Valhi, Inc. (NYSE:VHI) Trades Undervalued; Free Cash Flow Signals Near-Term Stability

Valhi enters the next quarter with a defensive cash position and positive free cash flow that support the WMDST valuation, while short-term momentum indicators suggest a near-term pullback risk.

Recent News

On April 14, 2026 Valhi announced it expects to issue first-quarter 2026 results after market close on May 7, 2026. On March 5, 2026 the board declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.08 per share, payable March 31, 2026 to holders of record March 16, 2026.

Technical Analysis

Directional indicators show an emerging trend: ADX sits at 21.61, consistent with an emerging trend rather than a strong directional move, which tempers conviction in any breakout or breakdown in the coming weeks.

DI+ exhibits a peak-and-reversal while DI- shows a dip-and-reversal; both patterns point toward increased downside pressure from directional indicators, reinforcing bearish directional momentum for the near term.

MACD presents a mixed read: the MACD line currently sits above its signal line (MACD 0.19 versus signal 0.14), which reflects a recent bullish crossover, but the MACD trend shows a peak-and-reversal, indicating bearish momentum pressure has returned after that crossover.

MRO reads 26.61 and the oscillator trend increases; because the MRO sits positive, price sits above the model target and carries a higher probability of mean reversion downward over the near term, given the rising oscillator.

RSI at 51.81 has peaked and reversed, signaling loss of upward momentum from neutral levels rather than an overbought condition; that peak-and-reversal pushes short-term bias lower despite the mid-50s value.

Price sits below the short-term EMAs and near the 20-day average: the 12-day EMA at $14.60 and the 20-day average at $14.51 both lie above the close of $14.32, while the 50-day average ($14.07) sits below current price. This configuration implies recent strength has faded and the stock trades between short- and medium-term moving-average support and resistance.

Bollinger band placement shows the close near the mid-band (lower 1σ $14.08, upper 1σ $14.93), consistent with reduced directional volatility; 42-day beta at 0.62 versus 52-week beta 1.06 suggests shorter-term volatility compressed relative to the longer-term baseline.

 


Fundamental Analysis

Profitability remains challenged: EBIT stands at -$66.5M with an EBIT margin of -13.45%, which sits above the industry peer low but below the industry peer mean and median for EBIT margin (industry peer mean -0.65%, industry peer median -0.141%). EBIT margin QoQ changed by -10.27448% and YoY changed by -1.78869%.

Revenue dropped: YoY revenue growth measures -81.906% and QoQ revenue growth shows -73.828%; total revenue totaled $494.5M for the period. Gross margin compressed to 6.916% with a YoY decline of -66.939% and a QoQ drop of -42.539%, indicating margin pressure in core chemicals operations.

Balance-sheet and liquidity indicators present strength: cash and short-term investments total $216.9M, operating cash flow $100.6M, and free cash flow $89.8M, yielding a free cash flow yield of 23.07%, which sits above the industry peer mean for free cash flow yield (industry peer mean 7.682%). Current ratio equals 2.80 and quick ratio 1.33, both above typical peer averages, while the cash ratio registers 0.48; net working capital of $809.8M supports near-term obligations.

Leverage and coverage show stress in earnings terms yet manageable nominal debt: total debt $611.6M and debt-to-equity 0.598 (59.8%). Interest coverage remains negative at -4.38x, reflecting operating losses relative to interest expense; debt-to-EBITDA registers negative due to EBITDA of -$49.1M.

Market multiples sit below typical peers: price-to-book equals 0.380 (below the industry peer mean of 1.254), and price-to-sales equals 0.787 (below the industry peer mean of 1.773). Forward P/E stands near 16.39 based on forward EPS $0.81. WMDST values the stock as under-valued given the firm’s cash generation profile and low market multiples despite negative operating margins.

