ESI vs HWKN

For growth investors, Hawkins, Inc.

(HWKN) is the stronger pick with 6. 0% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 3. 8% for Element Solutions Inc (ESI). Hawkins, Inc. (HWKN) offers the better valuation at 41. 4x trailing P/E (42. 3x 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.

On trailing P/E, Hawkins, Inc.

(HWKN) is the cheapest at 41. 4x versus Element Solutions Inc at 55. 7x. On forward P/E, Element Solutions Inc is actually cheaper at 25. 0x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Element Solutions Inc wins at 1. 17x versus Hawkins, Inc. 's 1. 70x — a reasonable growth-adjusted valuation.

Over the past 5 years, Hawkins, Inc.

(HWKN) delivered a total return of +400. 5%, compared to +99. 0% for Element Solutions Inc (ESI). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: HWKN returned +784. 5% versus ESI's +421. 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), Hawkins, Inc.

(HWKN) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 98β versus Element Solutions Inc's 2. 01β — meaning ESI is approximately 105% more volatile than HWKN relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Hawkins, Inc. (HWKN) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 35% versus 60% for Element Solutions Inc — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Hawkins, Inc.

(HWKN) is pulling ahead at 6. 0% versus 3. 8% for Element Solutions Inc (ESI). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Hawkins, Inc. grew EPS 12. 3% year-over-year, compared to -21. 8% for Element Solutions Inc. Over a 3-year CAGR, HWKN leads at 8. 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.

Hawkins, Inc.

(HWKN) is the more profitable company, earning 8. 7% net margin versus 7. 5% for Element Solutions Inc — meaning it keeps 8. 7% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: ESI leads at 13. 4% versus 12. 2% for HWKN. 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.

The PEG ratio (forward P/E divided by expected earnings growth rate) is the most precise measure of undervaluation relative to growth potential.

By this metric, Element Solutions Inc (ESI) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 1. 17x versus Hawkins, Inc. 's 1. 70x. A PEG below 1. 5 suggests fair-to-attractive pricing relative to expected growth. On forward earnings alone, Element Solutions Inc (ESI) trades at 25. 0x forward P/E versus 42. 3x for Hawkins, Inc. — 17. 3x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Element Solutions Inc (ESI) offers the highest yield at 0. 7%, versus 0. 4% for Hawkins, Inc. (HWKN).

For long-horizon retirement investors, Hawkins, Inc.

(HWKN) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 98), +784. 5% 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 (HWKN: +784. 5%, 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.

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.

ESI pays a dividend while HWKN 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.