NL Industries Inc
NYSE: NL · INDUSTRIALS · SECURITY & PROTECTION SERVICES
Updated 2026-06-04
NL Industries Inc (NL) Stock Valuation Analysis
Fair value estimate, historical valuation range, and quality signals for NL.
Current price exceeds what fundamentals support. Risk/reward skewed unfavorably.
NL historical valuation range
Where current P/E sits in NL's own 5Y range.
NL intrinsic value (DCF)
DCF-based fair value estimate vs current market price.
Standard discounted cash flow models produce unreliable output for unprofitable or near-breakeven companies. Revenue-based multiples such as P/S and EV/Sales, combined with the historical valuation position above, give a more reliable read for this stock.
Intrinsic value calculated using discounted cash flow (DCF) model based on projected free cash flows, discount rate, and terminal growth assumptions. A positive margin of safety indicates the current price is below estimated fair value, providing a cushion against estimation error.
NL valuation signals
Quick-read green flags, caution flags, and risks based on current metrics.
P/E Ratio — History
P/S Ratio — History
Current: 1.85x
Is NL overvalued in 2026?
NL Industries Inc (NL) currently trades at $5.81 per share with a market capitalization of $293,392,000.00. Based on our multi-factor framework, the stock appears richly valued with a Smart Value Score of 42/100. This score blends growth quality, financial health, and price attractiveness into a single institutional-grade read.
NL currently has no meaningful P/E ratio, which typically signals that the company is unprofitable, near breakeven, or emerging from a loss-making period. With a P/S ratio of 1.9x, the market is valuing the company primarily on its revenue rather than its earnings.
Looking at its own history, NL is currently trading cheaper than 100% of the last 5Y on P/E. This places it in the 0th percentile of its historical range, a level that has historically coincided with attractive entry points.
A standard DCF model does not produce reliable output for NL under current conditions. For unprofitable or near-breakeven companies, revenue-based multiples such as EV/Sales and historical P/S percentile are more informative than intrinsic value calculations.
The Piotroski F-Score of 5/9 puts financial quality in a middling range, neither a standout strength nor an obvious red flag.
Bottom line: NL appears richly valued on our framework, with a Smart Value Score of 42/100. At current levels the risk/reward is skewed against the buyer. A materially lower price or significant operational improvement would be needed to change the picture.
Frequently asked questions
Is NL overvalued?
NL scores 42/100 on our Smart Value Score (Grade D), a weak overall profile. A standard DCF is unreliable here given the profitability profile, so valuation leans on revenue-based measures like EV/Sales and the P/S percentile below.
What is NL's fair value?
A standard DCF is unreliable for NL given its current profitability profile. Revenue-based approaches like EV/Sales or the historical P/S percentile are more informative for this stock.
What P/E ratio does NL trade at?
NL does not have a meaningful P/E right now, usually a sign of unprofitability or an earnings transition. For unprofitable growth names, price-to-sales is the more useful gauge.
Is NL a buy based on valuation?
Our Smart Value rating for NL is Sell, from a Smart Value Score of 42/100 that blends growth, quality, and valuation. The profile skews cautious, and a better price or clearer operating improvement would strengthen the case. This is research to inform your decision, not personalized financial advice.
How does NL's valuation compare to its history?
On P/E, NL sits in the 0th percentile of its own 5Y range, historically cheap relative to where it has traded. A low percentile means today's multiple is near the bottom of its historical band.
What is NL's Smart Value Score?
NL's Smart Value Score is 42/100. It is a proprietary WallStSmart metric blending growth quality, financial health, and valuation into a single 0-100 read, and scores above 75 are rare, signaling strong multi-factor alignment.