Paper, Lumber & Forest Products
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LPX vs PCH
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
REIT - Specialty
LPX vs PCH — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | ||
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Paper, Lumber & Forest Products | REIT - Specialty |
| Market Cap | $5.06B | $3.23B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $2.56B | $1.12B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $82M | $64M |
| Gross Margin | 19.8% | 15.7% |
| Operating Margin | 5.4% | 8.0% |
| Forward P/E | 28.7x | 53.8x |
| Total Debt | $401M | $1.03B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $292M | $152M |
LPX vs PCH — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Louisiana-Pacific C… (LPX) | 100 | 307.0 | +207.0% |
| PotlatchDeltic Corp… (PCH) | 100 | 122.8 | +22.8% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: LPX vs PCH
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
LPX is the clearest fit if your priority is long-term compounding and sleep-well-at-night.
- 332.5% 10Y total return vs PCH's 94.0%
- Lower volatility, beta 1.20, Low D/E 23.2%, current ratio 2.78x
- Lower P/E (28.7x vs 53.8x)
PCH carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and growth exposure.
- Dividend streak 1 yrs, beta 0.75, yield 4.3%
- Rev growth 3.7%, EPS growth -63.6%, 3Y rev CAGR -7.4%
- Beta 0.75, yield 4.3%, current ratio 1.49x
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | 3.7% FFO/revenue growth vs LPX's -7.9% | |
| Value | Lower P/E (28.7x vs 53.8x) | |
| Quality / Margins | 5.8% margin vs LPX's 3.2% | |
| Stability / Safety | Beta 0.75 vs LPX's 1.20 | |
| Dividends | 1.5% yield, 8-year raise streak, vs PCH's 4.3% | |
| Momentum (1Y) | +15.9% vs LPX's -18.6% | |
| Efficiency (ROA) | 3.1% ROA vs PCH's 2.0%, ROIC 10.9% vs 0.8% |
LPX vs PCH — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
LPX vs PCH — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
PCH leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
LPX is the larger business by revenue, generating $2.6B annually — 2.3x PCH's $1.1B. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from 5.8% (PCH) to 3.2% (LPX). On growth, PCH holds the edge at +23.1% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $2.6B | $1.1B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $246M | $195M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $82M | $64M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | -$7M | $131M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +19.8% | +15.7% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +5.4% | +8.0% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +3.2% | +5.8% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | -0.3% | +11.8% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -20.7% | +23.1% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -70.0% | +6.9% |
Valuation Metrics
LPX leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 34.9x trailing earnings, LPX trades at a 77% valuation discount to PCH's 149.0x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, LPX's 12.8x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than PCH's 140.5x.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $5.1B | $3.2B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $5.2B | $4.1B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 34.85x | 149.04x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 28.68x | 53.80x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 12.80x | 140.52x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 1.87x | 3.04x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 2.93x | 1.62x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 55.64x | 47.88x |
Profitability & Efficiency
LPX leads this category, winning 8 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
LPX delivers a 4.7% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $5 in annual profit, vs $3 for PCH. LPX carries lower financial leverage with a 0.23x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to PCH's 0.51x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), PCH scores 6/9 vs LPX's 5/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +4.7% | +3.3% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +3.1% | +2.0% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +10.9% | +0.8% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +11.3% | +1.1% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 5 | 6 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.23x | 0.51x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $109M | $883M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $292M | $152M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $401M | $1.0B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 11.67x | 1.28x |
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
LPX leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in LPX five years ago would be worth $11,166 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $9,037 for PCH. Over the past 12 months, PCH leads with a +15.9% total return vs LPX's -18.6%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors LPX at 6.2% vs PCH's 0.3% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -10.9% | +5.1% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -18.6% | +15.9% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +19.8% | +1.0% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +11.7% | -9.6% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +332.5% | +94.0% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +6.2% | +0.3% |
Risk & Volatility
PCH leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
PCH is the less volatile stock with a 0.75 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than LPX's 1.20 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. PCH currently trades 91.5% from its 52-week high vs LPX's 70.5% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.20x | 0.75x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $102.86 | $45.61 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $66.68 | $37.05 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +70.5% | +91.5% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 40.9 | 46.0 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 989K | 0 |
Analyst Outlook
Evenly matched — LPX and PCH each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates LPX as "Buy" and PCH as "Hold". Consensus price targets imply 40.7% upside for LPX (target: $102) vs 22.2% for PCH (target: $51). For income investors, PCH offers the higher dividend yield at 4.30% vs LPX's 1.54%.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Hold |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $102.00 | $51.00 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 23 | 13 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +1.5% | +4.3% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 8 | 1 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $1.11 | $1.79 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +1.2% | +1.1% |
LPX leads in 3 of 6 categories (Valuation Metrics, Profitability & Efficiency). PCH leads in 2 (Income & Cash Flow, Risk & Volatility). 1 tied.
