CBT vs MPC vs VLO vs KRO

For growth investors, Kronos Worldwide, Inc.

(KRO) is the stronger pick with -1. 5% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -7. 0% for Cabot Corporation (CBT). Cabot Corporation (CBT) offers the better valuation at 13. 5x trailing P/E (13. 0x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Cabot Corporation (CBT) a "Buy" — based on 15 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, Cabot Corporation (CBT) is the cheapest at 13.

5x versus Valero Energy Corporation at 31. 2x. On forward P/E, Valero Energy Corporation is actually cheaper at 10. 0x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Marathon Petroleum Corporation (MPC) delivered a total return of +329.

5%, compared to -43. 9% for Kronos Worldwide, Inc. (KRO). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: MPC returned +664. 3% versus CBT's +115. 7%. 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), Valero Energy Corporation (VLO) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

27β versus Kronos Worldwide, Inc. 's 1. 57β — meaning KRO is approximately 486% more volatile than VLO relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Valero Energy Corporation (VLO) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 44% versus 143% for Marathon Petroleum Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Kronos Worldwide, Inc.

(KRO) is pulling ahead at -1. 5% versus -7. 0% for Cabot Corporation (CBT). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Marathon Petroleum Corporation grew EPS 31. 5% year-over-year, compared to -228. 0% for Kronos Worldwide, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, KRO 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.

Cabot Corporation (CBT) is the more profitable company, earning 8.

9% net margin versus -6. 0% for Kronos Worldwide, Inc. — meaning it keeps 8. 9% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: CBT leads at 16. 7% versus -1. 7% for KRO. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — CBT leads at 25. 3%, 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, Valero Energy Corporation (VLO) trades at 10.

0x forward P/E versus 13. 0x for Cabot Corporation — 3. 0x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for CBT: -4. 0% to $78. 00.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Kronos Worldwide, Inc. (KRO) offers the highest yield at 2. 8%, versus 1. 5% for Marathon Petroleum Corporation (MPC).

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

30), 1. 5% yield, +664. 3% 10Y return). Kronos Worldwide, Inc. (KRO) carries a higher beta of 1. 57 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (MPC: +664. 3%, KRO: +129. 0%), 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 (CBT (Basic Materials) and MPC (Energy) and VLO (Energy) and KRO (Unknown)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: CBT is a small-cap deep-value stock; MPC is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; VLO is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; KRO is a small-cap quality compounder stock. 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.