AXTA
Axalta Coating Systems Ltd.
Chemicals - Specialty
Market Cap$6.09B
5Y Perf.+23.5%
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Stock Comparison
AXTA vs DOW
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
DOW
Dow Inc.
Chemicals
Market Cap$27.71B
5Y Perf.-0.3%
AXTA vs DOW — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | AXTA | DOW |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Chemicals - Specialty | Chemicals |
| Market Cap | $6.09B | $27.71B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $5.11B | $39.33B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $369M | $-2.76B |
| Gross Margin | 32.2% | 6.2% |
| Operating Margin | 14.0% | -2.3% |
| Forward P/E | 11.2x | 13.0x |
| Total Debt | $3.39B | $19.60B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $660M | $3.82B |
AXTA vs DOW — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
AXTA
DOW
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Axalta Coating Syst… (AXTA) | 100 | 123.5 | +23.5% |
| Dow Inc. (DOW) | 100 | 99.7 | -0.3% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: AXTA vs DOW
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: AXTA leads in 4 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for growth and revenue expansion and valuation and capital efficiency. Dow Inc. is the stronger pick specifically for capital preservation and lower volatility and dividend income and shareholder returns. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
AXTA
Axalta Coating Systems Ltd.
The Income Pick
AXTA carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and growth exposure.
- Dividend streak 0 yrs, beta 1.13
- Rev growth -3.0%, EPS growth -2.2%, 3Y rev CAGR 1.6%
- -3.0% revenue growth vs DOW's -7.0%
Best for: income & stability and growth exposure
DOW
Dow Inc.
The Long-Run Compounder
DOW is the clearest fit if your priority is long-term compounding and sleep-well-at-night.
- 14.6% 10Y total return vs AXTA's 1.1%
- Lower volatility, beta 0.76, current ratio 1.97x
- Beta 0.76, yield 5.4%, current ratio 1.97x
Best for: long-term compounding and sleep-well-at-night
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | AXTA | -3.0% revenue growth vs DOW's -7.0% |
| Value | AXTA | Lower P/E (11.2x vs 13.0x) |
| Quality / Margins | AXTA | 7.2% margin vs DOW's -7.0% |
| Stability / Safety | DOW | Beta 0.76 vs AXTA's 1.13, lower leverage |
| Dividends | DOW | 5.4% yield; the other pay no meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | DOW | +39.8% vs AXTA's -14.2% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | AXTA | 4.8% ROA vs DOW's -4.6%, ROIC 11.4% vs 0.6% |
AXTA vs DOW — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2025
FY 2025
AXTA vs DOW — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLAXTALAGGINGDOW
DOWDow Inc.
2leads
AXTAAxalta Coating System…
2leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs DOWMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
AXTA6/6
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
DOW3/5
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
AXTA8/9
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
Tied
—
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
DOW2/2
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
—
—
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
AXTA leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
DOW is the larger business by revenue, generating $39.3B annually — 7.7x AXTA's $5.1B. AXTA is the more profitable business, keeping 7.2% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to DOW's -7.0%. On growth, AXTA holds the edge at -0.6% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | AXTAAxalta Coating Sy… | DOWDow Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $5.1B | $39.3B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $1.0B | $1.3B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $369M | -$2.8B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $488M | -$2.0B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +32.2% | +6.2% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +14.0% | -2.3% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +7.2% | -7.0% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +9.6% | -5.1% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -0.6% | -6.1% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -6.7% | -68.2% |
AXTA leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
DOW leads this category, winning 3 of 5 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
On an enterprise value basis, AXTA's 8.3x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than DOW's 14.1x.
