KOP
Koppers Holdings Inc.
Chemicals - Specialty
Market Cap$807M
5Y Perf.+148.4%
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Stock Comparison
KOP vs KALU
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
KALU
Kaiser Aluminum Corporation
Aluminum
Market Cap$2.86B
5Y Perf.+145.5%
KOP vs KALU — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | KOP | KALU |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Chemicals - Specialty | Aluminum |
| Market Cap | $807M | $2.86B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $1.88B | $3.70B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $56M | $153M |
| Gross Margin | 17.9% | 10.2% |
| Operating Margin | 8.9% | 6.6% |
| Forward P/E | 9.8x | 18.7x |
| Total Debt | $1.02B | $1.12B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $38M | $7M |
KOP vs KALU — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
KOP
KALU
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Koppers Holdings In… (KOP) | 100 | 248.4 | +148.4% |
| Kaiser Aluminum Cor… (KALU) | 100 | 245.5 | +145.5% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: KOP vs KALU
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: KALU leads in 5 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for growth and revenue expansion and profitability and margin quality. Koppers Holdings Inc. is the stronger pick specifically for valuation and capital efficiency and capital preservation and lower volatility. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
KOP
Koppers Holdings Inc.
The Income Pick
KOP is the clearest fit if your priority is income & stability and sleep-well-at-night.
- Dividend streak 3 yrs, beta 1.12, yield 0.8%
- Lower volatility, beta 1.12, current ratio 2.94x
- Lower P/E (9.8x vs 18.7x)
Best for: income & stability and sleep-well-at-night
KALU
Kaiser Aluminum Corporation
The Growth Play
KALU carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for growth exposure and long-term compounding.
- Rev growth 11.5%, EPS growth 135.9%, 3Y rev CAGR -0.5%
- 135.1% 10Y total return vs KOP's 70.5%
- Beta 1.71, yield 1.8%, current ratio 2.95x
Best for: growth exposure and long-term compounding
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | KALU | 11.5% revenue growth vs KOP's -10.2% |
| Value | KOP | Lower P/E (9.8x vs 18.7x) |
| Quality / Margins | KALU | 4.1% margin vs KOP's 3.0% |
| Stability / Safety | KOP | Beta 1.12 vs KALU's 1.71 |
| Dividends | KALU | 1.8% yield, vs KOP's 0.8% |
| Momentum (1Y) | KALU | +169.4% vs KOP's +65.7% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | KALU | 5.9% ROA vs KOP's 3.0%, ROIC 7.8% vs 8.3% |
KOP vs KALU — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2025
FY 2025
KOP vs KALU — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLKOPLAGGINGKALU
KALUKaiser Aluminum Corpo…
1leads
KOPKoppers Holdings Inc.
3leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs KALUMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
KOP4/6
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
KOP5/5
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
Tied
—
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
KALU5/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
KOP2/2
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
Tied
—
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
KOP leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
KALU is the larger business by revenue, generating $3.7B annually — 2.0x KOP's $1.9B. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from 4.1% (KALU) to 3.0% (KOP). On growth, KALU holds the edge at +42.4% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | KOPKoppers Holdings … | KALUKaiser Aluminum C… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $1.9B | $3.7B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $232M | $368M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $56M | $153M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $68M | $24M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +17.9% | +10.2% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +8.9% | +6.6% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +3.0% | +4.1% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +3.6% | +0.7% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -9.3% | +42.4% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +3.9% | +183.2% |
KOP leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
KOP leads this category, winning 5 of 5 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 15.0x trailing earnings, KOP trades at a 42% valuation discount to KALU's 26.0x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, KOP's 7.4x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than KALU's 12.7x.
| Metric | KOPKoppers Holdings … | KALUKaiser Aluminum C… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $807M | $2.9B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $1.8B | $4.0B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 15.02x | 26.02x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 9.81x | 18.74x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 0.86x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 7.42x | 12.68x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 0.43x | 0.85x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 1.46x | 3.54x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 11.96x | — |
KOP leads this category, winning 5 of 5 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
Evenly matched — KOP and KALU each lead in 4 of 8 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
KALU delivers a 18.7% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $19 in annual profit, vs $10 for KOP. KALU carries lower financial leverage with a 1.36x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to KOP's 1.78x.
