(KRO) Kronos Worldwide - Overview
Sector: Basic Materials | Industry: Specialty Chemicals | Exchange: NYSE (USA) | Market Cap: 777m USD | Total Return: 4.5% in 12m
Avg Turnover: 2.44M
Qual. Beats: 0
Rev. Trend: 85.9%
Qual. Beats: 0
Warnings
High Debt/EBITDA (219.0) with thin interest coverage (-1.1)
Interest Coverage Ratio -1.1 is critical
Altman Z'' 0.95 < 1.0 - financial distress zone
Below Avwap Earnings
Tailwinds
No distinct edge detected
Kronos Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: KRO) is a global producer of titanium dioxide (TiO2) pigments, operating manufacturing facilities across Europe and North America. The company specializes in both rutile and anatase crystalline forms, which are essential additives used to provide opacity and brightness in paints, plastics, and paper. Beyond its core pigment business, Kronos produces iron-based chemicals for water treatment and ilmenite feedstock for industrial applications.
The TiO2 industry is highly cyclical and functions as a proxy for global industrial health, as demand is closely linked to construction and automotive manufacturing volumes. Kronos operates as a subsidiary of Valhi, Inc., utilizing a distribution network of direct sales and agents to reach specialized manufacturers in the electronics and cosmetic sectors. Investors monitoring this sector may find further data on ValueRay useful for evaluating historical performance trends.
Founded in 1916 and headquartered in Dallas, Texas, the company maintains a vertically integrated model by managing raw material processing alongside specialty chemical production. This diversification allows Kronos to supply niche markets, including the production of electroceramic capacitors for mobile devices and pearlescent pigments for high-end coatings.
- Global demand for architectural coatings and plastics drives titanium dioxide sales volume
- Fluctuating prices of ilmenite feedstock and energy impact gross manufacturing margins
- High exposure to European industrial markets creates sensitivity to regional economic growth
- Antidumping duties and international trade regulations influence competitive pricing and exports
- Shift toward sulfate-process production capacity affects long-term operational cost structure
| Net Income: -133.8m TTM > 0 and > 6% of Revenue |
| FCF/TA: 0.01 > 0.02 and ΔFCF/TA 2.03 > 1.0 |
| NWC/Revenue: 36.05% < 20% (prev 36.65%; Δ -0.60% < -1%) |
| CFO/TA 0.03 > 3% & CFO 55.1m > Net Income -133.8m |
| Current Ratio: 3.18 > 1.5 & < 3 |
| Outstanding Shares: last quarter (115.0m) vs 12m ago 0.0% < -2% |
| Gross Margin: 10.08% > 18% (prev 0.21%; Δ 987.5% > 0.5%) |
| Asset Turnover: 100.4% > 50% (prev 97.54%; Δ 2.85% > 0%) |
| Interest Coverage Ratio: -1.14 > 6 (EBITDA TTM 2.80m / Interest Expense TTM 55.7m) |
| A: 0.38 (Total Current Assets 988.5m - Total Current Liabilities 311.0m) / Total Assets 1.80b |
| B: -0.20 (Retained Earnings -355.5m / Total Assets 1.80b) |
| C: -0.03 (EBIT TTM -63.7m / Avg Total Assets 1.87b) |
| D: -0.61 (Book Value of Equity -645.4m / Total Liabilities 1.05b) |
| Altman-Z'' = 0.95 = BB |
| DSRI: 1.06 (Receivables 374.4m/355.4m, Revenue 1.88b/1.90b) |
| GMI: 2.06 (GM 10.08% / 20.79%) |
| AQI: 0.90 (AQ_t 0.04 / AQ_t-1 0.05) |
| SGI: 0.99 (Revenue 1.88b / 1.90b) |
| TATA: -0.11 (NI -133.8m - CFO 55.1m) / TA 1.80b) |
| Beneish M = -2.18 (Cap -4..+1) = BB |
As of May 24, 2026, the stock is trading at USD 6.80 with a total of 214,485 shares traded.
Over the past week, the price has changed by -0.15%,
over one month by -2.32%,
over three months by +15.11% and
over the past year by +4.51%.
Kronos Worldwide has received a consensus analysts rating of 3.50. Therefore, it is recommended to hold KRO.
