KALU vs CENX

For growth investors, Century Aluminum Company (CENX) is the stronger pick with 13.

9% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 11. 5% for Kaiser Aluminum Corporation (KALU). Kaiser Aluminum Corporation (KALU) offers the better valuation at 26. 0x trailing P/E (18. 7x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Kaiser Aluminum Corporation (KALU) a "Hold" — based on 22 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.

On trailing P/E, Kaiser Aluminum Corporation (KALU) is the cheapest at 26.

0x versus Century Aluminum Company at 144. 2x. On forward P/E, Century Aluminum Company is actually cheaper at 5. 8x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Century Aluminum Company (CENX) delivered a total return of +283.

2%, compared to +40. 7% for Kaiser Aluminum Corporation (KALU). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: CENX returned +794. 8% versus KALU's +135. 1%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Kaiser Aluminum Corporation (KALU) is the lower-risk stock at 1.

71β versus Century Aluminum Company's 1. 74β — meaning CENX is approximately 2% more volatile than KALU relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Century Aluminum Company (CENX) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 58% versus 136% for Kaiser Aluminum Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Century Aluminum Company (CENX) is pulling ahead at 13.

9% versus 11. 5% for Kaiser Aluminum Corporation (KALU). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Kaiser Aluminum Corporation grew EPS 135. 9% year-over-year, compared to -87. 2% for Century Aluminum Company. Over a 3-year CAGR, KALU leads at -0. 5% 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.

Kaiser Aluminum Corporation (KALU) is the more profitable company, earning 3.

3% net margin versus 1. 7% for Century Aluminum Company — meaning it keeps 3. 3% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: CENX leads at 6. 3% versus 5. 7% for KALU. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — CENX leads at 10. 1%, 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.

On forward earnings alone, Century Aluminum Company (CENX) trades at 5.

8x forward P/E versus 18. 7x for Kaiser Aluminum Corporation — 12. 9x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for CENX: 25. 5% to $76. 00.

In this comparison, KALU (1.

8% yield) pays a dividend. CENX does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Kaiser Aluminum Corporation (KALU) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (1.

8% yield, +135. 1% 10Y return). Century Aluminum Company (CENX) carries a higher beta of 1. 74 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (KALU: +135. 1%, CENX: +794. 8%), 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.

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.

KALU pays a dividend while CENX 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.