NL Industries (NYSE:NL) Stock Crosses Below 200-Day Moving Average - Here's Why

NL Industries, Inc. (NYSE:NL - Get Free Report)'s stock price crossed below its 200-day moving average during trading on Tuesday . The stock has a 200-day moving average of $7.36 and traded as low as $6.43. NL Industries shares last traded at $6.59, with a volume of 44,803 shares traded.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Separately, Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of NL Industries from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research note on Saturday, May 17th.

NL Industries Stock Performance

The company has a market cap of $274.04 million, a PE ratio of 4.49 and a beta of 0.27. The stock's 50-day simple moving average is $6.68 and its 200 day simple moving average is $7.33.

NL Industries (NYSE:NL - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, May 7th. The basic materials company reported $0.01 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $0.20 by ($0.19). The firm had revenue of $40.30 million for the quarter. NL Industries had a return on equity of 14.97% and a net margin of 41.23%.

NL Industries Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, June 24th. Stockholders of record on Monday, June 9th were issued a $0.09 dividend. This represents a $0.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 6.4%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, June 9th. NL Industries's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 28.80%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On NL Industries

A number of large investors have recently made changes to their positions in NL. Strs Ohio purchased a new position in shares of NL Industries in the 1st quarter valued at about $35,000. Lazard Asset Management LLC increased its holdings in NL Industries by 42.9% during the 4th quarter. Lazard Asset Management LLC now owns 9,556 shares of the basic materials company's stock valued at $74,000 after acquiring an additional 2,871 shares in the last quarter. Barclays PLC increased its holdings in NL Industries by 13.4% during the 4th quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 13,538 shares of the basic materials company's stock valued at $106,000 after acquiring an additional 1,604 shares in the last quarter. Bailard Inc. purchased a new position in NL Industries during the 1st quarter valued at about $141,000. Finally, Nuveen LLC purchased a new position in NL Industries during the 1st quarter valued at about $183,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 10.67% of the company's stock.

About NL Industries

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.