- StrongBuy: 1
- Buy: 0
- Hold: 0
- Sell: 1
- StrongSell: 0
| Analysts Target Price | 5.5 | -19.1% |
P/S = 0.4132
P/B = 1.1258
P/EG = 1.3556
Revenue TTM = 1.88b USD
EBIT TTM = -63.7m USD
EBITDA TTM = 2.80m USD
Long Term Debt = 557.4m USD (from longTermDebt, last fiscal year)
Short Term Debt = 3.90m USD (from shortTermDebt, last quarter)
Debt = 641.4m USD (from shortLongTermDebtTotal, last quarter) + Leases 19.9m
Net Debt = 613.2m USD (calculated: Debt 641.4m - CCE 28.2m)
Enterprise Value = 1.39b USD (776.6m + Debt 641.4m - CCE 28.2m)
Interest Coverage Ratio = -1.14 (Ebit TTM -63.7m / Interest Expense TTM 55.7m)
EV/FCF = 55.15x (Enterprise Value 1.39b / FCF TTM 25.2m)
FCF Yield = 1.81% (FCF TTM 25.2m / Enterprise Value 1.39b)
FCF Margin = 1.34% (FCF TTM 25.2m / Revenue TTM 1.88b)
Net Margin = -7.12% (Net Income TTM -133.8m / Revenue TTM 1.88b)
Gross Margin = 10.08% ((Revenue TTM 1.88b - Cost of Revenue TTM 1.69b) / Revenue TTM)
Gross Margin QoQ = 16.34% (prev -0.86%)
Tobins Q-Ratio = 0.77 (Enterprise Value 1.39b / Total Assets 1.80b)
Interest Expense / Debt = 8.68% (Interest Expense 55.7m / Debt 641.4m)
Taxrate = 21.0% (US default 21%)
NOPAT = -50.3m (EBIT -63.7m * (1 - 21.00%)) [loss with tax shield]
Current Ratio = 3.18 (Total Current Assets 988.5m / Total Current Liabilities 311.0m)
Debt / Equity = 0.86 (Debt 641.4m / totalStockholderEquity, last quarter 745.0m)
Debt / EBITDA = 219.0 (Net Debt 613.2m / EBITDA 2.80m)
Debt / FCF = 24.33 (Net Debt 613.2m / FCF TTM 25.2m)
Total Stockholder Equity = 786.9m (last 4 quarters mean from totalStockholderEquity)
RoA = -7.15% (Net Income -133.8m / Total Assets 1.80b)
RoE = -11.71% (Net Income TTM -133.8m / Total Stockholder Equity 1.14b)
RoCE = -3.75% (EBIT -63.7m / Capital Employed (Equity 1.14b + L.T.Debt 557.4m))
RoIC = -3.41% (negative operating profit) (NOPAT -50.3m / Invested Capital 1.47b)
WACC = 8.72% (E(776.6m)/V(1.42b) * Re(10.26%) + D(641.4m)/V(1.42b) * Rd(8.68%) * (1-Tc(0.21)))
Discount Rate = 10.26% (= CAPM, Blume Beta Adj.)
Shares (quarterly) Correlation: 0.0 | Cagr: 0.0%
[DCF] Terminal Value 74.14% ; FCFF base≈25.2m ; Y1≈25.3m ; Y5≈26.8m
[DCF] Fair Price = N/A (negative equity: EV 392.1m - Net Debt 613.2m = -221.1m; debt exceeds intrinsic value)
EPS Correlation: N/A | EPS CAGR: N/A | SUE: 0.39 | # QB: 0
Revenue Correlation: 85.93 | Revenue CAGR: 5.85% | SUE: 0.07 | # QB: 0
EPS current Quarter (2026-06-30): EPS=-0.03 | Chg30d=N/A | Revisions=-20% | Analysts=1
EPS next Quarter (2026-09-30): EPS=0.04 | Chg30d=+0.00% | Revisions=N/A | Analysts=1
EPS current Year (2026-12-31): EPS=-0.08 | Chg30d=+0.00% | Revisions=N/A | GrowthEPS=+91.7% | GrowthRev=+5.7%
EPS next Year (2027-12-31): EPS=0.42 | Chg30d=+0.00% | Revisions=N/A | GrowthEPS=+625.0% | GrowthRev=+8.4%