ASIX vs KRO vs TROX vs MEOH vs CODI

For growth investors, Compass Diversified (CODI) is the stronger pick with 5.

8% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -99. 9% for Tronox Holdings plc (TROX). AdvanSix Inc. (ASIX) offers the better valuation at 14. 5x trailing P/E (16. 5x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate AdvanSix Inc. (ASIX) a "Buy" — based on 6 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, AdvanSix Inc.

(ASIX) is the cheapest at 14. 5x versus Methanex Corporation at 69. 9x. On forward P/E, Methanex Corporation is actually cheaper at 8. 3x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Methanex Corporation (MEOH) delivered a total return of +76.

4%, compared to -45. 8% for Tronox Holdings plc (TROX). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: MEOH returned +126. 3% versus CODI's +52. 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), Methanex Corporation (MEOH) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

39β versus Tronox Holdings plc's 2. 37β — meaning TROX is approximately 506% more volatile than MEOH relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Tronox Holdings plc (TROX) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 18% versus 7% for Compass Diversified — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Compass Diversified (CODI) is pulling ahead at 5.

8% versus -99. 9% for Tronox Holdings plc (TROX). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: AdvanSix Inc. grew EPS 11. 1% year-over-year, compared to -890. 0% for Tronox Holdings plc. Over a 3-year CAGR, CODI 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.

AdvanSix Inc.

(ASIX) is the more profitable company, earning 3. 2% net margin versus -16. 2% for Tronox Holdings plc — meaning it keeps 3. 2% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: MEOH leads at 12. 9% versus -8. 7% for TROX. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — CODI leads at 42. 0%, 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, Methanex Corporation (MEOH) trades at 8.

3x forward P/E versus 145. 3x for Compass Diversified — 136. 9x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for CODI: 29. 0% to $15. 00.

In this comparison, CODI (14.

2% yield), ASIX (2. 4% yield), MEOH (1. 1% yield) pay a dividend. KRO, TROX do not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Methanex Corporation (MEOH) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.

39), 1. 1% yield, +126. 3% 10Y return). Tronox Holdings plc (TROX) carries a higher beta of 2. 37 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (MEOH: +126. 3%, TROX: +104. 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.

These companies operate in different sectors (ASIX (Basic Materials) and KRO (Basic Materials) and TROX (Basic Materials) and MEOH (Basic Materials) and CODI (Industrials)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: ASIX is a small-cap deep-value stock; KRO is a small-cap quality compounder stock; TROX is a small-cap quality compounder stock; MEOH is a small-cap quality compounder stock; CODI is a small-cap income-oriented stock. ASIX, MEOH, CODI pay a dividend while KRO, TROX do 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.