Valhi (NYSE:VHI) Sees Unusually-High Trading Volume - Here's Why

Shares of Valhi, Inc. (NYSE:VHI - Get Free Report) saw strong trading volume on Monday . 29,575 shares changed hands during trading, an increase of 99% from the previous session's volume of 14,848 shares.The stock last traded at $35.53 and had previously closed at $41.30.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of brokerages have recently issued reports on VHI. StockNews.com upgraded shares of Valhi from a "buy" rating to a "strong-buy" rating in a report on Monday, August 12th. Barclays upped their price objective on shares of Valhi from $11.00 to $20.00 and gave the stock an "underweight" rating in a research report on Wednesday, September 25th.

Valhi Trading Down 25.6 %

The firm has a market capitalization of $869.66 million, a P/E ratio of 11.55 and a beta of 1.29. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $32.90 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $23.94. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.39, a current ratio of 3.49 and a quick ratio of 2.24.

Valhi (NYSE:VHI - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, August 8th. The basic materials company reported $0.70 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $0.29 by $0.41. Valhi had a net margin of 4.29% and a return on equity of 7.04%. The business had revenue of $559.70 million for the quarter.

Valhi Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, December 19th. Investors of record on Friday, November 29th will be given a $0.08 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, November 29th. This represents a $0.32 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.04%. Valhi's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 10.26%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Valhi

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Segall Bryant & Hamill LLC purchased a new position in shares of Valhi during the third quarter worth about $1,409,000. Empowered Funds LLC increased its holdings in shares of Valhi by 10.1% in the 3rd quarter. Empowered Funds LLC now owns 138,849 shares of the basic materials company's stock worth $4,633,000 after buying an additional 12,720 shares during the last quarter. CWA Asset Management Group LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Valhi during the 3rd quarter valued at $408,000. Ritholtz Wealth Management purchased a new position in Valhi in the third quarter worth $244,000. Finally, Jacobs Levy Equity Management Inc. increased its stake in Valhi by 28.4% in the first quarter. Jacobs Levy Equity Management Inc. now owns 20,879 shares of the basic materials company's stock valued at $359,000 after acquiring an additional 4,620 shares during the last quarter. 3.83% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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.

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