CBT
Cabot Corporation
Chemicals - Specialty
Market Cap$4.30B
5Y Perf.+127.5%
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Stock Comparison
CBT vs HWKN
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
HWKN
Hawkins, Inc.
Chemicals - Specialty
Market Cap$3.47B
5Y Perf.+678.6%
CBT vs HWKN — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | CBT | HWKN |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Chemicals - Specialty | Chemicals - Specialty |
| Market Cap | $4.30B | $3.47B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $3.58B | $1.06B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $285M | $82M |
| Gross Margin | 24.8% | 22.9% |
| Operating Margin | 15.7% | 11.5% |
| Forward P/E | 13.0x | 42.3x |
| Total Debt | $1.22B | $160M |
| Cash & Equiv. | $258M | $5M |
CBT vs HWKN — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
CBT
HWKN
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cabot Corporation (CBT) | 100 | 227.5 | +127.5% |
| Hawkins, Inc. (HWKN) | 100 | 778.6 | +678.6% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: CBT vs HWKN
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: CBT leads in 4 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for valuation and capital efficiency and profitability and margin quality. Hawkins, Inc. is the stronger pick specifically for growth and revenue expansion and recent price momentum and sentiment. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
CBT
Cabot Corporation
The Income Pick
CBT carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and sleep-well-at-night.
- Dividend streak 4 yrs, beta 0.78, yield 2.1%
- Lower volatility, beta 0.78, Low D/E 71.3%, current ratio 1.61x
- Beta 0.78, yield 2.1%, current ratio 1.61x
Best for: income & stability and sleep-well-at-night
HWKN
Hawkins, Inc.
The Growth Play
HWKN is the clearest fit if your priority is growth exposure and long-term compounding.
- Rev growth 6.0%, EPS growth 12.3%, 3Y rev CAGR 8.0%
- 7.9% 10Y total return vs CBT's 115.6%
- 6.0% revenue growth vs CBT's -7.0%
Best for: growth exposure and long-term compounding
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | HWKN | 6.0% revenue growth vs CBT's -7.0% |
| Value | CBT | Lower P/E (13.0x vs 42.3x) |
| Quality / Margins | CBT | 8.0% margin vs HWKN's 7.8% |
| Stability / Safety | CBT | Beta 0.78 vs HWKN's 0.98 |
| Dividends | CBT | 2.1% yield, 4-year raise streak, vs HWKN's 0.4% |
| Momentum (1Y) | HWKN | +40.5% vs CBT's +16.2% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | HWKN | 8.4% ROA vs CBT's 7.4%, ROIC 15.9% vs 17.4% |
CBT vs HWKN — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2025
FY 2025
CBT vs HWKN — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLCBTLAGGINGHWKN
HWKNHawkins, Inc.
1leads
CBTCabot Corporation
3leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs HWKNMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
CBT4/6
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
CBT6/6
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
Tied
—
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
HWKN5/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
CBT2/2
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
Tied
—
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
CBT leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
CBT is the larger business by revenue, generating $3.6B annually — 3.4x HWKN's $1.1B. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from 8.0% (CBT) to 7.8% (HWKN). On growth, HWKN holds the edge at +7.9% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | CBTCabot Corporation | HWKNHawkins, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $3.6B | $1.1B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $731M | $172M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $285M | $82M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $459M | $88M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +24.8% | +22.9% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +15.7% | +11.5% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +8.0% | +7.8% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +12.8% | +8.2% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -3.4% | +7.9% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -23.1% | -4.2% |
CBT leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
CBT leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 13.7x trailing earnings, CBT trades at a 67% valuation discount to HWKN's 41.5x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, CBT's 6.8x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than HWKN's 22.8x.
| Metric | CBTCabot Corporation | HWKNHawkins, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $4.3B | $3.5B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $5.3B | $3.6B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 13.69x | 41.47x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 13.04x | 42.31x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 1.67x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 6.79x | 22.75x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 1.16x | 3.56x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 2.62x | 7.60x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 11.01x | 49.51x |
CBT leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
Evenly matched — CBT and HWKN each lead in 4 of 8 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
CBT delivers a 16.8% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $17 in annual profit, vs $16 for HWKN. HWKN carries lower financial leverage with a 0.35x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to CBT's 0.71x.
