Kronos Worldwide (NYSE:KRO) Shares Gap Down on Disappointing Earnings

Shares of Kronos Worldwide Inc (NYSE:KRO) gapped down before the market opened on Tuesday after the company announced weaker than expected quarterly earnings. The stock had previously closed at $5.42, but opened at $5.21. Kronos Worldwide shares last traded at $5.58, with a volume of 90,341 shares trading hands.

The specialty chemicals company reported ($0.72) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of ($0.26) by ($0.46). The company had revenue of $418.30 million for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $373.26 million. Kronos Worldwide had a negative net margin of 2.22% and a negative return on equity of 3.09%.

Kronos Worldwide Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 19th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, March 10th will be paid a dividend of $0.05 per share. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, March 10th. This represents a $0.20 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.6%. Kronos Worldwide’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently -55.56%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research analysts have commented on the company. Zacks Research raised Kronos Worldwide from a “strong sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Monday, February 2nd. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a “sell (d)” rating on shares of Kronos Worldwide in a report on Monday, December 29th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group decreased their target price on shares of Kronos Worldwide from $6.00 to $5.00 and set a “sell” rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, December 16th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Hold rating and three have assigned a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Strong Sell” and a consensus target price of $6.00.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Kronos Worldwide

Large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. AQR Capital Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Kronos Worldwide by 478.7% during the 1st quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 125,969 shares of the specialty chemicals company’s stock worth $942,000 after acquiring an additional 104,202 shares during the period. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Kronos Worldwide by 11.1% in the first quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 220,663 shares of the specialty chemicals company’s stock valued at $1,651,000 after buying an additional 22,046 shares during the last quarter. Jane Street Group LLC raised its position in Kronos Worldwide by 20.3% in the 1st quarter. Jane Street Group LLC now owns 24,368 shares of the specialty chemicals company’s stock worth $182,000 after purchasing an additional 4,104 shares during the last quarter. Teacher Retirement System of Texas boosted its position in Kronos Worldwide by 4.1% in the 2nd quarter. Teacher Retirement System of Texas now owns 69,020 shares of the specialty chemicals company’s stock valued at $428,000 after buying an additional 2,744 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Campbell & CO Investment Adviser LLC raised its holdings in Kronos Worldwide by 52.3% during the 2nd quarter. Campbell & CO Investment Adviser LLC now owns 106,271 shares of the specialty chemicals company’s stock worth $659,000 after purchasing an additional 36,499 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 15.11% of the company’s stock.

Kronos Worldwide Price Performance

The company has a quick ratio of 1.47, a current ratio of 3.83 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.78. The firm has a market capitalization of $647.50 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -15.71 and a beta of 1.12. The company’s fifty day moving average is $5.60 and its two-hundred day moving average is $5.37.

Kronos Worldwide Company Profile

Kronos Worldwide, Inc is a leading global producer of titanium dioxide (TiO₂) pigments, a white pigment widely used in paints, coatings, plastics, paper, and many other industrial and consumer applications. Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, the company markets its products under the “Kronos” brand and has built a reputation for high-quality pigment performance, technical support, and reliable supply. Kronos serves a diverse customer base across coatings manufacturers, plastic compounders, and paper producers, delivering solutions tailored to enhance opacity, color strength, and durability.

In addition to its core TiO₂ offerings, Kronos produces and markets iron oxide pigments and zircon-based specialty chemicals, expanding its portfolio to meet the needs of markets such as construction, ceramics, and glass.