Valhi (NYSE:VHI) Share Price Crosses Below 200 Day Moving Average - Should You Sell?

Valhi, Inc. (NYSE:VHI - Get Free Report) 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 trading hands.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research analysts have recently issued reports on the company. Barclays dropped their target price on Valhi from $20.00 to $12.00 and set an "underweight" rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, May 28th. Wall Street Zen raised Valhi from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a report on Tuesday, May 20th.

Valhi Price Performance

The company has a quick ratio of 1.29, a current ratio of 2.67 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.37. The company has a market cap of $495.99 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 4.28 and a beta of 1.29. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $16.32 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $17.93.

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

Valhi Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, June 26th. Investors of record on Monday, June 9th were paid a dividend of $0.08 per share. This represents a $0.32 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.83%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, June 9th. Valhi's payout ratio is currently 7.80%.

Institutional Trading of Valhi

A number of large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. CWA Asset Management Group LLC lifted its position in Valhi by 11.2% during the first quarter. CWA Asset Management Group LLC now owns 18,512 shares of the basic materials company's stock worth $301,000 after buying an additional 1,870 shares during the period. GAMMA Investing LLC lifted its position in Valhi by 6,670.8% during the first quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 1,625 shares of the basic materials company's stock worth $26,000 after buying an additional 1,601 shares during the period. Squarepoint Ops LLC purchased a new position in Valhi during the fourth quarter worth about $315,000. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio lifted its position in Valhi by 105.8% during the fourth quarter. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio now owns 2,488 shares of the basic materials company's stock worth $58,000 after buying an additional 1,279 shares during the period. Finally, Millennium Management LLC purchased a new position in Valhi during the fourth quarter worth about $203,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds 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.