MOST-RECENT QUARTERLY REPORT
REPORT PERIOD ENDING: 2025-12-31
REPORT DATE: 2026-02-05
NEXT REPORT DATE: 2026-05-07
CASH FLOW  Begin Period Cash Flow 223.9 M
 Operating Cash Flow 100.6 M
 Capital Expenditures -10.80 M
 Change In Working Capital 146.5 M
 Dividends Paid -2.30 M
 Cash Flow Delta 4.8 M
 End Period Cash Flow 228.7 M
 
INCOME STATEMENT REVENUE
 Total Revenue 494.5 M
 Forward Revenue -53.64 M
COSTS
 Cost Of Revenue 460.3 M
 Depreciation 17.4 M
 Depreciation and Amortization 17.4 M
 Research and Development
 Total Operating Expenses 537.3 M
PROFITABILITY
 Gross Profit 34.2 M
 EBITDA -49.10 M
 EBIT -66.50 M
 Operating Income -42.80 M
 Interest Income 4.2 M
 Interest Expense 15.2 M
 Net Interest Income -11.00 M
 Income Before Tax -81.70 M
 Tax Provision -18.40 M
 Tax Rate 22.521 %
 Net Income -53.20 M
 Net Income From Continuing Operations -63.30 M
EARNINGS
 EPS Estimate
 EPS Actual
 EPS Difference
 EPS Surprise
 Forward EPS 0.81
 
BALANCE SHEET ASSETS
 Total Assets 2.6 B
 Intangible Assets 382.3 M
 Net Tangible Assets 640.9 M
 Total Current Assets 1.3 B
 Cash and Short-Term Investments 216.9 M
 Cash 214.0 M
 Net Receivables 285.1 M
 Inventory 659.8 M
 Long-Term Investments 26.8 M
LIABILITIES
 Accounts Payable 231.3 M
 Short-Term Debt 800.0 K
 Total Current Liabilities 449.3 M
 Net Debt 377.7 M
 Total Debt 611.6 M
 Total Liabilities 1.3 B
EQUITY
 Total Equity 1.0 B
 Retained Earnings 508.0 M
VALUATION & PER-SHARE METRICS EQUITY & PER-SHARE METRICS
 Book Value Per-Share 35.90
 Shares Outstanding 28.500 M
 Revenue Per-Share 17.35
VALUATION
 Market Capitalization 389.2 M
 Enterprise Value 783.9 M
 Enterprise Multiple -15.966
Enterprise Multiple QoQ -141.914 %
Enterprise Multiple YoY -563.854 %
Enterprise Multiple IPRWA high: 70.624
median: 70.624
mean: 24.233
VHI: -15.966
low: -210.451
 EV/R 1.585
CAPITAL STRUCTURE
 Asset To Equity 2.573
 Asset To Liability 2.075
 Debt To Capital 0.374
 Debt To Assets 0.232
Debt To Assets QoQ -7.644 %
Debt To Assets YoY 723.609 %
Debt To Assets IPRWA high: 1.142
mean: 0.481
median: 0.43
VHI: 0.232
low: 0.001
 Debt To Equity 0.598
Debt To Equity QoQ -8.355 %
Debt To Equity YoY 683.908 %
Debt To Equity IPRWA high: 2.392
median: 1.452
mean: 0.711
VHI: 0.598
low: -4.417
PRICE-BASED VALUATION
 Price To Book (P/B) 0.38
Price To Book QoQ -7.943 %
Price To Book YoY -35.048 %
Price To Book IPRWA high: 2.791
median: 1.517
mean: 1.254
VHI: 0.38
low: -0.19
 Price To Earnings (P/E)
Price To Earnings QoQ
Price To Earnings YoY
Price To Earnings IPRWA
 PE/G Ratio
 Price To Sales (P/S) 0.787
Price To Sales QoQ -8.442 %
Price To Sales YoY -37.621 %
Price To Sales IPRWA high: 2.234
median: 2.157
mean: 1.773
VHI: 0.787
low: 0.026
FORWARD MULTIPLES
Forward P/E 16.391
Forward PE/G
Forward P/S -7.255
EFFICIENCY OPERATIONAL
 Operating Leverage 565.575
ASSET & SALES
 Asset Turnover Ratio 0.185
Asset Turnover Ratio QoQ 0.609 %
Asset Turnover Ratio YoY 7.43 %
Asset Turnover Ratio IPRWA high: 0.278
median: 0.209
mean: 0.205
VHI: 0.185
low: 0.078
 Receivables Turnover 1.585
Receivables Turnover Ratio QoQ 6.728 %
Receivables Turnover Ratio YoY 6.849 %
Receivables Turnover Ratio IPRWA high: 4.902
mean: 2.892
median: 2.736
VHI: 1.585
low: 1.418
 Inventory Turnover 0.682
Inventory Turnover Ratio QoQ 8.346 %
Inventory Turnover Ratio YoY 13.195 %
Inventory Turnover Ratio IPRWA high: 1.901
median: 1.701
mean: 1.598
VHI: 0.682
low: 0.414
 Days Sales Outstanding (DSO) 57.573
CASH CYCLE
 Cash Conversion Cycle Days (CCC) 155.694
Cash Conversion Cycle Days QoQ -5.455 %
Cash Conversion Cycle Days YoY 0.834 %
Cash Conversion Cycle Days IPRWA high: 207.951
VHI: 155.694
mean: 51.862
median: 48.873
low: -6.528
CAPITAL DEPLOYMENT
 Cash Conversion Ratio 0.611
 CapEx To Revenue -0.022
 CapEx To Depreciation -0.621
 