| Metric | KOPKoppers Holdings … | KALUKaiser Aluminum C… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +9.8% | +18.7% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +3.0% | +5.9% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +8.3% | +7.8% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +10.4% | +9.4% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 6 | 6 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 1.78x | 1.36x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $985M | $1.1B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $38M | $7M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $1.0B | $1.1B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 2.36x | 4.84x |
Evenly matched — KOP and KALU each lead in 4 of 8 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
KALU leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in KALU five years ago would be worth $14,068 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $11,065 for KOP. Over the past 12 months, KALU leads with a +169.4% total return vs KOP's +65.7%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors KALU at 43.2% vs KOP's 9.1% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | KOPKoppers Holdings … | KALUKaiser Aluminum C… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +54.7% | +47.7% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +65.7% | +169.4% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +29.8% | +193.5% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +10.6% | +40.7% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +70.5% | +135.1% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +9.1% | +43.2% |
KALU leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
KOP leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
KOP is the less volatile stock with a 1.12 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than KALU's 1.71 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500.
| Metric | KOPKoppers Holdings … | KALUKaiser Aluminum C… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.12x | 1.71x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $42.41 | $183.00 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $24.78 | $65.69 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +97.1% | +96.3% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 61.0 | 74.2 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 213K | 248K |
KOP leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Evenly matched — KOP and KALU each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates KOP as "Buy" and KALU as "Hold". Consensus price targets imply 33.6% upside for KOP (target: $55) vs -9.2% for KALU (target: $160). For income investors, KALU offers the higher dividend yield at 1.75% vs KOP's 0.76%.
| Metric | KOPKoppers Holdings … | KALUKaiser Aluminum C… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Hold |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $55.00 | $160.00 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 14 | 22 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +0.8% | +1.8% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 3 | 0 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $0.31 | $3.09 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +4.7% | 0.0% |
Evenly matched — KOP and KALU each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Key Takeaway
KOP leads in 3 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Valuation Metrics). KALU leads in 1 (Total Returns). 2 tied.
Best OverallKoppers Holdings Inc. (KOP)Leads 3 of 6 categories
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KOP vs KALU: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is KOP or KALU a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Kaiser Aluminum Corporation (KALU) is the stronger pick with 11.
5% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -10. 2% for Koppers Holdings Inc. (KOP). Koppers Holdings Inc. (KOP) offers the better valuation at 15. 0x trailing P/E (9. 8x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Koppers Holdings Inc. (KOP) a "Buy" — based on 14 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 — KOP or KALU?
On trailing P/E, Koppers Holdings Inc.
(KOP) is the cheapest at 15. 0x versus Kaiser Aluminum Corporation at 26. 0x. On forward P/E, Koppers Holdings Inc. is actually cheaper at 9. 8x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — KOP or KALU?
Over the past 5 years, Kaiser Aluminum Corporation (KALU) delivered a total return of +40.
7%, compared to +10. 6% for Koppers Holdings Inc. (KOP). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: KALU returned +135. 1% versus KOP's +70. 5%. 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 — KOP or KALU?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Koppers Holdings Inc.
(KOP) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 12β versus Kaiser Aluminum Corporation's 1. 71β — meaning KALU is approximately 53% more volatile than KOP relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Kaiser Aluminum Corporation (KALU) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 136% versus 178% for Koppers Holdings Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — KOP or KALU?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Kaiser Aluminum Corporation (KALU) is pulling ahead at 11.
5% versus -10. 2% for Koppers Holdings Inc. (KOP). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Kaiser Aluminum Corporation grew EPS 135. 9% year-over-year, compared to 11. 4% for Koppers Holdings Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, KALU leads at -0. 5% 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 — KOP or KALU?
Kaiser Aluminum Corporation (KALU) is the more profitable company, earning 3.
3% net margin versus 3. 0% for Koppers Holdings Inc. — meaning it keeps 3. 3% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: KOP leads at 8. 9% versus 5. 7% for KALU. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — KOP leads at 17. 9%, 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 KOP or KALU more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Koppers Holdings Inc.
(KOP) trades at 9. 8x forward P/E versus 18. 7x for Kaiser Aluminum Corporation — 8. 9x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for KOP: 33. 6% to $55. 00.
08Which pays a better dividend — KOP or KALU?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
Kaiser Aluminum Corporation (KALU) offers the highest yield at 1. 8%, versus 0. 8% for Koppers Holdings Inc. (KOP).
09Is KOP or KALU better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Koppers Holdings Inc.
(KOP) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1. 12), 0. 8% yield). Kaiser Aluminum Corporation (KALU) carries a higher beta of 1. 71 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (KOP: +70. 5%, KALU: +135. 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 KOP and KALU?
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.
In terms of investment character: KOP is a small-cap deep-value stock; KALU 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.
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Revenue Growth>
%
(KOP: -9.3% · KALU: 42.4%)Net Margin>
%
(KOP: 3.0% · KALU: 4.1%)P/E Ratio<
x
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