| Metric | CBTCabot Corporation | HWKNHawkins, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +16.8% | +15.9% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +7.4% | +8.4% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +17.4% | +15.9% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +21.3% | +19.3% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 6 | 6 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.71x | 0.35x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $957M | $155M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $258M | $5M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $1.2B | $160M |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 14.72x | 10.27x |
Evenly matched — CBT and HWKN each lead in 4 of 8 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
HWKN leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in HWKN five years ago would be worth $49,819 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $14,375 for CBT. Over the past 12 months, HWKN leads with a +40.5% total return vs CBT's +16.2%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors HWKN at 61.2% vs CBT's 7.5% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | CBTCabot Corporation | HWKNHawkins, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +23.6% | +15.2% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +16.2% | +40.5% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +24.1% | +319.1% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +43.8% | +398.2% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +115.6% | +790.6% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +7.5% | +61.2% |
HWKN leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
CBT leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
CBT is the less volatile stock with a 0.78 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than HWKN's 0.98 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. CBT currently trades 97.4% from its 52-week high vs HWKN's 89.8% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | CBTCabot Corporation | HWKNHawkins, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.78x | 0.98x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $84.60 | $186.15 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $58.33 | $115.35 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +97.4% | +89.8% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 63.9 | 62.8 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 371K | 169K |
CBT leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Evenly matched — CBT and HWKN each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates CBT as "Buy" and HWKN as "Buy". For income investors, CBT offers the higher dividend yield at 2.15% vs HWKN's 0.42%.
| Metric | CBTCabot Corporation | HWKNHawkins, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $78.00 | — |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 15 | 1 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +2.1% | +0.4% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 4 | 5 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $1.77 | $0.70 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +3.9% | +0.7% |
Evenly matched — CBT and HWKN each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Key Takeaway
CBT leads in 3 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Valuation Metrics). HWKN leads in 1 (Total Returns). 2 tied.
Best OverallCabot Corporation (CBT)Leads 3 of 6 categories
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CBT vs HWKN: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is CBT or HWKN a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Hawkins, Inc.
(HWKN) is the stronger pick with 6. 0% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -7. 0% for Cabot Corporation (CBT). Cabot Corporation (CBT) offers the better valuation at 13. 7x trailing P/E (13. 0x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Cabot Corporation (CBT) a "Buy" — based on 15 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 — CBT or HWKN?
On trailing P/E, Cabot Corporation (CBT) is the cheapest at 13.
7x versus Hawkins, Inc. at 41. 5x. On forward P/E, Cabot Corporation is actually cheaper at 13. 0x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — CBT or HWKN?
Over the past 5 years, Hawkins, Inc.
(HWKN) delivered a total return of +398. 2%, compared to +43. 8% for Cabot Corporation (CBT). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: HWKN returned +765. 9% versus CBT's +115. 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 — CBT or HWKN?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Cabot Corporation (CBT) is the lower-risk stock at 0.
78β versus Hawkins, Inc. 's 0. 98β — meaning HWKN is approximately 25% more volatile than CBT relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Hawkins, Inc. (HWKN) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 35% versus 71% for Cabot Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — CBT or HWKN?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Hawkins, Inc.
(HWKN) is pulling ahead at 6. 0% versus -7. 0% for Cabot Corporation (CBT). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Hawkins, Inc. grew EPS 12. 3% year-over-year, compared to -10. 4% for Cabot Corporation. Over a 3-year CAGR, HWKN leads at 8. 0% 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 — CBT or HWKN?
Cabot Corporation (CBT) is the more profitable company, earning 8.
9% net margin versus 8. 7% for Hawkins, Inc. — meaning it keeps 8. 9% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: CBT leads at 16. 7% versus 12. 2% for HWKN. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — CBT leads at 25. 3%, 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 CBT or HWKN more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Cabot Corporation (CBT) trades at 13.
0x forward P/E versus 42. 3x for Hawkins, Inc. — 29. 3x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis.
08Which pays a better dividend — CBT or HWKN?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
Cabot Corporation (CBT) offers the highest yield at 2. 1%, versus 0. 4% for Hawkins, Inc. (HWKN).
09Is CBT or HWKN better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Cabot Corporation (CBT) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.
78), 2. 1% yield, +115. 7% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (CBT: +115. 7%, HWKN: +765. 9%), 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 CBT and HWKN?
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.
In terms of investment character: CBT is a small-cap deep-value stock; HWKN is a small-cap quality compounder stock. CBT pays a dividend while HWKN 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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Revenue Growth>
%
(CBT: -3.4% · HWKN: 7.9%)Net Margin>
%
(CBT: 8.0% · HWKN: 7.8%)P/E Ratio<
x
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