CAPITAL, LIQUIDITY & COVERAGE CAPITAL STRUCTURE
 Total Capital 1.6 B
 Net Invested Capital 1.6 B
 Invested Capital 1.6 B
 Net Tangible Assets 640.9 M
 Net Working Capital 809.8 M
LIQUIDITY
 Cash Ratio 0.483
 Current Ratio 2.802
Current Ratio QoQ -22.911 %
Current Ratio YoY 24.108 %
Current Ratio IPRWA VHI: 2.802
high: 2.797
median: 1.773
mean: 1.662
low: 0.757
 Quick Ratio 1.334
Quick Ratio QoQ -24.336 %
Quick Ratio YoY 11.829 %
Quick Ratio IPRWA high: 2.743
VHI: 1.334
median: 1.197
mean: 1.075
low: 0.498
COVERAGE & LEVERAGE
 Debt To EBITDA -12.456
 Cost Of Debt 1.819 %
 Interest Coverage Ratio -4.375
Interest Coverage Ratio QoQ -992.985 %
Interest Coverage Ratio YoY -170.96 %
Interest Coverage Ratio IPRWA high: 0.641
median: -0.076
mean: -0.608
VHI: -4.375
low: -5.09
 Operating Cash Flow Ratio 0.253
TIMING / LIQUIDITY
 Days Payables Outstanding (DPO) 41.02
DIVIDENDS
 Dividend Coverage Ratio -23.13
 Dividend Payout Ratio -0.043
 Dividend Rate 0.08
 Dividend Yield 0.006
PERFORMANCE GROWTH
 Asset Growth Rate -3.071 %
 Revenue Growth -1.787 %
Revenue Growth QoQ -73.828 %
Revenue Growth YoY -81.906 %
Revenue Growth IPRWA high: 4.581 %
VHI: -1.787 %
mean: -6.577 %
median: -8.231 %
low: -10.845 %
 Earnings Growth
Earnings Growth QoQ
Earnings Growth YoY
Earnings Growth IPRWA
MARGINS
 Gross Margin 6.916 %
Gross Margin QoQ -42.539 %
Gross Margin YoY -66.939 %
Gross Margin IPRWA high: 32.09 %
VHI: 6.916 %
median: 4.724 %
mean: 4.339 %
low: -3.428 %
 EBIT Margin -13.448 %
EBIT Margin QoQ -1027.448 %
EBIT Margin YoY -178.869 %
EBIT Margin IPRWA high: 27.847 %
median: -0.141 %
mean: -0.65 %
VHI: -13.448 %
low: -24.011 %
 Return On Sales (ROS) -8.655 %
Return On Sales QoQ 156.368 %
Return On Sales YoY -150.759 %
Return On Sales IPRWA high: 27.785 %
median: -1.001 %
mean: -1.158 %
VHI: -8.655 %
low: -23.634 %
CASH FLOW
 Free Cash Flow (FCF) 89.8 M
 Free Cash Flow Yield 23.072 %
Free Cash Flow Yield QoQ -911.823 %
Free Cash Flow Yield YoY 320.408 %
Free Cash Flow Yield IPRWA high: 37.999 %
VHI: 23.072 %
mean: 7.682 %
median: 6.912 %
low: -1.652 %
 Free Cash Growth -830.081 %
Free Cash Growth QoQ 252.978 %
Free Cash Growth YoY -210.113 %
Free Cash Growth IPRWA high: 83.189 %
median: 83.189 %
mean: -35.993 %
low: -681.982 %
VHI: -830.081 %
 Free Cash To Net Income -1.688
 Cash Flow Margin 22.952 %
 Cash Flow To Earnings -2.133
VALUE & RETURNS
 Economic Value Added 0.03
 Return On Assets (ROA) -1.99 %
Return On Assets QoQ 145.679 %
Return On Assets YoY -343.873 %
Return On Assets IPRWA high: 1.15 %
median: -0.419 %
VHI: -1.99 %
mean: -2.348 %
low: -12.153 %
 Return On Capital Employed (ROCE) -3.046 %
 Return On Equity (ROE) -0.052
Return On Equity QoQ 145.352 %
Return On Equity YoY -336.211 %
Return On Equity IPRWA high: 0.637
mean: 0.059
median: -0.014
VHI: -0.052
low: -0.124
 DuPont ROE -5.138 %
 Return On Invested Capital (ROIC) -3.19 %
Return On Invested Capital QoQ -1046.588 %
Return On Invested Capital YoY -86.645 %
Return On Invested Capital IPRWA high: 13.636 %
median: -0.041 %
mean: -0.061 %
VHI: -3.19 %
low: -8.683 %

