ESI
Element Solutions Inc
Chemicals - Specialty
Market Cap$10.72B
5Y Perf.+303.9%
Compare Stocks
2 / 10Try these comparisons:
Stock Comparison
ESI vs CMC
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
CMC
Commercial Metals Company
Steel
Market Cap$7.75B
5Y Perf.+306.7%
ESI vs CMC — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | ESI | CMC |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Chemicals - Specialty | Steel |
| Market Cap | $10.72B | $7.75B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $2.80B | $8.01B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $149M | $438M |
| Gross Margin | 40.8% | 16.5% |
| Operating Margin | 13.4% | 7.5% |
| Forward P/E | 25.0x | 10.7x |
| Total Debt | $1.63B | $1.35B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $627M | $1.04B |
ESI vs CMC — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
ESI
CMC
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Element Solutions I… (ESI) | 100 | 403.9 | +303.9% |
| Commercial Metals C… (CMC) | 100 | 406.7 | +306.7% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: ESI vs CMC
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: CMC leads in 5 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for valuation and capital efficiency and profitability and margin quality. Element Solutions Inc is the stronger pick specifically for growth and revenue expansion and recent price momentum and sentiment. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
ESI
Element Solutions Inc
The Growth Play
ESI is the clearest fit if your priority is growth exposure and long-term compounding.
- Rev growth 3.8%, EPS growth -21.8%, 3Y rev CAGR 0.0%
- 421.1% 10Y total return vs CMC's 337.3%
- 3.8% revenue growth vs CMC's -1.6%
Best for: growth exposure and long-term compounding
CMC
Commercial Metals Company
The Income Pick
CMC carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and sleep-well-at-night.
- Dividend streak 4 yrs, beta 1.53, yield 1.0%
- Lower volatility, beta 1.53, Low D/E 32.3%, current ratio 2.78x
- Beta 1.53, yield 1.0%, current ratio 2.78x
Best for: income & stability and sleep-well-at-night
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | ESI | 3.8% revenue growth vs CMC's -1.6% |
| Value | CMC | Lower P/E (10.7x vs 25.0x) |
| Quality / Margins | CMC | 5.5% margin vs ESI's 5.3% |
| Stability / Safety | CMC | Beta 1.53 vs ESI's 2.01, lower leverage |
| Dividends | CMC | 1.0% yield, 4-year raise streak, vs ESI's 0.7% |
| Momentum (1Y) | ESI | +112.1% vs CMC's +54.6% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | CMC | 4.7% ROA vs ESI's 2.8%, ROIC 8.5% vs 6.7% |
ESI vs CMC — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2025
FY 2025
ESI vs CMC — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLCMCLAGGINGESI
ESIElement Solutions Inc
2leads
CMCCommercial Metals Com…
3leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs ESIMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
ESI4/6
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
CMC5/6
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
CMC8/9
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
ESI5/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
Tied
—
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
CMC2/2
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
ESI leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
CMC is the larger business by revenue, generating $8.0B annually — 2.9x ESI's $2.8B. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from 5.5% (CMC) to 5.3% (ESI). On growth, ESI holds the edge at +41.5% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | ESIElement Solutions… | CMCCommercial Metals… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $2.8B | $8.0B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $533M | $890M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $149M | $438M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $121M | $296M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +40.8% | +16.5% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +13.4% | +7.5% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +5.3% | +5.5% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +4.3% | +3.7% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +41.5% | +11.0% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -42.5% | +2.0% |
ESI leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
CMC leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 55.7x trailing earnings, ESI trades at a 41% valuation discount to CMC's 94.3x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, CMC's 10.0x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than ESI's 23.7x.
