NL Industries, Inc. (NYSE:NL) Short Interest Up 20.6% in January

NL Industries, Inc. (NYSE:NL) was the target of a large increase in short interest during the month of January. As of January 15th, there was short interest totaling 117,104 shares, an increase of 20.6% from the December 31st total of 97,120 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 89,737 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 1.3 days. Approximately 0.2% of the company’s stock are sold short. Approximately 0.2% of the company’s stock are sold short. Based on an average trading volume of 89,737 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 1.3 days.

NL Industries Stock Performance

Shares of NL stock traded up $0.28 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, hitting $6.20. 34,835 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 78,566. The stock’s fifty day simple moving average is $5.80 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $5.98. The stock has a market capitalization of $302.93 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 31.00 and a beta of 0.27. NL Industries has a 12-month low of $5.04 and a 12-month high of $9.27.

NL Industries (NYSE:NL) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, November 6th. The basic materials company reported ($0.16) earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.18 by ($0.34). The firm had revenue of $40.00 million during the quarter. NL Industries had a net margin of 6.10% and a return on equity of 2.36%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Separately, Weiss Ratings restated a “hold (c-)” rating on shares of NL Industries in a research note on Monday, December 29th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Hold rating, According to MarketBeat.com, NL Industries currently has an average rating of “Hold”.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On NL Industries

Hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the business. Millennium Management LLC raised its position in NL Industries by 179.0% in the 3rd quarter. Millennium Management LLC now owns 33,077 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $203,000 after purchasing an additional 21,223 shares during the last quarter. Bridgeway Capital Management LLC grew its position in NL Industries by 9.6% during the 3rd quarter. Bridgeway Capital Management LLC now owns 276,064 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $1,698,000 after purchasing an additional 24,132 shares during the last quarter. Squarepoint Ops LLC acquired a new position in NL Industries in the third quarter valued at $126,000. Segall Bryant & Hamill LLC raised its holdings in shares of NL Industries by 70.0% in the third quarter. Segall Bryant & Hamill LLC now owns 93,864 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $577,000 after buying an additional 38,640 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Rhumbline Advisers boosted its stake in shares of NL Industries by 73.6% during the third quarter. Rhumbline Advisers now owns 23,547 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $145,000 after buying an additional 9,984 shares during the period. 10.67% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

About NL Industries

NL Industries, Inc is a U.S.-based industrial minerals company whose primary focus is the mining, upgrading and marketing of titanium feedstocks. The company’s products include synthetic rutile and chloride slag, which serve as key raw materials for producers of titanium dioxide pigment. These pigments are widely used as whitening and opacifying agents in coatings, plastics, paper and specialty applications.

NL Industries serves a global customer base, supplying feedstocks under long-term agreements and through spot transactions.