LPX vs PCH: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is LPX or PCH a better buy right now?
For growth investors, PotlatchDeltic Corporation (PCH) is the stronger pick with 3.
7% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -7. 9% for Louisiana-Pacific Corporation (LPX). Louisiana-Pacific Corporation (LPX) offers the better valuation at 34. 9x trailing P/E (28. 7x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Louisiana-Pacific Corporation (LPX) a "Buy" — based on 23 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 — LPX or PCH?
On trailing P/E, Louisiana-Pacific Corporation (LPX) is the cheapest at 34.
9x versus PotlatchDeltic Corporation at 149. 0x. On forward P/E, Louisiana-Pacific Corporation is actually cheaper at 28. 7x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — LPX or PCH?
Over the past 5 years, Louisiana-Pacific Corporation (LPX) delivered a total return of +11.
7%, compared to -9. 6% for PotlatchDeltic Corporation (PCH). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: LPX returned +332. 5% versus PCH's +94. 0%. 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 — LPX or PCH?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), PotlatchDeltic Corporation (PCH) is the lower-risk stock at 0.
75β versus Louisiana-Pacific Corporation's 1. 20β — meaning LPX is approximately 60% more volatile than PCH relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Louisiana-Pacific Corporation (LPX) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 23% versus 51% for PotlatchDeltic Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — LPX or PCH?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), PotlatchDeltic Corporation (PCH) is pulling ahead at 3.
7% versus -7. 9% for Louisiana-Pacific Corporation (LPX). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: PotlatchDeltic Corporation grew EPS -63. 6% year-over-year, compared to -64. 7% for Louisiana-Pacific Corporation. Over a 3-year CAGR, PCH leads at -7. 4% 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 — LPX or PCH?
Louisiana-Pacific Corporation (LPX) is the more profitable company, earning 5.
4% net margin versus 2. 1% for PotlatchDeltic Corporation — meaning it keeps 5. 4% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: LPX leads at 9. 6% versus 3. 1% for PCH. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — LPX leads at 21. 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.
07Is LPX or PCH more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Louisiana-Pacific Corporation (LPX) trades at 28.
7x forward P/E versus 53. 8x for PotlatchDeltic Corporation — 25. 1x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for LPX: 40. 7% to $102. 00.
08Which pays a better dividend — LPX or PCH?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
PotlatchDeltic Corporation (PCH) offers the highest yield at 4. 3%, versus 1. 5% for Louisiana-Pacific Corporation (LPX).
09Is LPX or PCH better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, PotlatchDeltic Corporation (PCH) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.
75), 4. 3% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (PCH: +94. 0%, LPX: +332. 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.
10What are the main differences between LPX and PCH?
These companies operate in different sectors (LPX (Basic Materials) and PCH (Real Estate)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.
In terms of investment character: LPX is a small-cap quality compounder stock; PCH is a small-cap income-oriented 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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