KRO
Kronos Worldwide, Inc.
Chemicals - Specialty
Market Cap$871M
5Y Perf.-22.4%
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Stock Comparison
KRO vs VHI
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
VHI
Valhi, Inc.
Chemicals
Market Cap$419M
5Y Perf.+56.3%
KRO vs VHI — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | KRO | VHI |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Chemicals - Specialty | Chemicals |
| Market Cap | $871M | $419M |
| Revenue (TTM) | $1.88B | $2.14B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $-134M | $-58M |
| Gross Margin | 10.1% | 16.6% |
| Operating Margin | -3.1% | -0.8% |
| Forward P/E | — | 4.2x |
| Total Debt | $577M | $592M |
| Cash & Equiv. | $37M | $223M |
KRO vs VHI — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
KRO
VHI
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kronos Worldwide, I… (KRO) | 100 | 77.6 | -22.4% |
| Valhi, Inc. (VHI) | 100 | 156.3 | +56.3% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: KRO vs VHI
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: VHI leads in 4 of 6 categories, making it the strongest pick for growth and revenue expansion and profitability and margin quality. Kronos Worldwide, Inc. is the stronger pick specifically for dividend income and shareholder returns and recent price momentum and sentiment. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
KRO
Kronos Worldwide, Inc.
The Income Pick
KRO is the clearest fit if your priority is income & stability and long-term compounding.
- Dividend streak 0 yrs, beta 1.57, yield 2.6%
- 121.1% 10Y total return vs VHI's -5.8%
- 2.6% yield, vs VHI's 2.2%
Best for: income & stability and long-term compounding
VHI
Valhi, Inc.
The Growth Play
VHI carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for growth exposure and sleep-well-at-night.
- Rev growth 1.5%, EPS growth -153.3%, 3Y rev CAGR -1.3%
- Lower volatility, beta 1.06, Low D/E 43.4%, current ratio 2.80x
- Beta 1.06, yield 2.2%, current ratio 2.80x
Best for: growth exposure and sleep-well-at-night
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | VHI | 1.5% revenue growth vs KRO's -1.5% |
| Quality / Margins | VHI | -2.7% margin vs KRO's -7.1% |
| Stability / Safety | VHI | Beta 1.06 vs KRO's 1.57, lower leverage |
| Dividends | KRO | 2.6% yield, vs VHI's 2.2% |
| Momentum (1Y) | KRO | +4.3% vs VHI's -14.6% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | VHI | -2.1% ROA vs KRO's -9.4%, ROIC -1.9% vs -1.9% |
KRO vs VHI — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2014
FY 2025
KRO vs VHI — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLVHILAGGINGKRO
KROKronos Worldwide, Inc.
2leads
VHIValhi, Inc.
3leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs KROMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
VHI4/6
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
VHI3/4
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
VHI5/9
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
KRO4/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
Tied
—
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
KRO1/1
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
VHI leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
VHI and KRO operate at a comparable scale, with $2.1B and $1.9B in trailing revenue. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from -2.7% (VHI) to -7.1% (KRO). On growth, VHI holds the edge at +15.1% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | KROKronos Worldwide,… | VHIValhi, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $1.9B | $2.1B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | -$9M | $49M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | -$134M | -$58M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $35M | -$82M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +10.1% | +16.6% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | -3.1% | -0.8% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | -7.1% | -2.7% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +1.9% | -3.8% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +4.1% | +15.1% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -126.1% | -3.3% |
VHI leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
VHI leads this category, winning 3 of 4 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
On an enterprise value basis, VHI's 33.7x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than KRO's 42.5x.
