NL Industries (NYSE:NL) Stock Rating Lowered by Wall Street Zen

Key Points

• NL Industries has been downgraded from a "hold" to a "sell" rating by Wall Street Zen, indicating a negative outlook from analysts.
• For the latest quarter, NL Industries reported earnings of $0.01 per share, significantly missing analysts' expectations of $0.19 by $0.18.
• Institutional investors hold 10.67% of NL Industries' stock, with notable new stakes acquired by firms such as Raymond James Financial and Wealthstar Advisors.

Wall Street Zen downgraded shares of NL Industries (NYSE:NL - Free Report) from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research report released on Saturday morning.

NL Industries Stock Up 4.2%

Shares of NL Industries stock traded up $0.26 on Friday, reaching $6.35. 15,712 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 35,837. NL Industries has a twelve month low of $5.29 and a twelve month high of $9.42. The firm has a market capitalization of $309.94 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 5.77 and a beta of 0.25. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $6.54 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $7.26.

NL Industries (NYSE:NL - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, August 6th. The basic materials company reported $0.01 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $0.19 by ($0.18). The company had revenue of $40.30 million for the quarter. NL Industries had a net margin of 35.06% and a return on equity of 12.93%.

NL Industries Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 23rd. Investors of record on Friday, September 5th will be paid a $0.09 dividend. This represents a $0.36 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 5.7%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, September 5th. NL Industries's payout ratio is currently 32.73%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On NL Industries

Several large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Strs Ohio purchased a new position in NL Industries in the first quarter worth approximately $35,000. Lazard Asset Management LLC grew its stake in shares of NL Industries by 42.9% during the fourth quarter. Lazard Asset Management LLC now owns 9,556 shares of the basic materials company's stock worth $74,000 after purchasing an additional 2,871 shares in the last quarter. Barclays PLC raised its stake in NL Industries by 13.4% in the fourth quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 13,538 shares of the basic materials company's stock valued at $106,000 after buying an additional 1,604 shares in the last quarter. Bailard Inc. acquired a new stake in NL Industries in the first quarter valued at $141,000. Finally, Nuveen LLC acquired a new stake in NL Industries in the first quarter valued at $183,000. 10.67% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

NL Industries Company Profile

NL Industries, Inc, through its subsidiary, CompX International Inc, operates in the component products industry in Europe, North America, the Asia Pacific, and internationally. The company manufactures and sells mechanical and electronic cabinet locks and other locking mechanisms, including disc tumbler locks; pin tumbler locking mechanisms under KeSet, System 64, TuBar, and Turbine brands; and electronic locks under CompX eLock and StealthLock brands for use in various applications, such as mailboxes, ignition systems, file cabinets, desk drawers, tool storage cabinets, high security medical cabinetry, integrated inventory and access control secured narcotics boxes, electronic circuit panels, storage compartments, gas station security, vending and cash containment machines.