Chemicals - Specialty
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5 / 10Stock Comparison
IOSP vs HWKN vs BCPC vs KWR vs AVNT
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
Chemicals - Specialty
Chemicals - Specialty
Chemicals - Specialty
Chemicals - Specialty
IOSP vs HWKN vs BCPC vs KWR vs AVNT — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Industry | Chemicals - Specialty | Chemicals - Specialty | Chemicals - Specialty | Chemicals - Specialty | Chemicals - Specialty |
| Market Cap | $1.91B | $3.46B | $5.11B | $2.48B | $3.35B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $1.78B | $1.06B | $1.06B | $1.93B | $3.28B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $117M | $82M | $158M | $4M | $158M |
| Gross Margin | 27.7% | 22.9% | 36.3% | 34.4% | 31.7% |
| Operating Margin | 8.7% | 11.5% | 21.0% | 3.7% | 9.3% |
| Forward P/E | 15.5x | 42.3x | 30.9x | 19.3x | 12.0x |
| Total Debt | $90M | $160M | $192M | $929M | $1.92B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $293M | $5M | $75M | $180M | $511M |
IOSP vs HWKN vs BCPC vs KWR vs AVNT — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Innospec Inc. (IOSP) | 100 | 99.4 | -0.6% |
| Hawkins, Inc. (HWKN) | 100 | 778.6 | +678.6% |
| Balchem Corporation (BCPC) | 100 | 158.5 | +58.5% |
| Quaker Chemical Cor… (KWR) | 100 | 83.7 | -16.3% |
| Avient Corporation (AVNT) | 100 | 147.3 | +47.3% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: IOSP vs HWKN vs BCPC vs KWR vs AVNT
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
IOSP is the clearest fit if your priority is sleep-well-at-night and valuation efficiency.
- Lower volatility, beta 0.70, Low D/E 6.7%, current ratio 2.79x
- PEG 0.48 vs BCPC's 2.41
- Beta 0.70, yield 2.2%, current ratio 2.79x
HWKN is the clearest fit if your priority is long-term compounding.
- 7.7% 10Y total return vs BCPC's 160.5%
BCPC carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for growth exposure.
- Rev growth 8.8%, EPS growth 20.9%, 3Y rev CAGR 3.2%
- 8.8% revenue growth vs IOSP's -3.7%
- 15.0% margin vs KWR's 0.2%
- Beta 0.33 vs KWR's 1.35, lower leverage
KWR ranks third and is worth considering specifically for momentum.
- +45.1% vs IOSP's -14.9%
AVNT is the #2 pick in this set and the best alternative if income & stability is your priority.
- Dividend streak 14 yrs, beta 1.19, yield 2.9%
- Lower P/E (12.0x vs 19.3x)
- 2.9% yield, 14-year raise streak, vs BCPC's 0.5%
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | 8.8% revenue growth vs IOSP's -3.7% | |
| Value | Lower P/E (12.0x vs 19.3x) | |
| Quality / Margins | 15.0% margin vs KWR's 0.2% | |
| Stability / Safety | Beta 0.33 vs KWR's 1.35, lower leverage | |
| Dividends | 2.9% yield, 14-year raise streak, vs BCPC's 0.5% | |
| Momentum (1Y) | +45.1% vs IOSP's -14.9% | |
| Efficiency (ROA) | 9.4% ROA vs KWR's 0.2%, ROIC 12.2% vs 6.6% |
IOSP vs HWKN vs BCPC vs KWR vs AVNT — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
IOSP vs HWKN vs BCPC vs KWR vs AVNT — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 5 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
Who Leads Where
AVNT leads in 2 of 6 categories
BCPC leads 1 • HWKN leads 1 • IOSP leads 0 • KWR leads 0 • 2 tied
Explore the data ↓Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
BCPC leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
AVNT is the larger business by revenue, generating $3.3B annually — 3.1x BCPC's $1.1B. BCPC is the more profitable business, keeping 15.0% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to KWR's 0.2%. On growth, KWR holds the edge at +8.5% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $1.8B | $1.1B | $1.1B | $1.9B | $3.3B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $198M | $172M | $267M | $143M | $445M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $117M | $82M | $158M | $4M | $158M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $88M | $88M | $182M | $143M | $205M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +27.7% | +22.9% | +36.3% | +34.4% | +31.7% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +8.7% | +11.5% | +21.0% | +3.7% | +9.3% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +6.6% | +7.8% | +15.0% | +0.2% | +4.8% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +4.9% | +8.2% | +17.2% | +7.4% | +6.3% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -2.4% | +7.9% | +8.1% | +8.5% | +2.5% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +167.7% | -4.2% | +10.6% | +54.8% | +3.8% |
Valuation Metrics
AVNT leads this category, winning 4 of 7 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 16.4x trailing earnings, IOSP trades at a 60% valuation discount to HWKN's 41.4x P/E. Adjusting for growth (PEG ratio), IOSP offers better value at 0.51x vs BCPC's 2.62x — a lower PEG means you pay less per unit of expected earnings growth.
| Metric | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $1.9B | $3.5B | $5.1B | $2.5B | $3.3B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $1.7B | $3.6B | $5.2B | $3.2B | $4.8B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 16.41x | 41.44x | 33.58x | -1021.00x | 41.01x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 15.45x | 42.31x | 30.87x | 19.32x | 11.95x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 0.51x | 1.67x | 2.62x | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 8.29x | 22.74x | 19.83x | 11.93x | 12.22x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 1.07x | 3.55x | 4.92x | 1.31x | 1.03x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 1.44x | 7.60x | 4.14x | 1.81x | 1.40x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 21.68x | 49.48x | 29.51x | 30.74x | 17.16x |
Profitability & Efficiency
Evenly matched — IOSP and HWKN and BCPC each lead in 3 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
HWKN delivers a 15.9% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $16 in annual profit, vs $0 for KWR. IOSP carries lower financial leverage with a 0.07x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to AVNT's 0.81x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), BCPC scores 9/9 vs KWR's 4/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +9.0% | +15.9% | +12.4% | +0.3% | +6.6% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +6.5% | +8.4% | +9.4% | +0.2% | +2.6% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +11.2% | +15.9% | +12.2% | +6.6% | +3.9% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +11.0% | +19.3% | +14.8% | +7.6% | +4.0% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 6 | 6 | 9 | 4 | 5 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.07x | 0.35x | 0.15x | 0.67x | 0.81x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$203M | $155M | $117M | $749M | $1.4B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $293M | $5M | $75M | $180M | $511M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $90M | $160M | $192M | $929M | $1.9B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | — | 10.27x | 15.23x | 1.41x | 3.61x |
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
HWKN leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in HWKN five years ago would be worth $49,115 today (wi