Advertisement

Subdued Growth No Barrier To NL Industries, Inc. (NYSE:NL) With Shares Advancing 28%

The NL Industries, Inc. (NYSE:NL) share price has done very well over the last month, posting an excellent gain of 28%. Looking further back, the 11% rise over the last twelve months isn't too bad notwithstanding the strength over the last 30 days.

In spite of the firm bounce in price, you could still be forgiven for feeling indifferent about NL Industries' P/E ratio of 19.9x, since the median price-to-earnings (or "P/E") ratio in the United States is also close to 18x. While this might not raise any eyebrows, if the P/E ratio is not justified investors could be missing out on a potential opportunity or ignoring looming disappointment.

NL Industries certainly has been doing a great job lately as it's been growing earnings at a really rapid pace. The P/E is probably moderate because investors think this strong earnings growth might not be enough to outperform the broader market in the near future. If you like the company, you'd be hoping this isn't the case so that you could potentially pick up some stock while it's not quite in favour.

See our latest analysis for NL Industries

pe
pe

Want the full picture on earnings, revenue and cash flow for the company? Then our free report on NL Industries will help you shine a light on its historical performance.

Is There Some Growth For NL Industries?

There's an inherent assumption that a company should be matching the market for P/E ratios like NL Industries' to be considered reasonable.

If we review the last year of earnings growth, the company posted a terrific increase of 31%. However, this wasn't enough as the latest three year period has seen a very unpleasant 83% drop in EPS in aggregate. So unfortunately, we have to acknowledge that the company has not done a great job of growing earnings over that time.

Weighing that medium-term earnings trajectory against the broader market's one-year forecast for expansion of 5.4% shows it's an unpleasant look.

With this information, we find it concerning that NL Industries is trading at a fairly similar P/E to the market. Apparently many investors in the company are way less bearish than recent times would indicate and aren't willing to let go of their stock right now. There's a good chance existing shareholders are setting themselves up for future disappointment if the P/E falls to levels more in line with the recent negative growth rates.

The Bottom Line On NL Industries' P/E

NL Industries' stock has a lot of momentum behind it lately, which has brought its P/E level with the market. Generally, our preference is to limit the use of the price-to-earnings ratio to establishing what the market thinks about the overall health of a company.

Our examination of NL Industries revealed its shrinking earnings over the medium-term aren't impacting its P/E as much as we would have predicted, given the market is set to grow. When we see earnings heading backwards and underperforming the market forecasts, we suspect the share price is at risk of declining, sending the moderate P/E lower. Unless the recent medium-term conditions improve, it's challenging to accept these prices as being reasonable.

It's always necessary to consider the ever-present spectre of investment risk. We've identified 3 warning signs with NL Industries, and understanding these should be part of your investment process.

If these risks are making you reconsider your opinion on NL Industries, explore our interactive list of high quality stocks to get an idea of what else is out there.

This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com.