Valhi (NYSE:VHI) Stock Price Down 4%

Valhi, Inc. (NYSE:VHI) shares dropped 4% on Tuesday . The stock traded as low as $18.84 and last traded at $18.84. Approximately 964 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 86% from the average daily volume of 6,774 shares. The stock had previously closed at $19.62.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Separately, StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of Valhi in a report on Wednesday. They issued a “buy” rating on the stock.

Valhi Trading Up 3.0 %

The company’s fifty day simple moving average is $16.11 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $14.68. The company has a quick ratio of 2.14, a current ratio of 3.45 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.41. The company has a market capitalization of $546.00 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 965.00 and a beta of 1.42.

Valhi (NYSE:VHI) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, March 7th. The basic materials company reported $0.14 earnings per share for the quarter. Valhi had a net margin of 0.03% and a return on equity of 0.05%. The company had revenue of $453.00 million for the quarter.

Valhi Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, March 26th. Stockholders of record on Monday, March 11th were given a dividend of $0.08 per share. This represents a $0.32 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.66%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, March 8th. Valhi’s dividend payout ratio is 1,600.00%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Valhi

A hedge fund recently raised its stake in Valhi stock. Jacobs Levy Equity Management Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Valhi, Inc. (NYSE:VHI) by 28.4% in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 20,879 shares of the basic materials company’s stock after acquiring an additional 4,620 shares during the period. Jacobs Levy Equity Management Inc. owned approximately 0.07% of Valhi worth $359,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. 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.