NL Industries (NYSE:NL) Share Price Crosses Below 200-Day Moving Average - What's Next?

NL Industries, Inc. (NYSE:NL - Get Free Report) passed below its 200-day moving average during trading on Tuesday . The stock has a 200-day moving average of $7.43 and traded as low as $6.26. NL Industries shares last traded at $6.36, with a volume of 17,951 shares.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

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

NL Industries Price Performance

The firm has a market cap of $319.97 million, a PE ratio of 5.24 and a beta of 0.27. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $6.98 and a 200-day simple moving average of $7.41.

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

NL Industries Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, June 24th. Shareholders of record on Monday, June 9th were paid a dividend of $0.09 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, June 9th. This represents a $0.36 annualized dividend and a yield of 5.50%. NL Industries's payout ratio is currently 28.80%.

Institutional Trading of NL Industries

A number of hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of NL. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. boosted its position in shares of NL Industries by 15.5% in the 1st quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 27,285 shares of the basic materials company's stock worth $216,000 after purchasing an additional 3,667 shares in the last quarter. Strs Ohio purchased a new position in shares of NL Industries in the 1st quarter valued at about $35,000. Empowered Funds LLC increased its stake in shares of NL Industries by 3.7% in the 1st quarter. Empowered Funds LLC now owns 168,532 shares of the basic materials company's stock valued at $1,331,000 after purchasing an additional 6,032 shares in the last quarter. Nuveen LLC purchased a new stake in NL Industries during the 1st quarter worth approximately $183,000. Finally, Bailard Inc. purchased a new stake in NL Industries during the 1st quarter worth approximately $141,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 10.67% of the company's stock.

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.