NL Industries, Inc. (NYSE:NL) Short Interest Update

NL Industries, Inc. (NYSE:NL) was the recipient of a large increase in short interest in March. As of March 15th, there was short interest totalling 90,900 shares, an increase of 21.8% from the February 28th total of 74,600 shares. Approximately 1.1% of the company’s stock are sold short. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 28,700 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 3.2 days.

NL Industries Stock Down 5.8 %

NL traded down $0.46 during midday trading on Thursday, hitting $7.41. 11,831 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 34,480. The company’s 50-day moving average is $7.43 and its 200 day moving average is $7.64. The firm has a market capitalization of $361.96 million, a PE ratio of 6.18 and a beta of 0.56. NL Industries has a 52 week low of $5.20 and a 52 week high of $9.42.

NL Industries (NYSE:NL) last released its quarterly earnings results 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. The firm had revenue of $38.40 million for the quarter. NL Industries had a return on equity of 14.74% and a net margin of 38.69%.

NL Industries Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, March 27th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, March 11th were given a dividend of $0.09 per share. This is an increase from NL Industries’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.08. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, March 11th. This represents a $0.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.86%. NL Industries’s payout ratio is presently 26.09%.

Insider Activity

In related news, Director Kevin B. Kramer acquired 6,500 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, March 11th. The stock was acquired at an average price of $6.59 per share, for a total transaction of $42,835.00. Following the completion of the purchase, the director now owns 9,350 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $61,616.50. This represents a 228.07 % increase in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Company insiders own 0.26% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Trading of NL Industries

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Lazard Asset Management LLC raised its stake in NL Industries by 42.9% during the 4th quarter. Lazard Asset Management LLC now owns 9,556 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $74,000 after acquiring an additional 2,871 shares during the period. Barclays PLC raised its position in shares of NL Industries by 311.4% during the 3rd quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 11,934 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $89,000 after purchasing an additional 9,033 shares during the period. Rhumbline Advisers lifted its stake in shares of NL Industries by 17.6% during the 4th quarter. Rhumbline Advisers now owns 14,816 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $115,000 after buying an additional 2,217 shares in the last quarter. WINTON GROUP Ltd bought a new position in NL Industries in the 4th quarter worth $159,000. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased its stake in NL Industries by 112.1% in the 3rd quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 22,357 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $166,000 after buying an additional 11,815 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 10.67% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Separately, StockNews.com downgraded shares of NL Industries from a “strong-buy” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Monday, March 10th.

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.