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

NL Industries, Inc. (NYSE:NL - Get Free Report) shares passed below its 200-day moving average during trading on Monday . The stock has a 200-day moving average of $7.69 and traded as low as $6.69. NL Industries shares last traded at $6.78, with a volume of 36,646 shares changing hands.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Separately, Wall Street Zen raised shares of 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 market cap of $357.57 million, a PE ratio of 6.10 and a beta of 0.31. The stock's 50-day moving average is $7.80 and its two-hundred day moving average is $7.69.

NL Industries (NYSE:NL - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results 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). NL Industries had a return on equity of 14.74% and a net margin of 38.69%. The firm had revenue of $40.30 million for the quarter.

NL Industries Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, June 24th. Investors of record on Monday, June 9th will be paid a dividend of $0.09 per share. This represents a $0.36 annualized dividend and a yield of 4.92%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, June 9th. NL Industries's payout ratio is 28.80%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On NL Industries

Institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Raymond James Financial Inc. acquired a new position in shares of NL Industries in the fourth quarter worth $1,622,000. Wealthstar Advisors LLC purchased a new position in NL Industries in the fourth quarter valued at $670,000. Segall Bryant & Hamill LLC acquired a new position in NL Industries during the 1st quarter worth $644,000. Nuveen LLC acquired a new position in NL Industries during the 1st quarter worth $183,000. Finally, Dimensional Fund Advisors LP increased its holdings in NL Industries by 1.1% during the 4th quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 2,006,917 shares of the basic materials company's stock worth $15,594,000 after purchasing an additional 21,876 shares during the period. 10.67% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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.