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SLVM vs RYAM
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
Chemicals
SLVM vs RYAM — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | ||
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Paper, Lumber & Forest Products | Chemicals |
| Market Cap | $2.02B | $662M |
| Revenue (TTM) | $3.43B | $1.43B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $180M | $-469M |
| Gross Margin | 21.2% | 6.1% |
| Operating Margin | 9.5% | -0.2% |
| Forward P/E | 16.0x | — |
| Total Debt | $804M | $779M |
| Cash & Equiv. | $205M | $75M |
SLVM vs RYAM — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
| Stock | Sep 21 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sylvamo Corporation (SLVM) | 100 | 137.2 | +37.2% |
| Rayonier Advanced M… (RYAM) | 100 | 130.9 | +30.9% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: SLVM vs RYAM
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
SLVM carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and growth exposure.
- Dividend streak 3 yrs, beta 0.79, yield 3.3%
- Rev growth 1.4%, EPS growth 21.1%, 3Y rev CAGR 10.1%
- 102.4% 10Y total return vs RYAM's -25.5%
RYAM is the clearest fit if your priority is momentum.
- +132.7% vs SLVM's -21.1%
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | 1.4% revenue growth vs RYAM's -10.1% | |
| Quality / Margins | 5.2% margin vs RYAM's -32.8% | |
| Stability / Safety | Beta 0.79 vs RYAM's 2.13, lower leverage | |
| Dividends | 3.3% yield; 3-year raise streak; the other pay no meaningful dividend | |
| Momentum (1Y) | +132.7% vs SLVM's -21.1% | |
| Efficiency (ROA) | 6.7% ROA vs RYAM's -26.9%, ROIC 21.6% vs 0.6% |
SLVM vs RYAM — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Segment breakdown not available.
SLVM vs RYAM — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
SLVM leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
SLVM is the larger business by revenue, generating $3.4B annually — 2.4x RYAM's $1.4B. SLVM is the more profitable business, keeping 5.2% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to RYAM's -32.8%.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $3.4B | $1.4B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $503M | $62M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $180M | -$469M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $106M | -$62M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +21.2% | +6.1% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +9.5% | -0.2% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +5.2% | -32.8% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +3.1% | -4.3% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -12.3% | -10.4% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -37.9% | -149.0% |
Valuation Metrics
RYAM leads this category, winning 3 of 4 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
On an enterprise value basis, SLVM's 4.3x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than RYAM's 9.6x.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $2.0B | $662M |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $2.6B | $1.4B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 6.24x | -1.56x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 15.98x | — |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 4.34x | 9.55x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 0.53x | 0.45x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 2.22x | 2.00x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 8.13x | — |
Profitability & Efficiency
SLVM leads this category, winning 8 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
SLVM delivers a 18.4% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $18 in annual profit, vs $-147 for RYAM. SLVM carries lower financial leverage with a 0.95x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to RYAM's 2.38x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), SLVM scores 8/9 vs RYAM's 3/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +18.4% | -147.1% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +6.7% | -26.9% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +21.6% | +0.6% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +21.7% | +0.6% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 8 | 3 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.95x | 2.38x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $599M | $704M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $205M | $75M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $804M | $779M |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 7.03x | 0.91x |
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
RYAM leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in SLVM five years ago would be worth $20,242 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $13,812 for RYAM. Over the past 12 months, RYAM leads with a +132.7% total return vs SLVM's -21.1%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors RYAM at 21.0% vs SLVM's 2.9% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -4.3% | +67.6% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -21.1% | +132.7% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +8.9% | +77.3% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +102.4% | +38.1% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +102.4% | -25.5% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +2.9% | +21.0% |
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — SLVM and RYAM each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
SLVM is the less volatile stock with a 0.79 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than RYAM's 2.13 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. RYAM currently trades 82.9% from its 52-week high vs SLVM's 74.1% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.79x | 2.13x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $60.51 | $11.85 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $37.09 | $3.35 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +74.1% | +82.9% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 56.1 | 44.9 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 319K | 1.2M |
Analyst Outlook
SLVM leads this category, winning 1 of 1 comparable metric.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates SLVM as "Buy" and RYAM as "Hold". Consensus price targets imply 11.5% upside for SLVM (target: $50) vs -8.4% for RYAM (target: $9). SLVM is the only dividend payer here at 3.29% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Hold |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $50.00 | $9.00 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 2 | 9 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +3.3% | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 3 | 0 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $1.48 | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +3.4% | +0.5% |
SLVM leads in 3 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Profitability & Efficiency). RYAM leads in 2 (Valuation Metrics, Total Returns). 1 tied.
SLVM vs RYAM: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is SLVM or RYAM a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Sylvamo Corporation (SLVM) is the stronger pick with 1.
4% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -10. 1% for Rayonier Advanced Materials Inc. (RYAM). Sylvamo Corporation (SLVM) offers the better valuation at 6. 2x trailing P/E (16. 0x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Sylvamo Corporation (SLVM) a "Buy" — based on 2 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 is the better long-term investment — SLVM or RYAM?
Over the past 5 years, Sylvamo Corporation (SLVM) delivered a total return of +102.
4%, compared to +38. 1% for Rayonier Advanced Materials Inc. (RYAM). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: SLVM returned +102. 4% versus RYAM's -25. 5%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
03Which is safer — SLVM or RYAM?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Sylvamo Corporation (SLVM) is the lower-risk stock at 0.
79β versus Rayonier Advanced Materials Inc. 's 2. 13β — meaning RYAM is approximately 170% more volatile than SLVM relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Sylvamo Corporation (SLVM) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 95% versus 2% for Rayonier Advanced Materials Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
04Which is growing faster — SLVM or RYAM?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Sylvamo Corporation (SLVM) is pulling ahead at 1.
4% versus -10. 1% for Rayonier Advanced Materials Inc. (RYAM). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Sylvamo Corporation grew EPS 21. 1% year-over-year, compared to -966. 1% for Rayonier Advanced Materials Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, SLVM leads at 10. 1% 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.
05Which has better profit margins — SLVM or RYAM?
Sylvamo Corporation (SLVM) is the more profitable company, earning 8.
0% net margin versus -28. 6% for Rayonier Advanced Materials Inc. — meaning it keeps 8. 0% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: SLVM leads at 11. 8% versus 0. 6% for RYAM. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — SLVM leads at 24. 9%, 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.
06Is SLVM or RYAM more undervalued right now?
Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for SLVM: 11.
5% to $50. 00.
07Which pays a better dividend — SLVM or RYAM?
In this comparison, SLVM (3.
3% yield) pays a dividend. RYAM does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
08Is SLVM or RYAM better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Sylvamo Corporation (SLVM) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.
79), 3. 3% yield, +102. 4% 10Y return). Rayonier Advanced Materials Inc. (RYAM) carries a higher beta of 2. 13 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (SLVM: +102. 4%, RYAM: -25. 5%), 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.
09What are the main differences between SLVM and RYAM?
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: SLVM is a small-cap deep-value stock; RYAM is a small-cap quality compounder stock. SLVM pays a dividend while RYAM 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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