NL Industries (NYSE:NL) Stock Passes Below 200 Day Moving Average - Should You Sell?

NL Industries, Inc. (NYSE:NL - Get Free Report) shares passed below its 200-day moving average during trading on Thursday . The stock has a 200-day moving average of $7.49 and traded as low as $6.78. NL Industries shares last traded at $6.93, with a volume of 11,889 shares changing hands.

NL Industries Price Performance

The company's 50 day moving average price is $7.41 and its 200 day moving average price is $7.51. The firm has a market capitalization of $356.83 million, a P/E ratio of 6.09 and a beta of 0.56.

NL Industries (NYSE:NL - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, March 6th. The basic materials company reported $0.34 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.21 by $0.13. NL Industries had a net margin of 38.69% and a return on equity of 14.74%. The business had revenue of $38.40 million for the quarter.

NL Industries Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 27th. Investors of record on Tuesday, March 11th will be issued a $0.09 dividend. This is a positive change from NL Industries's previous quarterly dividend of $0.08. This represents a $0.36 annualized dividend and a yield of 4.93%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, March 11th. NL Industries's dividend payout ratio is currently 26.09%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On NL Industries

Several large investors have recently bought and sold shares of NL. Raymond James Financial Inc. acquired a new position in NL Industries in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $1,622,000. Wealthstar Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in NL Industries in the fourth quarter worth $670,000. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP raised its holdings in NL Industries by 1.1% in the fourth 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. Aristides Capital LLC raised its holdings in NL Industries by 5.3% in the fourth quarter. Aristides Capital LLC now owns 426,626 shares of the basic materials company's stock worth $3,315,000 after purchasing an additional 21,313 shares during the period. Finally, BNP Paribas Financial Markets raised its holdings in NL Industries by 1,454.4% in the third quarter. BNP Paribas Financial Markets now owns 22,492 shares of the basic materials company's stock worth $167,000 after purchasing an additional 21,045 shares during the period. 10.67% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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NL Industries Company Profile

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.