NL Industries (NYSE:NL) Upgraded at Wall Street Zen

NL Industries (NYSE:NL - Get Free Report) was upgraded by research analysts at Wall Street Zen from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a report released on Saturday.

NL Industries Stock Up 2.3%

Shares of NYSE NL traded up $0.19 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $8.12. 44,756 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 31,863. NL Industries has a 1-year low of $5.20 and a 1-year high of $9.42. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $7.94 and a 200-day simple moving average of $7.76. The firm has a market cap of $396.40 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 6.76 and a beta of 0.36.

NL Industries (NYSE:NL - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, May 7th. The basic materials company reported $0.01 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $0.20 by ($0.19). The business had revenue of $40.30 million during the quarter. NL Industries had a return on equity of 14.74% and a net margin of 38.69%.

Insider Activity

In related news, Director Kevin B. Kramer bought 6,500 shares of the business's stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, March 11th. The stock was acquired at an average price of $6.59 per share, for a total transaction of $42,835.00. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 9,350 shares of the company's stock, valued at $61,616.50. This represents a 228.07% increase in their ownership of the stock. The purchase was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. 0.26% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On NL Industries

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in NL. Empowered Funds LLC raised its holdings in NL Industries by 3.7% during the first quarter. Empowered Funds LLC now owns 168,532 shares of the basic materials company's stock worth $1,331,000 after acquiring an additional 6,032 shares in the last quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. boosted its holdings 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 valued at $216,000 after purchasing an additional 3,667 shares in the last quarter. Nuveen LLC acquired a new stake in shares of NL Industries during the 1st quarter valued at $183,000. Bailard Inc. bought a new position in NL Industries during the 1st quarter worth $141,000. Finally, Segall Bryant & Hamill LLC bought a new position in shares of NL Industries in the 1st quarter worth about $644,000. 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.