UG
United-Guardian, Inc.
Household & Personal Products
Market Cap$32M
5Y Perf.-55.6%
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Stock Comparison
UG vs IOSP
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
IOSP
Innospec Inc.
Chemicals - Specialty
Market Cap$1.91B
5Y Perf.-0.6%
UG vs IOSP — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | UG | IOSP |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Household & Personal Products | Chemicals - Specialty |
| Market Cap | $32M | $1.91B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $11M | $1.78B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $2M | $117M |
| Gross Margin | 47.7% | 27.7% |
| Operating Margin | 21.3% | 8.7% |
| Forward P/E | 15.2x | 15.5x |
| Total Debt | $0.00 | $90M |
| Cash & Equiv. | $1M | $293M |
UG vs IOSP — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
UG
IOSP
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| United-Guardian, In… (UG) | 100 | 44.4 | -55.6% |
| Innospec Inc. (IOSP) | 100 | 99.4 | -0.6% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: UG vs IOSP
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: UG leads in 6 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for valuation and capital efficiency and profitability and margin quality. Innospec Inc. is the stronger pick specifically for growth and revenue expansion. This set spans 2 sectors — these stocks serve different portfolio roles, not just different price points.
UG
United-Guardian, Inc.
The Income Pick
UG carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and sleep-well-at-night.
- Dividend streak 2 yrs, beta 0.33, yield 8.6%
- Lower volatility, beta 0.33, current ratio 7.31x
- Beta 0.33, yield 8.6%, current ratio 7.31x
Best for: income & stability and sleep-well-at-night
IOSP
Innospec Inc.
The Growth Play
IOSP is the clearest fit if your priority is growth exposure and long-term compounding.
- Rev growth -3.7%, EPS growth 228.9%, 3Y rev CAGR -3.3%
- 84.4% 10Y total return vs UG's -12.1%
- -3.7% revenue growth vs UG's -13.4%
Best for: growth exposure and long-term compounding
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | IOSP | -3.7% revenue growth vs UG's -13.4% |
| Value | UG | Lower P/E (15.2x vs 15.5x) |
| Quality / Margins | UG | 20.0% margin vs IOSP's 6.6% |
| Stability / Safety | UG | Beta 0.33 vs IOSP's 0.70 |
| Dividends | UG | 8.6% yield, 2-year raise streak, vs IOSP's 2.2% |
| Momentum (1Y) | UG | -6.0% vs IOSP's -14.9% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | UG | 16.3% ROA vs IOSP's 6.5%, ROIC 16.8% vs 11.2% |
UG vs IOSP — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2016
FY 2025
UG vs IOSP — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLUGLAGGINGIOSP
IOSPInnospec Inc.
1leads
UGUnited-Guardian, Inc.
3leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs IOSPMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
UG5/6
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
IOSP3/5
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
UG5/7
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
UG4/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
Tied
—
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
Tied
—
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
UG leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
IOSP is the larger business by revenue, generating $1.8B annually — 168.6x UG's $11M. UG is the more profitable business, keeping 20.0% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to IOSP's 6.6%. On growth, UG holds the edge at +19.6% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | UGUnited-Guardian, … | IOSPInnospec Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $11M | $1.8B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $2M | $198M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $2M | $117M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $2M | $88M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +47.7% | +27.7% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +21.3% | +8.7% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +20.0% | +6.6% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +18.1% | +4.9% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +19.6% | -2.4% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +27.3% | +167.7% |
UG leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
IOSP leads this category, winning 3 of 5 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 15.2x trailing earnings, UG trades at a 7% valuation discount to IOSP's 16.4x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, IOSP's 8.3x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than UG's 13.1x.