| Metric | ESIElement Solutions… | CMCCommercial Metals… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $10.7B | $7.7B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $11.7B | $8.1B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 55.68x | 94.31x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 25.00x | 10.67x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 2.61x | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 23.74x | 10.00x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 4.20x | 0.99x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 3.96x | 1.90x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 47.08x | 24.81x |
CMC leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
CMC leads this category, winning 8 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
CMC delivers a 10.1% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $10 in annual profit, vs $6 for ESI. CMC carries lower financial leverage with a 0.32x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to ESI's 0.60x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), ESI scores 6/9 vs CMC's 4/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | ESIElement Solutions… | CMCCommercial Metals… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +5.5% | +10.1% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +2.8% | +4.7% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +6.7% | +8.5% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +7.5% | +8.7% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 6 | 4 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.60x | 0.32x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $999M | $311M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $627M | $1.0B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $1.6B | $1.4B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 4.85x | 9.84x |
CMC leads this category, winning 8 of 9 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
ESI leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in CMC five years ago would be worth $23,278 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $19,900 for ESI. Over the past 12 months, ESI leads with a +112.1% total return vs CMC's +54.6%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors ESI at 35.3% vs CMC's 17.3% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ESIElement Solutions… | CMCCommercial Metals… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +69.9% | -2.3% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +112.1% | +54.6% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +147.9% | +61.4% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +99.0% | +132.8% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +421.1% | +337.3% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +35.3% | +17.3% |
ESI leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — ESI and CMC each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
CMC is the less volatile stock with a 1.53 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than ESI's 2.01 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. ESI currently trades 98.7% from its 52-week high vs CMC's 82.2% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | ESIElement Solutions… | CMCCommercial Metals… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 2.01x | 1.53x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $44.57 | $84.87 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $20.50 | $44.67 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +98.7% | +82.2% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 70.3 | 50.9 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 3.0M | 1.1M |
Evenly matched — ESI and CMC each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
CMC leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates ESI as "Buy" and CMC as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 18.6% upside for CMC (target: $83) vs -6.1% for ESI (target: $41). For income investors, CMC offers the higher dividend yield at 1.02% vs ESI's 0.73%.
| Metric | ESIElement Solutions… | CMCCommercial Metals… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $41.29 | $82.75 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 35 | 26 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +0.7% | +1.0% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 0 | 4 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $0.32 | $0.71 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +0.2% | +2.7% |
CMC leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Key Takeaway
CMC leads in 3 of 6 categories (Valuation Metrics, Profitability & Efficiency). ESI leads in 2 (Income & Cash Flow, Total Returns). 1 tied.
Best OverallCommercial Metals Company (CMC)Leads 3 of 6 categories
Loading custom metrics...
ESI vs CMC: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is ESI or CMC a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Element Solutions Inc (ESI) is the stronger pick with 3.
8% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -1. 6% for Commercial Metals Company (CMC). Element Solutions Inc (ESI) offers the better valuation at 55. 7x trailing P/E (25. 0x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Element Solutions Inc (ESI) a "Buy" — based on 35 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 — ESI or CMC?
On trailing P/E, Element Solutions Inc (ESI) is the cheapest at 55.
7x versus Commercial Metals Company at 94. 3x. On forward P/E, Commercial Metals Company is actually cheaper at 10. 7x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.
03Which is the better long-term investment — ESI or CMC?
Over the past 5 years, Commercial Metals Company (CMC) delivered a total return of +132.
8%, compared to +99. 0% for Element Solutions Inc (ESI). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: ESI returned +421. 1% versus CMC's +337. 3%. 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 — ESI or CMC?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Commercial Metals Company (CMC) is the lower-risk stock at 1.
53β versus Element Solutions Inc's 2. 01β — meaning ESI is approximately 31% more volatile than CMC relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Commercial Metals Company (CMC) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 32% versus 60% for Element Solutions Inc — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — ESI or CMC?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Element Solutions Inc (ESI) is pulling ahead at 3.
8% versus -1. 6% for Commercial Metals Company (CMC). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Element Solutions Inc grew EPS -21. 8% year-over-year, compared to -82. 1% for Commercial Metals Company. Over a 3-year CAGR, ESI leads at 0. 0% 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 — ESI or CMC?
Element Solutions Inc (ESI) is the more profitable company, earning 7.
5% net margin versus 1. 1% for Commercial Metals Company — meaning it keeps 7. 5% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: ESI leads at 13. 4% versus 6. 7% for CMC. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — ESI 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.
07Is ESI or CMC more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Commercial Metals Company (CMC) trades at 10.
7x forward P/E versus 25. 0x for Element Solutions Inc — 14. 3x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for CMC: 18. 6% to $82. 75.
08Which pays a better dividend — ESI or CMC?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
Commercial Metals Company (CMC) offers the highest yield at 1. 0%, versus 0. 7% for Element Solutions Inc (ESI).
09Is ESI or CMC better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Commercial Metals Company (CMC) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (1.
0% yield, +337. 3% 10Y return). Element Solutions Inc (ESI) carries a higher beta of 2. 01 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (CMC: +337. 3%, ESI: +421. 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 ESI and CMC?
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.
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.
Find Stocks Like These
Explore pre-built screens for each stock's profile, or build a custom screen to find stocks that outperform both.
Revenue Growth>
%
(ESI: 41.5% · CMC: 11.0%)Net Margin>
%
(ESI: 5.3% · CMC: 5.5%)P/E Ratio<
x
(ESI: 55.7x · CMC: 94.3x)You Might Also Compare
Based on how these companies actually compete and overlap — not just which sector they're filed under.