Kronos Worldwide (NYSE:KRO) Upgraded at StockNews.com

StockNews.com upgraded shares of Kronos Worldwide (NYSE:KRO) from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report sent to investors on Tuesday morning.

Kronos Worldwide Stock Performance

KRO stock opened at $7.90 on Tuesday. The company has a quick ratio of 1.30, a current ratio of 2.68 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.56. The company has a market capitalization of $908.21 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.75 and a beta of 1.16. Kronos Worldwide has a 12 month low of $7.17 and a 12 month high of $14.50. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $8.96 and a two-hundred day moving average of $10.36.

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

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 issued a dividend of $0.05 per share. This represents a $0.20 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.53%. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, March 11th. Kronos Worldwide’s dividend payout ratio is currently 27.03%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, Director Kevin B. Kramer bought 14,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, March 11th. The stock was 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 trade represents a 187.67 % increase in their ownership of the stock. The purchase was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. 0.11% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Kronos Worldwide

Several large investors have recently bought and sold shares of KRO. Federated Hermes Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Kronos Worldwide in the 4th quarter valued at $25,000. KLP Kapitalforvaltning AS acquired a new position in shares of Kronos Worldwide in the 4th quarter valued at $30,000. Aquatic Capital Management LLC raised its stake in shares of Kronos Worldwide by 144.8% in the 4th quarter. Aquatic Capital Management LLC now owns 3,183 shares of the specialty chemicals company’s stock valued at $31,000 after buying an additional 1,883 shares in the last quarter. State of Wyoming raised its stake in shares of Kronos Worldwide by 28.1% in the 4th quarter. State of Wyoming now owns 5,031 shares of the specialty chemicals company’s stock valued at $49,000 after buying an additional 1,105 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Quantbot Technologies LP acquired a new position in shares of Kronos Worldwide in the 3rd quarter valued at $67,000. 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.