LIQT vs ZEUS vs KALU vs RS vs AA

For growth investors, LiqTech International, Inc.

(LIQT) is the stronger pick with 13. 0% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -10. 0% for Olympic Steel, Inc. (ZEUS). Alcoa Corporation (AA) offers the better valuation at 14. 1x trailing P/E (9. 0x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Olympic Steel, Inc. (ZEUS) a "Buy" — based on 6 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.

On trailing P/E, Alcoa Corporation (AA) is the cheapest at 14.

1x versus Reliance Steel & Aluminum Co. at 26. 4x. On forward P/E, Alcoa Corporation is actually cheaper at 9. 0x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Olympic Steel, Inc. wins at 0. 49x versus Reliance Steel & Aluminum Co. 's 0. 96x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Reliance Steel & Aluminum Co.

(RS) delivered a total return of +119. 6%, compared to -96. 1% for LiqTech International, Inc. (LIQT). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: RS returned +463. 7% versus LIQT's -90. 9%. 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), LiqTech International, Inc.

(LIQT) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 52β versus Alcoa Corporation's 1. 77β — meaning AA is approximately 238% more volatile than LIQT relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Alcoa Corporation (AA) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 0% versus 136% for Kaiser Aluminum Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), LiqTech International, Inc.

(LIQT) is pulling ahead at 13. 0% versus -10. 0% for Olympic Steel, Inc. (ZEUS). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Alcoa Corporation grew EPS 1486% year-over-year, compared to -48. 8% for Olympic Steel, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, LIQT leads at 1. 1% 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.

Alcoa Corporation (AA) is the more profitable company, earning 9.

0% net margin versus -51. 7% for LiqTech International, Inc. — meaning it keeps 9. 0% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: AA leads at 7. 6% versus -50. 3% for LIQT. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — RS leads at 26. 8%, 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.

The PEG ratio (forward P/E divided by expected earnings growth rate) is the most precise measure of undervaluation relative to growth potential.

By this metric, Olympic Steel, Inc. (ZEUS) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 49x versus Reliance Steel & Aluminum Co. 's 0. 96x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Alcoa Corporation (AA) trades at 9. 0x forward P/E versus 20. 7x for Olympic Steel, Inc. — 11. 7x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for AA: 9. 9% to $68. 80.

In this comparison, KALU (1.

8% yield), RS (1. 3% yield), ZEUS (1. 2% yield), AA (0. 6% yield) pay a dividend. LIQT does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Reliance Steel & Aluminum Co.

(RS) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 75), 1. 3% yield, +463. 7% 10Y return). Alcoa Corporation (AA) carries a higher beta of 1. 77 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (RS: +463. 7%, AA: +203. 5%), 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.

These companies operate in different sectors (LIQT (Industrials) and ZEUS (Basic Materials) and KALU (Basic Materials) and RS (Basic Materials) and AA (Basic Materials)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: LIQT is a small-cap quality compounder stock; ZEUS is a small-cap quality compounder stock; KALU is a small-cap quality compounder stock; RS is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; AA is a mid-cap deep-value stock. ZEUS, KALU, RS, AA pay a dividend while LIQT 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.