ACNT
Ascent Industries Co.
Steel
Market Cap$127M
5Y Perf.+87.8%
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Side-by-side financial analysisACNT
ZEUS
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Stock Comparison
ACNT vs ZEUS
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
ZEUS
Olympic Steel, Inc.
Steel
Market Cap$533M
5Y Perf.+309.3%
ACNT vs ZEUS — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot |  ACNT |  ZEUS |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Steel | Steel |
| Market Cap | $127M | $533M |
| Revenue (TTM) | $77M | $1.90B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $1M | $14M |
| Gross Margin | 21.8% | 82.8% |
| Operating Margin | -9.8% | 1.9% |
| Forward P/E | 16.9x | 20.7x |
| Total Debt | $13M | $313M |
| Cash & Equiv. | $58M | $12M |
ACNT vs ZEUS — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
ACNT
ZEUS
| Stock | Jun 20 | Jun 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ascent Industries C… (ACNT) | 100 | 187.8 | +87.8% |
| Olympic Steel, Inc. (ZEUS) | 100 | 409.3 | +309.3% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: ACNT vs ZEUS
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: ZEUS leads in 4 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for growth and revenue expansion and dividend income and shareholder returns. Ascent Industries Co. is the stronger pick specifically for valuation and capital efficiency and profitability and margin quality. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
🥇ZEUS emerged as the overall leader. Track its performance:
ACNT
Ascent Industries Co.
The Income Pick
ACNT is the clearest fit if your priority is income & stability and sleep-well-at-night.
- Dividend streak 1 yrs, beta 0.47
- Lower volatility, beta 0.47, Low D/E 15.3%, current ratio 6.72x
- Beta 0.47, current ratio 6.72x
Best for: income & stability and sleep-well-at-night
ZEUS
Olympic Steel, Inc.
The Growth Play
ZEUS carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for growth exposure and long-term compounding.
- Rev growth -10.0%, EPS growth -48.8%, 3Y rev CAGR -5.7%
- 96.3% 10Y total return vs ACNT's 93.7%
- -10.0% revenue growth vs ACNT's -57.9%
Best for: growth exposure and long-term compounding
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth |  ZEUS | -10.0% revenue growth vs ACNT's -57.9% |
| Value |  ACNT | Lower P/E (16.9x vs 20.7x) |
| Quality / Margins | ACNT | 1.6% margin vs ZEUS's 0.7% |
| Stability / Safety | ACNT | Beta 0.47 vs ZEUS's 1.23, lower leverage |
| Dividends | ZEUS | 1.2% yield; 4-year raise streak; the other pay no meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | ZEUS | +54.9% vs ACNT's +10.2% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | ZEUS | 1.3% ROA vs ACNT's 1.1%, ROIC 4.3% vs -6.6% |
ACNT vs ZEUS — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2024
FY 2024
ACNT vs ZEUS — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLZEUSLAGGINGACNT
ACNTAscent Industries Co.
0leads
ZEUSOlympic Steel, Inc.
2leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs ACNTMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
Tied
—
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
Tied
—
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
Tied
—
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
ZEUS4/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
Tied
—
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
ZEUS1/1
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
Evenly matched — ACNT and ZEUS each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
ZEUS is the larger business by revenue, generating $1.9B annually — 24.8x ACNT's $77M. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from 1.6% (ACNT) to 0.7% (ZEUS). On growth, ACNT holds the edge at +8.9% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | ACNTAscent Industries… | ZEUSOlympic Steel, In… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $77M | $1.9B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | -$3M | $45M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $1M | $14M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | -$7M | $42M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +21.8% | +82.8% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | -9.8% | +1.9% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +1.6% | +0.7% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | -9.0% | +2.2% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +8.9% | +4.4% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +8.7% | -21.7% |
Evenly matched — ACNT and ZEUS each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
Evenly matched — ACNT and ZEUS each lead in 2 of 4 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | ACNTAscent Industries… | ZEUSOlympic Steel, In… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $127M | $533M |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $83M | $834M |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | -24.22x | 24.29x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 16.93x | 20.72x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 0.58x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | — | 10.59x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 1.69x | 0.27x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 1.56x | 0.97x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | — | 127.14x |
Evenly matched — ACNT and ZEUS each lead in 2 of 4 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
Evenly matched — ACNT and ZEUS each lead in 4 of 8 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
ZEUS delivers a 2.4% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $2 in annual profit, vs $1 for ACNT. ACNT carries lower financial leverage with a 0.15x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to ZEUS's 0.55x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), ACNT scores 6/9 vs ZEUS's 5/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | ACNTAscent Industries… | ZEUSOlympic Steel, In… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +1.4% | +2.4% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +1.1% | +1.3% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | -6.6% | +4.3% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | -6.0% | +5.6% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 6 | 5 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.15x | 0.55x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$44M | $301M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $58M | $12M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $13M | $313M |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | — | 2.15x |