| Metric | KROKronos Worldwide,… | VHIValhi, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $871M | $419M |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $1.4B | $788M |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | -7.89x | -7.28x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | — | 4.24x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 42.51x | 33.69x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 0.47x | 0.20x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 1.16x | 0.31x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | — | — |
VHI leads this category, winning 3 of 4 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
VHI leads this category, winning 5 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
VHI delivers a -4.1% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $-4 in annual profit, vs $-17 for KRO. VHI carries lower financial leverage with a 0.43x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to KRO's 0.77x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), KRO scores 5/9 vs VHI's 4/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | KROKronos Worldwide,… | VHIValhi, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | -17.0% | -4.1% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | -9.4% | -2.1% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | -1.9% | -1.9% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | -2.2% | -2.0% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 5 | 4 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.77x | 0.43x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $540M | $592M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $37M | $223M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $577M | $592M |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | -2.32x | -0.75x |
VHI leads this category, winning 5 of 9 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
KRO leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in KRO five years ago would be worth $5,907 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $5,518 for VHI. Over the past 12 months, KRO leads with a +4.3% total return vs VHI's -14.6%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors VHI at 2.7% vs KRO's 1.8% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | KROKronos Worldwide,… | VHIValhi, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +70.1% | +21.6% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +4.3% | -14.6% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +5.5% | +8.4% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -40.9% | -44.8% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +121.1% | -5.8% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +1.8% | +2.7% |
KRO leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — KRO and VHI each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
VHI is the less volatile stock with a 1.06 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than KRO's 1.57 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. KRO currently trades 95.8% from its 52-week high vs VHI's 73.6% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | KROKronos Worldwide,… | VHIValhi, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.57x | 1.06x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $7.90 | $20.00 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $4.08 | $11.44 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +95.8% | +73.6% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 69.2 | 53.0 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 343K | 15K |
Evenly matched — KRO and VHI each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
KRO leads this category, winning 1 of 1 comparable metric.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates KRO as "Hold" and VHI as "Sell". For income investors, KRO offers the higher dividend yield at 2.64% vs VHI's 2.17%.
| Metric | KROKronos Worldwide,… | VHIValhi, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Sell |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $5.00 | — |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 7 | 1 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +2.6% | +2.2% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 0 | 0 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $0.20 | $0.32 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | 0.0% |
KRO leads this category, winning 1 of 1 comparable metric.
Key Takeaway
VHI leads in 3 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Valuation Metrics). KRO leads in 2 (Total Returns, Analyst Outlook). 1 tied.
Best OverallValhi, Inc. (VHI)Leads 3 of 6 categories
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KRO vs VHI: Frequently Asked Questions
8 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is KRO or VHI a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Valhi, Inc.
(VHI) is the stronger pick with 1. 5% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -1. 5% for Kronos Worldwide, Inc. (KRO). Analysts rate Kronos Worldwide, Inc. (KRO) a "Hold" — 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.
02Which is the better long-term investment — KRO or VHI?
Over the past 5 years, Kronos Worldwide, Inc.
(KRO) delivered a total return of -40. 9%, compared to -44. 8% for Valhi, Inc. (VHI). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: KRO returned +121. 1% versus VHI's -5. 8%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
03Which is safer — KRO or VHI?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Valhi, Inc.
(VHI) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 06β versus Kronos Worldwide, Inc. 's 1. 57β — meaning KRO is approximately 48% more volatile than VHI relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Valhi, Inc. (VHI) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 43% versus 77% for Kronos Worldwide, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
04Which is growing faster — KRO or VHI?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Valhi, Inc.
(VHI) is pulling ahead at 1. 5% versus -1. 5% for Kronos Worldwide, Inc. (KRO). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Valhi, Inc. grew EPS -153. 3% year-over-year, compared to -228. 0% for Kronos Worldwide, Inc.. 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.
05Which has better profit margins — KRO or VHI?
Valhi, Inc.
(VHI) is the more profitable company, earning -2. 7% net margin versus -6. 0% for Kronos Worldwide, Inc. — meaning it keeps -2. 7% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: KRO leads at -1. 7% versus -2. 0% for VHI. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — VHI leads at 16. 6%, 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.
06Which pays a better dividend — KRO or VHI?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
Kronos Worldwide, Inc. (KRO) offers the highest yield at 2. 6%, versus 2. 2% for Valhi, Inc. (VHI).
07Is KRO or VHI better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Valhi, Inc.
(VHI) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1. 06), 2. 2% yield). Kronos Worldwide, Inc. (KRO) carries a higher beta of 1. 57 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (VHI: -5. 8%, KRO: +121. 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.
08What are the main differences between KRO and VHI?
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.
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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