Kronos Worldwide Inc (KRO) saw its stock price surge 5.99% in pre-market trading on Thursday, following the release of its first-quarter earnings report for 2025. The chemical company demonstrated significant improvement in its financial performance, potentially reversing its recent downward trend.

Kronos reported adjusted earnings of $0.16 per share for the quarter ended March 31, more than doubling from $0.07 per share in the same period last year. While this fell slightly short of the $0.17 per share expected by analysts, it marks a substantial year-over-year improvement. Revenue for the quarter rose 2.3% to $489.80 million, although it came in below the analyst consensus of $501.38 million. The company posted a quarterly net income of $18.1 million, signaling a return to profitability.

This positive earnings report comes as a welcome change for Kronos investors, as the stock had fallen 23.6% year-to-date prior to this announcement. Despite the earnings beat, analyst opinions remain mixed, with the current average rating on the shares being "hold". Wall Street's median 12-month price target for Kronos stands at $10.00. As the market digests these results, investors will be watching closely to see if this pre-market surge translates into sustained momentum for the chemical manufacturer.