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

NL Industries, Inc. (NYSE:NL - Get Free Report) passed below its two hundred day moving average during trading on Monday . The stock has a two hundred day moving average of $7.49 and traded as low as $6.35. NL Industries shares last traded at $6.44, with a volume of 66,578 shares changing hands.

Analyst Ratings Changes

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

NL Industries Stock Performance

The stock has a 50-day moving average of $7.19 and a two-hundred day moving average of $7.46. The company has a market cap of $318.01 million, a P/E ratio of 5.21 and a beta of 0.27.

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

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 given a $0.09 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, June 9th. This represents a $0.36 annualized dividend and a yield of 5.53%. NL Industries's payout ratio is currently 28.80%.

Institutional Trading of NL Industries

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Strs Ohio bought a new position in shares of NL Industries during the first quarter valued at approximately $35,000. Lazard Asset Management LLC raised its holdings 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 valued at $74,000 after acquiring an additional 2,871 shares in the last quarter. Barclays PLC raised its holdings in shares of NL Industries by 13.4% during the fourth 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. bought a new position in shares of NL Industries during the first quarter valued at approximately $141,000. Finally, WINTON GROUP Ltd bought a new position in shares of NL Industries during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $159,000. 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.