| Metric | UGUnited-Guardian, … | IOSPInnospec Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $32M | $1.9B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $31M | $1.7B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 15.22x | 16.41x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | — | 15.45x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 0.51x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 13.14x | 8.29x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 3.05x | 1.07x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 2.86x | 1.44x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 16.86x | 21.68x |
IOSP leads this category, winning 3 of 5 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
UG leads this category, winning 5 of 7 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
UG delivers a 19.1% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $19 in annual profit, vs $9 for IOSP. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), IOSP scores 6/9 vs UG's 4/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | UGUnited-Guardian, … | IOSPInnospec Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +19.1% | +9.0% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +16.3% | +6.5% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +16.8% | +11.2% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +18.9% | +11.0% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 4 | 6 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | — | 0.07x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$1M | -$203M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $1M | $293M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $0 | $90M |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | — | — |
UG leads this category, winning 5 of 7 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
UG leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in IOSP five years ago would be worth $8,168 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $7,000 for UG. Over the past 12 months, UG leads with a -6.0% total return vs IOSP's -14.9%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors UG at -5.4% vs IOSP's -6.1% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | UGUnited-Guardian, … | IOSPInnospec Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +18.3% | +0.5% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -6.0% | -14.9% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -15.4% | -17.3% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -30.0% | -18.3% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -12.1% | +84.4% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -5.4% | -6.1% |
UG leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — UG and IOSP each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
UG is the less volatile stock with a 0.33 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than IOSP's 0.70 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. IOSP currently trades 80.2% from its 52-week high vs UG's 70.9% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | UGUnited-Guardian, … | IOSPInnospec Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.33x | 0.70x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $9.88 | $95.55 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $5.58 | $65.58 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +70.9% | +80.2% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 46.2 | 59.1 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 4K | 221K |
Evenly matched — UG and IOSP each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Evenly matched — UG and IOSP each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
For income investors, UG offers the higher dividend yield at 8.60% vs IOSP's 2.21%.
| Metric | UGUnited-Guardian, … | IOSPInnospec Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | — | Hold |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | — | $115.00 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | — | 9 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +8.6% | +2.2% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 2 | 12 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $0.60 | $1.70 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | 0.0% |
Evenly matched — UG and IOSP each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Key Takeaway
UG leads in 3 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Profitability & Efficiency). IOSP leads in 1 (Valuation Metrics). 2 tied.
Best OverallUnited-Guardian, Inc. (UG)Leads 3 of 6 categories
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UG vs IOSP: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is UG or IOSP a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Innospec Inc.
(IOSP) is the stronger pick with -3. 7% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -13. 4% for United-Guardian, Inc. (UG). United-Guardian, Inc. (UG) offers the better valuation at 15. 2x trailing P/E, making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Innospec Inc. (IOSP) a "Hold" — based on 9 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 — UG or IOSP?
On trailing P/E, United-Guardian, Inc.
(UG) is the cheapest at 15. 2x versus Innospec Inc. at 16. 4x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — UG or IOSP?
Over the past 5 years, Innospec Inc.
(IOSP) delivered a total return of -18. 3%, compared to -30. 0% for United-Guardian, Inc. (UG). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: IOSP returned +84. 4% versus UG's -12. 1%. 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 — UG or IOSP?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), United-Guardian, Inc.
(UG) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 33β versus Innospec Inc. 's 0. 70β — meaning IOSP is approximately 110% more volatile than UG relative to the S&P 500.
05Which is growing faster — UG or IOSP?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Innospec Inc.
(IOSP) is pulling ahead at -3. 7% versus -13. 4% for United-Guardian, Inc. (UG). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Innospec Inc. grew EPS 228. 9% year-over-year, compared to -35. 2% for United-Guardian, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, IOSP leads at -3. 3% 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 — UG or IOSP?
United-Guardian, Inc.
(UG) is the more profitable company, earning 20. 0% net margin versus 6. 6% for Innospec Inc. — meaning it keeps 20. 0% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: UG leads at 21. 3% versus 8. 8% for IOSP. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — UG leads at 47. 7%, 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.
07Which pays a better dividend — UG or IOSP?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
United-Guardian, Inc. (UG) offers the highest yield at 8. 6%, versus 2. 2% for Innospec Inc. (IOSP).
08Is UG or IOSP better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, United-Guardian, Inc.
(UG) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 33), 8. 6% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (UG: -12. 1%, IOSP: +84. 4%), 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 UG and IOSP?
These companies operate in different sectors (UG (Consumer Defensive) and IOSP (Basic Materials)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.
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>
%
(UG: 19.6% · IOSP: -2.4%)Net Margin>
%
(UG: 20.0% · IOSP: 6.6%)P/E Ratio<
x
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