Kronos Worldwide (NYSE:KRO) Trading Down 3.7% – Should You Sell?

Kronos Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE:KRO)’s share price fell 3.7% during mid-day trading on Tuesday . The stock traded as low as $6.85 and last traded at $6.85. 20,489 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 90% from the average session volume of 202,394 shares. The stock had previously closed at $7.11.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Separately, StockNews.com upgraded shares of Kronos Worldwide from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Tuesday, March 18th.

Kronos Worldwide Stock Performance

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.56, a current ratio of 2.68 and a quick ratio of 1.30. The stock has a market capitalization of $792.60 million, a PE ratio of 8.51 and a beta of 1.21. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $8.04 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $9.80.

Kronos Worldwide (NYSE:KRO) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, March 6th. The specialty chemicals company reported ($0.12) EPS for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.19 by ($0.31). Kronos Worldwide had a return on equity of 11.74% and a net margin of 5.05%. The business had revenue of $423.10 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $494.19 million.

Kronos Worldwide Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, March 20th. Investors of record on Tuesday, March 11th were paid a dividend of $0.05 per share. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, March 11th. This represents a $0.20 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.90%. Kronos Worldwide’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 27.03%.

Insider Transactions at Kronos Worldwide

In other Kronos Worldwide news, Director Kevin B. Kramer bought 14,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, March 11th. The shares were purchased at an average cost of $7.43 per share, for a total transaction of $104,020.00. Following the purchase, the director now directly owns 21,460 shares in the company, valued at $159,447.80. This represents a 187.67 % increase in their ownership of the stock. The acquisition was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Insiders own 0.11% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Kronos Worldwide

A number of large investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. lifted its position in Kronos Worldwide by 2.2% during the 3rd quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 179,652 shares of the specialty chemicals company’s stock worth $2,237,000 after acquiring an additional 3,833 shares during the period. State Street Corp raised its stake in shares of Kronos Worldwide by 1.4% during the 3rd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 575,541 shares of the specialty chemicals company’s stock valued at $7,165,000 after buying an additional 8,218 shares during the last quarter. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio lifted its holdings in shares of Kronos Worldwide by 40.9% in the 3rd quarter. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio now owns 28,055 shares of the specialty chemicals company’s stock valued at $349,000 after buying an additional 8,150 shares during the period. Barclays PLC grew its holdings in Kronos Worldwide by 329.5% during the third quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 33,695 shares of the specialty chemicals company’s stock worth $419,000 after acquiring an additional 25,849 shares during the period. Finally, Rhumbline Advisers grew its holdings in Kronos Worldwide by 8.7% during the fourth quarter. Rhumbline Advisers now owns 34,948 shares of the specialty chemicals company’s stock worth $341,000 after acquiring an additional 2,800 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 15.11% of the company’s stock.

About Kronos Worldwide

Kronos Worldwide, Inc produces and markets titanium dioxide pigments (TiO2) in Europe, North America, the Asia Pacific, and internationally. The company produces TiO2 in two crystalline forms, rutile and anatase to impart whiteness, brightness, opacity, and durability for various products, including paints, coatings, plastics, paper, fibers, and ceramics, as well as for various specialty products, such as inks, foods, and cosmetics.