in Kronos Worldwide by 260.5% in the first quarter. Allworth Financial LP now owns 68,501 shares of the specialty chemicals company's stock worth $528,000 after acquiring an additional 49,501 shares in the last quarter. GSA Capital Partners LLP raised its position in Kronos Worldwide by 40.0% in the first quarter. GSA Capital Partners LLP now owns 121,097 shares of the specialty chemicals company's stock worth $906,000 after acquiring an additional 34,620 shares in the last quarter. Finally, US Bancorp DE raised its position in Kronos Worldwide by 2,455.6% in the first quarter. US Bancorp DE now owns 6,108 shares of the specialty chemicals company's stock worth $46,000 after acquiring an additional 5,869 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 15.11% of the company's stock.

About Kronos Worldwide

Kronos Worldwide, Inc produces and markets titanium dioxide pigments (TiO2) in Europe, North America, the Asia Pacific, and internationally. The company produces TiO2 in two crystalline forms, rutile and anatase to impart whiteness, brightness, opacity, and durability for various products, including paints, coatings, plastics, paper, fibers, and ceramics, as well as for various specialty products, such as inks, foods, and cosmetics.

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