KODK vs QUAD

For growth investors, Eastman Kodak Company (KODK) is the stronger pick with 2.

5% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -9. 4% for Quad/Graphics, Inc. (QUAD). Quad/Graphics, Inc. (QUAD) offers the better valuation at 14. 2x trailing P/E (6. 3x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Quad/Graphics, Inc. (QUAD) a "Buy" — based on 7 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.

Over the past 5 years, Quad/Graphics, Inc.

(QUAD) delivered a total return of +158. 1%, compared to +94. 4% for Eastman Kodak Company (KODK). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: KODK returned +20. 7% versus QUAD's -23. 3%. 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), Quad/Graphics, Inc.

(QUAD) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 03β versus Eastman Kodak Company's 1. 68β — meaning KODK is approximately 63% more volatile than QUAD relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Eastman Kodak Company (KODK) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 35% versus 3% for Quad/Graphics, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Eastman Kodak Company (KODK) is pulling ahead at 2.

5% versus -9. 4% for Quad/Graphics, Inc. (QUAD). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Quad/Graphics, Inc. grew EPS 150. 5% year-over-year, compared to -297. 8% for Eastman Kodak Company. Over a 3-year CAGR, KODK leads at -3. 9% 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.

Quad/Graphics, Inc.

(QUAD) is the more profitable company, earning 1. 1% net margin versus -12. 0% for Eastman Kodak Company — meaning it keeps 1. 1% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: QUAD leads at 4. 9% versus 2. 3% for KODK. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — KODK leads at 21. 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.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Quad/Graphics, Inc. (QUAD) offers the highest yield at 3. 8%, versus 0. 2% for Eastman Kodak Company (KODK).

For long-horizon retirement investors, Quad/Graphics, Inc.

(QUAD) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1. 03), 3. 8% yield). Eastman Kodak Company (KODK) carries a higher beta of 1. 68 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (QUAD: -23. 3%, KODK: +20. 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.

Both stocks operate in the Industrials sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.

In terms of investment character: KODK is a small-cap quality compounder stock; QUAD is a small-cap deep-value stock. QUAD pays a dividend while KODK 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.