Valhi (NYSE:VHI) Shares Gap Up to $17.38

Valhi, Inc. (NYSE:VHI) shares gapped up prior to trading on Tuesday . The stock had previously closed at $17.38, but opened at $17.74. Valhi shares last traded at $17.74, with a volume of 263 shares traded.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

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

Valhi Trading Down 2.0 %

The company’s fifty day simple moving average is $17.71 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $15.80. 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 $486.87 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 860.50 and a beta of 1.27.

Valhi (NYSE:VHI) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, May 9th. The basic materials company reported $0.27 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. Valhi had a net margin of 0.03% and a return on equity of 0.05%. The company had revenue of $530.60 million during the quarter.

Valhi Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, June 27th. Stockholders of record on Monday, June 10th were given a dividend of $0.08 per share. This represents a $0.32 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.86%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, June 10th. Valhi’s dividend payout ratio is 1,600.00%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Valhi

An institutional investor recently raised its position in Valhi stock. Empowered Funds LLC lifted its stake in shares of Valhi, Inc. (NYSE:VHI) by 8.1% in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 117,129 shares of the basic materials company’s stock after acquiring an additional 8,750 shares during the period. Empowered Funds LLC owned approximately 0.41% of Valhi worth $2,012,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 3.83% of the company’s stock.

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.