| Metric | AXTAAxalta Coating Sy… | DOWDow Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $6.1B | $27.7B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $8.8B | $43.5B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 16.41x | -10.43x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 11.15x | 13.02x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 0.60x | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 8.33x | 14.06x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 1.19x | 0.69x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 2.59x | 1.56x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 13.45x | — |
DOW leads this category, winning 3 of 5 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
AXTA leads this category, winning 8 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
AXTA delivers a 15.5% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $16 in annual profit, vs $-15 for DOW. DOW carries lower financial leverage with a 1.12x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to AXTA's 1.42x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), AXTA scores 6/9 vs DOW's 3/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | AXTAAxalta Coating Sy… | DOWDow Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +15.5% | -15.4% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +4.8% | -4.6% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +11.4% | +0.6% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +12.6% | +0.5% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 6 | 3 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 1.42x | 1.12x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $2.7B | $15.8B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $660M | $3.8B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $3.4B | $19.6B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 3.94x | -1.51x |
AXTA leads this category, winning 8 of 9 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
Evenly matched — AXTA and DOW each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in AXTA five years ago would be worth $8,522 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $7,452 for DOW. Over the past 12 months, DOW leads with a +39.8% total return vs AXTA's -14.2%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors AXTA at -2.3% vs DOW's -5.4% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | AXTAAxalta Coating Sy… | DOWDow Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -13.5% | +60.1% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -14.2% | +39.8% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -6.6% | -15.3% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -14.8% | -25.5% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +1.1% | +14.6% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -2.3% | -5.4% |
Evenly matched — AXTA and DOW each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
DOW leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
DOW is the less volatile stock with a 0.76 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than AXTA's 1.13 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. DOW currently trades 90.1% from its 52-week high vs AXTA's 79.9% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | AXTAAxalta Coating Sy… | DOWDow Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.13x | 0.76x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $35.72 | $42.74 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $24.94 | $20.40 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +79.9% | +90.1% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 41.4 | 59.4 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 2.6M | 14.3M |
DOW leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates AXTA as "Hold" and DOW as "Hold". Consensus price targets imply 22.1% upside for AXTA (target: $35) vs 2.7% for DOW (target: $40). DOW is the only dividend payer here at 5.44% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | AXTAAxalta Coating Sy… | DOWDow Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Hold |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $34.86 | $39.55 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 28 | 35 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | +5.4% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 0 | 0 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | $2.09 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +2.7% | 0.0% |
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Key Takeaway
AXTA leads in 2 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Profitability & Efficiency). DOW leads in 2 (Valuation Metrics, Risk & Volatility). 1 tied.
Best OverallAxalta Coating Systems Ltd. (AXTA)Leads 2 of 6 categories
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AXTA vs DOW: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is AXTA or DOW a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Axalta Coating Systems Ltd.
(AXTA) is the stronger pick with -3. 0% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -7. 0% for Dow Inc. (DOW). Axalta Coating Systems Ltd. (AXTA) offers the better valuation at 16. 4x trailing P/E (11. 2x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Axalta Coating Systems Ltd. (AXTA) a "Hold" — based on 28 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 — AXTA or DOW?
On forward P/E, Axalta Coating Systems Ltd.
is actually cheaper at 11. 2x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — AXTA or DOW?
Over the past 5 years, Axalta Coating Systems Ltd.
(AXTA) delivered a total return of -14. 8%, compared to -25. 5% for Dow Inc. (DOW). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: DOW returned +14. 6% versus AXTA's +1. 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 — AXTA or DOW?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Dow Inc.
(DOW) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 76β versus Axalta Coating Systems Ltd. 's 1. 13β — meaning AXTA is approximately 49% more volatile than DOW relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Dow Inc. (DOW) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 112% versus 142% for Axalta Coating Systems Ltd. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — AXTA or DOW?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Axalta Coating Systems Ltd.
(AXTA) is pulling ahead at -3. 0% versus -7. 0% for Dow Inc. (DOW). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Axalta Coating Systems Ltd. grew EPS -2. 2% year-over-year, compared to -335. 0% for Dow Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, AXTA leads at 1. 6% 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 — AXTA or DOW?
Axalta Coating Systems Ltd.
(AXTA) is the more profitable company, earning 7. 4% net margin versus -6. 6% for Dow Inc. — meaning it keeps 7. 4% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: AXTA leads at 14. 9% versus 0. 7% for DOW. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — AXTA leads at 32. 6%, 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 AXTA or DOW more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Axalta Coating Systems Ltd.
(AXTA) trades at 11. 2x forward P/E versus 13. 0x for Dow Inc. — 1. 9x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for AXTA: 22. 1% to $34. 86.
08Which pays a better dividend — AXTA or DOW?
In this comparison, DOW (5.
4% yield) pays a dividend. AXTA does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
09Is AXTA or DOW better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Dow Inc.
(DOW) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 76), 5. 4% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (DOW: +14. 6%, AXTA: +1. 1%), 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 AXTA and DOW?
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: AXTA is a small-cap deep-value stock; DOW is a mid-cap income-oriented stock. DOW pays a dividend while AXTA 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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