Evenly matched — ACNT and ZEUS each lead in 4 of 8 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
ZEUS leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in ZEUS five years ago would be worth $15,211 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $12,545 for ACNT. Over the past 12 months, ZEUS leads with a +54.9% total return vs ACNT's +10.2%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors ACNT at 12.2% vs ZEUS's 1.8% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ACNTAscent Industries… | ZEUSOlympic Steel, In… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -12.5% | +9.1% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +10.2% | +54.9% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +41.3% | +5.4% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +25.4% | +52.1% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +93.7% | +96.3% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +12.2% | +1.8% |
ZEUS leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — ACNT and ZEUS each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
ACNT is the less volatile stock with a 0.47 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than ZEUS's 1.23 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. ZEUS currently trades 90.9% from its 52-week high vs ACNT's 78.4% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | ACNTAscent Industries… | ZEUSOlympic Steel, In… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.47x | 1.23x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $17.92 | $52.65 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $11.62 | $27.11 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +78.4% | +90.9% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 50.9 | 48.2 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 73K | 47 |
Evenly matched — ACNT and ZEUS each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
ZEUS leads this category, winning 1 of 1 comparable metric.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates ACNT as "Buy" and ZEUS as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 28.1% upside for ACNT (target: $18) vs -14.3% for ZEUS (target: $41). ZEUS is the only dividend payer here at 1.20% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | ACNTAscent Industries… | ZEUSOlympic Steel, In… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $18.00 | $41.00 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 4 | 6 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | +1.2% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 1 | 4 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | $0.57 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +7.2% | 0.0% |
ZEUS leads this category, winning 1 of 1 comparable metric.
Key Takeaway
ZEUS leads in 2 of 6 categories — strongest in Total Returns and Analyst Outlook. 4 categories are tied.
Best OverallOlympic Steel, Inc. (ZEUS)Leads 2 of 6 categories
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ACNT vs ZEUS: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is ACNT or ZEUS a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Olympic Steel, Inc.
(ZEUS) is the stronger pick with -10. 0% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -57. 9% for Ascent Industries Co. (ACNT). Olympic Steel, Inc. (ZEUS) offers the better valuation at 24. 3x trailing P/E (20. 7x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Ascent Industries Co. (ACNT) a "Buy" — based on 4 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.
02Which has the better valuation — ACNT or ZEUS?
On forward P/E, Ascent Industries Co.
is actually cheaper at 16. 9x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.
03Which is the better long-term investment — ACNT or ZEUS?
Over the past 5 years, Olympic Steel, Inc.
(ZEUS) delivered a total return of +52. 1%, compared to +25. 4% for Ascent Industries Co. (ACNT). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: ZEUS returned +96. 3% versus ACNT's +93. 7%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
04Which is safer — ACNT or ZEUS?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Ascent Industries Co.
(ACNT) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 47β versus Olympic Steel, Inc. 's 1. 23β — meaning ZEUS is approximately 164% more volatile than ACNT relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Ascent Industries Co. (ACNT) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 15% versus 55% for Olympic Steel, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — ACNT or ZEUS?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Olympic Steel, Inc.
(ZEUS) is pulling ahead at -10. 0% versus -57. 9% for Ascent Industries Co. (ACNT). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Ascent Industries Co. grew EPS 56. 7% year-over-year, compared to -48. 8% for Olympic Steel, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, ZEUS leads at -5. 7% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.
06Which has better profit margins — ACNT or ZEUS?
Olympic Steel, Inc.
(ZEUS) is the more profitable company, earning 1. 2% net margin versus -7. 5% for Ascent Industries Co. — meaning it keeps 1. 2% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: ZEUS leads at 2. 5% versus -9. 0% for ACNT. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — ZEUS leads at 23. 2%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.
07Is ACNT or ZEUS more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Ascent Industries Co.
(ACNT) trades at 16. 9x forward P/E versus 20. 7x for Olympic Steel, Inc. — 3. 8x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for ACNT: 28. 1% to $18. 00.
08Which pays a better dividend — ACNT or ZEUS?
In this comparison, ZEUS (1.
2% yield) pays a dividend. ACNT does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
09Is ACNT or ZEUS better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Ascent Industries Co.
(ACNT) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 47)). Both have compounded well over 10 years (ACNT: +93. 7%, ZEUS: +96. 3%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.
10What are the main differences between ACNT and ZEUS?
Both stocks operate in the Basic Materials sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.
ZEUS pays a dividend while ACNT does not, making them suitable for different income and tax situations. These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.
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