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BAK vs OLN
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
Chemicals - Specialty
BAK vs OLN — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | ||
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Chemicals | Chemicals - Specialty |
| Market Cap | $638M | $3.05B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $73.77B | $6.72B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $-5.24B | $-127M |
| Gross Margin | 4.4% | 5.3% |
| Operating Margin | -2.8% | -1.6% |
| Total Debt | $73.72B | $3.39B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $14.99B | $168M |
BAK vs OLN — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Braskem S.A. (BAK) | 100 | 35.9 | -64.1% |
| Olin Corporation (OLN) | 100 | 222.4 | +122.4% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: BAK vs OLN
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
BAK is the clearest fit if your priority is growth exposure.
- Rev growth 9.7%, EPS growth -147.0%, 3Y rev CAGR -9.8%
- 9.7% revenue growth vs OLN's 3.7%
OLN carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and long-term compounding.
- Dividend streak 3 yrs, beta 1.47, yield 3.0%
- 61.0% 10Y total return vs BAK's 1.7%
- Lower volatility, beta 1.47, current ratio 1.35x
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | 9.7% revenue growth vs OLN's 3.7% | |
| Quality / Margins | -1.9% margin vs BAK's -7.1% | |
| Stability / Safety | Beta 1.47 vs BAK's 1.95 | |
| Dividends | 3.0% yield, 3-year raise streak, vs BAK's 0.1% | |
| Momentum (1Y) | +35.2% vs BAK's +3.9% | |
| Efficiency (ROA) | -1.7% ROA vs BAK's -5.6%, ROIC 1.7% vs 1.5% |
BAK vs OLN — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
BAK vs OLN — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
OLN leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
BAK is the larger business by revenue, generating $73.8B annually — 11.0x OLN's $6.7B. OLN is the more profitable business, keeping -1.9% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to BAK's -7.1%. On growth, OLN holds the edge at -3.7% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $73.8B | $6.7B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $2.7B | $284M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | -$5.2B | -$127M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | -$6.1B | $352M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +4.4% | +5.3% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | -2.8% | -1.6% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | -7.1% | -1.9% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | -8.2% | +5.2% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -18.7% | -3.7% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +95.6% | -61.8% |
Valuation Metrics
OLN leads this category, winning 2 of 3 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
On an enterprise value basis, OLN's 9.9x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than BAK's 13.0x.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $638M | $3.0B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $12.5B | $6.3B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | -0.65x | -72.32x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | — | — |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 12.99x | 9.88x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 0.04x | 0.45x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | — | 1.59x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | — | 12.29x |
Profitability & Efficiency
OLN leads this category, winning 7 of 7 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), OLN scores 5/9 vs BAK's 3/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | — | -6.6% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | -5.6% | -1.7% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +1.5% | +1.7% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +1.4% | +1.9% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 3 | 5 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | — | 1.76x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $58.7B | $3.2B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $15.0B | $168M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $73.7B | $3.4B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | -0.25x | 0.66x |
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
OLN leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in OLN five years ago would be worth $6,609 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $3,845 for BAK. Over the past 12 months, OLN leads with a +35.2% total return vs BAK's +3.9%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors OLN at -19.0% vs BAK's -28.4% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +26.7% | +25.1% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +3.9% | +35.2% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -63.3% | -46.8% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -61.5% | -33.9% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +1.7% | +61.0% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -28.4% | -19.0% |
Risk & Volatility
OLN leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
OLN is the less volatile stock with a 1.47 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than BAK's 1.95 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. OLN currently trades 87.8% from its 52-week high vs BAK's 69.9% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.95x | 1.47x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $5.29 | $30.46 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $2.32 | $18.08 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +69.9% | +87.8% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 53.9 | 58.6 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 2.9M | 2.7M |
Analyst Outlook
OLN leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates BAK as "Buy" and OLN as "Hold". Consensus price targets imply -9.1% upside for OLN (target: $24) vs -59.5% for BAK (target: $2). OLN is the only dividend payer here at 2.99% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Hold |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $1.50 | $24.33 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 6 | 35 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +0.1% | +3.0% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 0 | 3 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $0.02 | $0.80 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | +1.7% |
OLN leads in 6 of 6 categories — strongest in Income & Cash Flow and Valuation Metrics.
BAK vs OLN: Frequently Asked Questions
8 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is BAK or OLN a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Braskem S.
A. (BAK) is the stronger pick with 9. 7% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 3. 7% for Olin Corporation (OLN). Analysts rate Braskem S. A. (BAK) 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.
02Which is the better long-term investment — BAK or OLN?
Over the past 5 years, Olin Corporation (OLN) delivered a total return of -33.
9%, compared to -61. 5% for Braskem S. A. (BAK). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: OLN returned +61. 0% versus BAK's +1. 7%. 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 — BAK or OLN?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Olin Corporation (OLN) is the lower-risk stock at 1.
47β versus Braskem S. A. 's 1. 95β — meaning BAK is approximately 32% more volatile than OLN relative to the S&P 500.
04Which is growing faster — BAK or OLN?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Braskem S.
A. (BAK) is pulling ahead at 9. 7% versus 3. 7% for Olin Corporation (OLN). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Olin Corporation grew EPS -140. 7% year-over-year, compared to -147. 0% for Braskem S. A.. Over a 3-year CAGR, BAK leads at -9. 8% 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 — BAK or OLN?
Olin Corporation (OLN) is the more profitable company, earning -0.
6% net margin versus -14. 6% for Braskem S. A. — meaning it keeps -0. 6% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: OLN leads at 1. 7% versus 1. 3% for BAK. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — BAK leads at 7. 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.
06Which pays a better dividend — BAK or OLN?
In this comparison, OLN (3.
0% yield) pays a dividend. BAK does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
07Is BAK or OLN better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Olin Corporation (OLN) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (3.
0% yield). Braskem S. A. (BAK) carries a higher beta of 1. 95 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (OLN: +61. 0%, BAK: +1. 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.
08What are the main differences between BAK and OLN?
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.
OLN pays a dividend while BAK 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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