NL REPORTS FIRST QUARTER 2026 RESULTS
DALLAS, TEXAS – May 6, 2026 – NL Industries, Inc. (NYSE: NL) today reported net income attributable to NL stockholders of $4.3 million, or $.09 per share, in the first quarter of 2026 compared to $.7 million, or $.01 per share, in the first quarter of 2025. NL’s results include an unrealized gain of $2.7 million in the first quarter of 2026 compared to an $8.5 million unrealized loss in the first quarter of 2025 related to the change in value of marketable equity securities.
CompX’s net sales were $40.6 million in the first quarter of 2026 compared to $40.3 million in the first quarter of 2025. CompX’s first quarter 2026 net sales increased over the comparable 2025 period due to higher Marine Components sales to the industrial market partially offset by lower Security Products sales. CompX’s segment profit increased to $7.1 million in the first quarter of 2026 compared to $5.9 million in the first quarter of 2025 primarily due to higher gross margin at Security Products as a result of a more favorable customer and product mix and, to a lesser extent, the impact of higher sales at Marine Components.
NL recognized equity in losses of Kronos of $1.5 million in the first quarter of 2026 compared to equity in earnings of $5.5 million in the same period of 2025. Kronos’ net sales of $509.8 million in the first quarter of 2026 were $20.0 million, or 4%, higher than in the first quarter of 2025. Kronos’ net sales increased in the first quarter of 2026 compared to the first quarter of 2025 primarily due to the effects of higher sales volumes in its North American, Latin American and export markets and the favorable impact of changes in currency exchange rates (primarily the euro), which it estimates increased its net sales by approximately $30 million. These increases were partially offset by lower sales volumes in its European market and lower average TiO2 selling prices. Kronos started 2026 with average TiO2 selling prices lower than at the beginning of 2025; however, its average TiO2 selling prices increased 2% during the first quarter of 2026 as Kronos works to recover pricing lost during 2025. The table at the end of this press release shows how each of these items impacted Kronos’ net sales.
Kronos’ income from operations in the first quarter of 2026 was $12.6 million as compared to $38.4 million in the first quarter of 2025. Kronos’ income from operations decreased in the first quarter of 2026 compared to the first quarter of 2025 primarily due to the effects of lower average TiO2 selling prices, lower production volumes, and the unfavorable impact of changes in currency exchange rates, partially offset by higher sales volumes and lower production costs. Lower production costs benefited in part from cost reduction initiatives implemented in the fourth quarter of 2025, including workforce reductions and other measures, which were designed to permanently improve Kronos’ cost structure and enable more efficient operation of its facilities at lower production rates for extended periods. Fluctuations in currency exchange rates (primarily the euro) decreased Kronos’ income from operations by approximately $6 million in the first quarter of 2026 compared to the first quarter of 2025.
Corporate expenses increased slightly in the first quarter of 2026 compared to the first quarter of 2025 primarily due to higher general and administrative expenses. Interest and dividend income decreased $.7 million in the first quarter of 2026 compared to the same period of 2025 primarily due to decreased average investment balances and lower average interest rates. Marketable equity securities represent the change in unrealized gains (losses) on our portfolio of marketable equity securities during the period.
The statements in this release relating to matters that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements that represent management's beliefs and assumptions based on currently available information. Although we believe the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot give any assurances that these expectations will prove to be correct. Such statements by their nature involve substantial risks and uncertainties that could significantly impact expected results, and actual future results could differ materially from those described in such forward-looking