NL
NL Industries, Inc.
Security & Protection Services
Market Cap$289M
5Y Perf.+89.1%
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Stock Comparison
NL vs KALU
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
KALU
Kaiser Aluminum Corporation
Aluminum
Market Cap$2.92B
5Y Perf.+151.5%
NL vs KALU — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | NL | KALU |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Security & Protection Services | Aluminum |
| Market Cap | $289M | $2.92B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $159M | $3.70B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $-34M | $153M |
| Gross Margin | 31.1% | 10.2% |
| Operating Margin | 7.8% | 6.6% |
| Forward P/E | 6.8x | 19.2x |
| Total Debt | $500K | $1.12B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $114M | $7M |
NL vs KALU — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
NL
KALU
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| NL Industries, Inc. (NL) | 100 | 189.1 | +89.1% |
| Kaiser Aluminum Cor… (KALU) | 100 | 251.5 | +151.5% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: NL vs KALU
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: KALU leads in 4 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for growth and revenue expansion and profitability and margin quality. NL Industries, Inc. is the stronger pick specifically for valuation and capital efficiency and capital preservation and lower volatility. This set spans 2 sectors — these stocks serve different portfolio roles, not just different price points.
NL
NL Industries, Inc.
The Income Pick
NL is the clearest fit if your priority is income & stability and long-term compounding.
- Dividend streak 0 yrs, beta 0.87, yield 9.6%
- 220.4% 10Y total return vs KALU's 128.7%
- Lower volatility, beta 0.87, Low D/E 0.1%, current ratio 7.77x
Best for: income & stability and long-term compounding
KALU
Kaiser Aluminum Corporation
The Growth Play
KALU carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for growth exposure.
- Rev growth 11.5%, EPS growth 135.9%, 3Y rev CAGR -0.5%
- 11.5% revenue growth vs NL's 8.5%
- 4.1% margin vs NL's -21.5%
Best for: growth exposure
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | KALU | 11.5% revenue growth vs NL's 8.5% |
| Value | NL | Lower P/E (6.8x vs 19.2x) |
| Quality / Margins | KALU | 4.1% margin vs NL's -21.5% |
| Stability / Safety | NL | Beta 0.87 vs KALU's 1.71, lower leverage |
| Dividends | NL | 9.6% yield, vs KALU's 1.7% |
| Momentum (1Y) | KALU | +171.3% vs NL's -25.5% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | KALU | 5.9% ROA vs NL's -9.1%, ROIC 7.8% vs 3.9% |
NL vs KALU — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2025
FY 2025
NL vs KALU — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLNLLAGGINGKALU
KALUKaiser Aluminum Corpo…
2leads
NLNL Industries, Inc.
3leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs KALUMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
NL4/6
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
NL4/5
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
KALU6/9
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
KALU5/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
Tied
—
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
NL1/1
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
NL leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
KALU is the larger business by revenue, generating $3.7B annually — 23.3x NL's $159M. KALU is the more profitable business, keeping 4.1% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to NL's -21.5%. On growth, KALU holds the edge at +42.4% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | NLNL Industries, In… | KALUKaiser Aluminum C… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $159M | $3.7B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $15M | $368M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | -$34M | $153M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $4M | $24M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +31.1% | +10.2% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +7.8% | +6.6% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | -21.5% | +4.1% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +2.6% | +0.7% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +0.7% | +42.4% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +8.0% | +183.2% |
NL leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
NL leads this category, winning 4 of 5 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
On an enterprise value basis, NL's 10.2x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than KALU's 12.9x.
