Valhi (NYSE:VHI) Stock Passes Below Two Hundred Day Moving Average - Here's What Happened

Valhi, Inc. (NYSE:VHI - Get Free Report)'s stock price crossed below its 200-day moving average during trading on Monday . The stock has a 200-day moving average of $17.99 and traded as low as $17.80. Valhi shares last traded at $18.07, with a volume of 6,233 shares traded.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research analysts have recently issued reports on VHI shares. Wall Street Zen raised Valhi from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research note on Tuesday, May 20th. Barclays cut their target price on shares of Valhi from $20.00 to $12.00 and set an "underweight" rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, May 28th.

Valhi Stock Up 0.0%

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.37, a quick ratio of 1.29 and a current ratio of 2.67. The company has a market cap of $505.07 million, a PE ratio of 4.35 and a beta of 1.29. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $16.33 and a 200 day simple moving average of $17.96.

Valhi (NYSE:VHI - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, May 8th. The basic materials company reported $0.59 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.66 by ($0.07). Valhi had a net margin of 5.54% and a return on equity of 8.60%. The business had revenue of $538.60 million during the quarter.

Valhi Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, June 26th. Stockholders of record on Monday, June 9th were issued a dividend of $0.08 per share. This represents a $0.32 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.79%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, June 9th. Valhi's payout ratio is currently 7.80%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Valhi

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. CWA Asset Management Group LLC raised its position in shares of Valhi by 11.2% in the 1st quarter. CWA Asset Management Group LLC now owns 18,512 shares of the basic materials company's stock valued at $301,000 after purchasing an additional 1,870 shares in the last quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC raised its position in shares of Valhi by 6,670.8% in the 1st quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 1,625 shares of the basic materials company's stock valued at $26,000 after purchasing an additional 1,601 shares in the last quarter. Squarepoint Ops LLC acquired a new position in shares of Valhi in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $315,000. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio raised its position in shares of Valhi by 105.8% in the 4th quarter. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio now owns 2,488 shares of the basic materials company's stock valued at $58,000 after purchasing an additional 1,279 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Millennium Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Valhi in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $203,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 3.83% of the company's stock.

About Valhi

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.