KRO vs HUN vs TROX vs EMN

For growth investors, Kronos Worldwide, Inc.

(KRO) is the stronger pick with -1. 5% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -6. 7% for Eastman Chemical Company (EMN). Eastman Chemical Company (EMN) offers the better valuation at 18. 0x trailing P/E (12. 5x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Tronox Holdings plc (TROX) a "Buy" — based on 17 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, Eastman Chemical Company (EMN) delivered a total return of -28.

4%, compared to -55. 1% for Tronox Holdings plc (TROX). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: KRO returned +129. 0% versus EMN's +35. 4%. 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), Eastman Chemical Company (EMN) is the lower-risk stock at 1.

36β versus Tronox Holdings plc's 2. 37β — meaning TROX is approximately 75% more volatile than EMN relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Kronos Worldwide, Inc. (KRO) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 77% versus 2% for Tronox Holdings plc — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Kronos Worldwide, Inc.

(KRO) is pulling ahead at -1. 5% versus -6. 7% for Eastman Chemical Company (EMN). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Huntsman Corporation grew EPS -44. 5% year-over-year, compared to -890. 0% for Tronox Holdings plc. Over a 3-year CAGR, KRO leads at -1. 2% 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.

Eastman Chemical Company (EMN) is the more profitable company, earning 5.

4% net margin versus -16. 2% for Tronox Holdings plc — meaning it keeps 5. 4% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: EMN leads at 10. 6% versus -1. 7% for KRO. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — EMN leads at 21. 1%, 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.

Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for EMN: 4.

9% to $77. 29.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Huntsman Corporation (HUN) offers the highest yield at 5. 7%, versus 2. 8% for Kronos Worldwide, Inc. (KRO).

For long-horizon retirement investors, Eastman Chemical Company (EMN) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (4.

5% yield). Tronox Holdings plc (TROX) carries a higher beta of 2. 37 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (EMN: +35. 4%, TROX: +116. 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 null sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.

In terms of investment character: KRO is a small-cap quality compounder stock; HUN is a small-cap income-oriented stock; TROX is a small-cap income-oriented stock; EMN is a small-cap deep-value 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.