| Metric | NLNL Industries, In… | KALUKaiser Aluminum C… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $289M | $2.9B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $176M | $4.0B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | -7.69x | 26.65x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 6.80x | 19.19x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 0.88x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 10.22x | 12.90x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 1.83x | 0.87x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 0.77x | 3.63x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | — | — |
NL leads this category, winning 4 of 5 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
KALU leads this category, winning 6 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
KALU delivers a 18.7% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $19 in annual profit, vs $-9 for NL. NL carries lower financial leverage with a 0.00x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to KALU's 1.36x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), KALU scores 6/9 vs NL's 4/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | NLNL Industries, In… | KALUKaiser Aluminum C… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | -8.7% | +18.7% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | -9.1% | +5.9% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +3.9% | +7.8% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +2.9% | +9.4% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 4 | 6 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.00x | 1.36x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$113M | $1.1B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $114M | $7M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $500,000 | $1.1B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | -19.20x | 4.84x |
KALU leads this category, winning 6 of 9 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
KALU leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in KALU five years ago would be worth $14,224 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $11,692 for NL. Over the past 12 months, KALU leads with a +171.3% total return vs NL's -25.5%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors KALU at 44.3% vs NL's 9.3% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | NLNL Industries, In… | KALUKaiser Aluminum C… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +10.3% | +51.3% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -25.5% | +171.3% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +30.6% | +200.3% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +16.9% | +42.2% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +220.4% | +128.7% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +9.3% | +44.3% |
KALU leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — NL and KALU each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
NL is the less volatile stock with a 0.87 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than KALU's 1.71 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. KALU currently trades 98.6% from its 52-week high vs NL's 63.9% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | NLNL Industries, In… | KALUKaiser Aluminum C… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.87x | 1.71x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $9.27 | $183.00 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $5.04 | $65.69 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +63.9% | +98.6% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 48.7 | 71.9 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 39K | 247K |
Evenly matched — NL and KALU each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
NL leads this category, winning 1 of 1 comparable metric.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates NL as "Sell" and KALU as "Hold". Consensus price targets imply 1.4% upside for NL (target: $6) vs -11.3% for KALU (target: $160). For income investors, NL offers the higher dividend yield at 9.63% vs KALU's 1.71%.
| Metric | NLNL Industries, In… | KALUKaiser Aluminum C… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Sell | Hold |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $6.00 | $160.00 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 1 | 22 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +9.6% | +1.7% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 0 | 0 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $0.57 | $3.09 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | 0.0% |
NL leads this category, winning 1 of 1 comparable metric.
Key Takeaway
NL leads in 3 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Valuation Metrics). KALU leads in 2 (Profitability & Efficiency, Total Returns). 1 tied.
Best OverallNL Industries, Inc. (NL)Leads 3 of 6 categories
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NL vs KALU: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is NL or KALU a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Kaiser Aluminum Corporation (KALU) is the stronger pick with 11.
5% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 8. 5% for NL Industries, Inc. (NL). Kaiser Aluminum Corporation (KALU) offers the better valuation at 26. 6x trailing P/E (19. 2x 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.
02Which has the better valuation — NL or KALU?
On forward P/E, NL Industries, Inc.
is actually cheaper at 6. 8x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.
03Which is the better long-term investment — NL or KALU?
Over the past 5 years, Kaiser Aluminum Corporation (KALU) delivered a total return of +42.
2%, compared to +16. 9% for NL Industries, Inc. (NL). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: NL returned +220. 4% versus KALU's +128. 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 — NL or KALU?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), NL Industries, Inc.
(NL) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 87β versus Kaiser Aluminum Corporation's 1. 71β — meaning KALU is approximately 96% more volatile than NL relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, NL Industries, Inc. (NL) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 0% versus 136% for Kaiser Aluminum Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — NL or KALU?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Kaiser Aluminum Corporation (KALU) is pulling ahead at 11.
5% versus 8. 5% for NL Industries, Inc. (NL). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Kaiser Aluminum Corporation grew EPS 135. 9% year-over-year, compared to -155. 8% for NL Industries, Inc.. 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.
06Which has better profit margins — NL or KALU?
Kaiser Aluminum Corporation (KALU) is the more profitable company, earning 3.
3% net margin versus -23. 9% for NL Industries, Inc. — meaning it keeps 3. 3% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: NL leads at 8. 6% versus 5. 7% for KALU. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — NL leads at 30. 4%, 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 NL or KALU more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, NL Industries, Inc.
(NL) trades at 6. 8x forward P/E versus 19. 2x for Kaiser Aluminum Corporation — 12. 4x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for NL: 1. 4% to $6. 00.
08Which pays a better dividend — NL or KALU?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
NL Industries, Inc. (NL) offers the highest yield at 9. 6%, versus 1. 7% for Kaiser Aluminum Corporation (KALU).
09Is NL or KALU better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, NL Industries, Inc.
(NL) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 87), 9. 6% yield, +220. 4% 10Y return). Kaiser Aluminum Corporation (KALU) carries a higher beta of 1. 71 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (NL: +220. 4%, KALU: +128. 7%), 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 NL and KALU?
These companies operate in different sectors (NL (Industrials) and KALU (Basic Materials)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.
In terms of investment character: NL is a small-cap income-oriented stock; KALU is a small-cap quality compounder 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.
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