Valhi (NYSE:VHI) Stock Price Up 5.5% – Time to Buy?

Valhi, Inc. (NYSE:VHI) shares traded up 5.5% during mid-day trading on Monday . The stock traded as high as $27.01 and last traded at $27.01. 11,709 shares traded hands during trading, a decline of 29% from the average session volume of 16,581 shares. The stock had previously closed at $25.60.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities analysts recently commented on VHI shares. Barclays raised their target price on Valhi from $11.00 to $20.00 and gave the stock an “underweight” rating in a report on Wednesday, September 25th. StockNews.com cut Valhi from a “strong-buy” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Monday, November 11th.

Valhi Stock Performance

The stock has a market cap of $749.95 million, a P/E ratio of 8.21 and a beta of 1.20. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $32.51 and a 200 day moving average price of $25.13. The company has a quick ratio of 1.65, a current ratio of 2.79 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.39.

Valhi Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, December 19th. Investors of record on Friday, November 29th will be issued a $0.08 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, November 29th. This represents a $0.32 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.21%. Valhi’s payout ratio is 10.26%.

Institutional Trading of Valhi

Large investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. Segall Bryant & Hamill LLC purchased a new stake in Valhi during the third quarter worth $1,409,000. Empowered Funds LLC increased its position in shares of Valhi by 10.1% in the 3rd quarter. Empowered Funds LLC now owns 138,849 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $4,633,000 after acquiring an additional 12,720 shares during the period. CWA Asset Management Group LLC acquired a new position in shares of Valhi in the 3rd quarter valued at $408,000. Ritholtz Wealth Management acquired a new stake in Valhi during the 3rd quarter worth about $244,000. Finally, Barclays PLC grew its position in Valhi by 322.8% during the 3rd quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 3,129 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $104,000 after purchasing an additional 2,389 shares during the period. 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.