Six-Week Outlook

Price action likely remains range-bound with downside bias over the next six weeks. Technical momentum shows deteriorating short-term strength (MACD and RSI peak-and-reversal, DI+/DI- pattern) while ADX signals only an emerging trend, reducing conviction for a sustained breakout. The positive free cash flow, sizable cash balance and a high free-cash-flow yield support valuation resiliency and limit capital-structure risk, but negative margins and weak interest coverage keep directional risk elevated until operating profitability improves or news alters sentiment. Expect lower volatility near-term unless the upcoming May 7, 2026 report materializes into new fundamental catalysts that shift momentum or reprice peer-relative multiples.

About Valhi, Inc.

Valhi, Inc. (NYSE:VHI) engages in diverse industries, including chemicals, component products, and real estate management and development across Europe, North America, the Asia Pacific, and globally. Within its Chemicals segment, Valhi produces and markets titanium dioxide pigments (TiO2), essential white inorganic pigments utilized by manufacturers in paint, plastics, decorative laminates, and paper industries. These products are marketed under the KRONOS brand through a network of agents and distributors. In the Component Products segment, Valhi manufactures mechanical and electrical cabinet locks and various locking mechanisms, catering to applications such as ignition systems, mailboxes, file cabinets, tool storage, and more. Additionally, the company supplies stainless steel exhaust components, gauges, throttle controls, and related hardware for performance and ski/wakeboard boats. Valhi’s Real Estate Management and Development segment offers utility services to industrial and municipal clients, owns and develops land for commercial, industrial, and residential purposes. The company also manages marketable securities and other investments. Established in 1932 and headquartered in Dallas, Texas, Valhi, Inc. operates as a subsidiary of Dixie Rice Agricultural L.L.C.



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