Kronos Worldwide (NYSE:KRO) Sets New 12-Month Low – Time to Sell?

Shares of Kronos Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE:KRO) reached a new 52-week low during mid-day trading on Thursday . The company traded as low as $6.90 and last traded at $6.96, with a volume of 17699 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at $7.42.

Analyst Ratings Changes

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

Kronos Worldwide Trading Down 3.7 %

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 business’s 50-day simple moving average is $8.51 and its 200-day simple moving average is $10.10. The company has a market cap of $773.04 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 8.30 and a beta of 1.21.

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

Kronos Worldwide Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, March 20th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, March 11th were given 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 2.98%. Kronos Worldwide’s dividend payout ratio is currently 27.03%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, Director Kevin B. Kramer acquired 14,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Tuesday, March 11th. The shares were bought at an average cost of $7.43 per share, with a total value of $104,020.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the director now owns 21,460 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $159,447.80. This trade represents a 187.67 % increase in their ownership of the stock. The acquisition was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. 0.11% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Kronos Worldwide

Several institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of KRO. Squarepoint Ops LLC raised its holdings in Kronos Worldwide by 4.3% during the fourth quarter. Squarepoint Ops LLC now owns 85,379 shares of the specialty chemicals company’s stock worth $832,000 after acquiring an additional 3,498 shares in the last quarter. Two Sigma Advisers LP lifted its stake in Kronos Worldwide by 42.8% during the fourth quarter. Two Sigma Advisers LP now owns 80,100 shares of the specialty chemicals company’s stock worth $781,000 after purchasing an additional 24,000 shares during the last quarter. State of Wyoming grew its holdings in shares of Kronos Worldwide by 28.1% during the 4th quarter. State of Wyoming now owns 5,031 shares of the specialty chemicals company’s stock valued at $49,000 after purchasing an additional 1,105 shares during the last quarter. Millennium Management LLC grew its holdings in Kronos Worldwide by 55.8% during the 4th quarter. Millennium Management LLC now owns 192,469 shares of the specialty chemicals company’s stock worth $1,877,000 after acquiring an additional 68,959 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Luminus Management LLC bought a new stake in Kronos Worldwide in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $2,538,000. 15.11% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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.