KRO vs HUN

For growth investors, Kronos Worldwide, Inc.

(KRO) is the stronger pick with -1. 5% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -5. 8% for Huntsman Corporation (HUN). Analysts rate Kronos Worldwide, Inc. (KRO) a "Hold" — based on 7 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.

Over the past 5 years, Huntsman Corporation (HUN) delivered a total return of -37.

9%, compared to -40. 9% for Kronos Worldwide, Inc. (KRO). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: KRO returned +121. 1% versus HUN's +50. 8%. 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), Kronos Worldwide, Inc.

(KRO) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 57β versus Huntsman Corporation's 1. 73β — meaning HUN is approximately 10% more volatile than KRO relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Kronos Worldwide, Inc. (KRO) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 77% versus 92% for Huntsman Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Kronos Worldwide, Inc.

(KRO) is pulling ahead at -1. 5% versus -5. 8% for Huntsman Corporation (HUN). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Huntsman Corporation grew EPS -44. 5% year-over-year, compared to -228. 0% for Kronos Worldwide, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, KRO leads at -1. 2% 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.

Huntsman Corporation (HUN) is the more profitable company, earning -4.

8% net margin versus -6. 0% for Kronos Worldwide, Inc. — meaning it keeps -4. 8% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: HUN leads at -0. 7% versus -1. 7% for KRO. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — HUN leads at 13. 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.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Huntsman Corporation (HUN) offers the highest yield at 5. 6%, versus 2. 6% for Kronos Worldwide, Inc. (KRO).

For long-horizon retirement investors, Kronos Worldwide, Inc.

(KRO) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (2. 6% yield, +121. 1% 10Y return). Huntsman Corporation (HUN) carries a higher beta of 1. 73 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (KRO: +121. 1%, HUN: +50. 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.

In terms of investment character: KRO is a small-cap quality compounder stock; HUN is a small-cap income-oriented stock. 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.