Valhi (NYSE:VHI) Stock Price Passes Below 200-Day Moving Average - Here's Why

Valhi, Inc. (NYSE:VHI - Get Free Report)'s share price crossed below its two hundred day moving average during trading on Monday . The stock has a two hundred day moving average of $16.69 and traded as low as $16.08. Valhi shares last traded at $16.29, with a volume of 13,597 shares.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of brokerages have issued reports on VHI. Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of Valhi from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research note on Tuesday, May 20th. Barclays lowered their price target on Valhi from $20.00 to $12.00 and set an "underweight" rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, May 28th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Sell rating, According to MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of "Sell" and a consensus price target of $12.00.

Valhi Stock Performance

The firm has a market capitalization of $447.14 million, a P/E ratio of 4.61 and a beta of 1.19. The company has a quick ratio of 1.35, a current ratio of 2.83 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.38. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $16.99 and a 200-day moving average of $16.68.

Valhi (NYSE:VHI - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, August 7th. The basic materials company reported $0.03 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.76 by ($0.73). The business had revenue of $540.40 million during the quarter. Valhi had a net margin of 4.69% and a return on equity of 7.02%.

Valhi Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, September 25th. Investors of record on Friday, September 5th will be given a $0.08 dividend. This represents a $0.32 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.0%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, September 5th. Valhi's payout ratio is presently 9.33%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Valhi

Several institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in VHI. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted its position in Valhi by 276.3% during the fourth quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 5,565 shares of the basic materials company's stock valued at $130,000 after buying an additional 4,086 shares during the period. Northern Trust Corp increased its holdings in shares of Valhi by 16.3% in the 4th quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 43,121 shares of the basic materials company's stock worth $1,009,000 after buying an additional 6,044 shares during the last quarter. BNP Paribas Financial Markets purchased a new stake in shares of Valhi in the 4th quarter worth approximately $202,000. Bridgeway Capital Management LLC lifted its position in Valhi by 1.1% during the fourth quarter. Bridgeway Capital Management LLC now owns 234,976 shares of the basic materials company's stock valued at $5,496,000 after acquiring an additional 2,600 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Jacobs Levy Equity Management Inc. increased its stake in shares of Valhi by 52.9% in the fourth quarter. Jacobs Levy Equity Management Inc. now owns 50,414 shares of the basic materials company's stock worth $1,179,000 after acquiring an additional 17,439 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 3.83% of the company's stock.

Valhi Company Profile

Valhi, Inc engages in the chemicals, component products, and real estate management and development businesses in Europe, North America, the Asia Pacific, and internationally. The company's Chemicals segment produces and markets titanium dioxide pigments (TiO2), which are white inorganic pigments used in various applications by paint, plastics, decorative laminate, and paper manufacturers.