LXFR vs MTRN

For growth investors, Materion Corporation (MTRN) is the stronger pick with 6.

0% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -1. 9% for Luxfer Holdings PLC (LXFR). Luxfer Holdings PLC (LXFR) offers the better valuation at 13. 5x trailing P/E (12. 9x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Luxfer Holdings PLC (LXFR) a "Buy" — based on 9 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, Luxfer Holdings PLC (LXFR) is the cheapest at 13.

5x versus Materion Corporation at 53. 4x. On forward P/E, Luxfer Holdings PLC is actually cheaper at 12. 9x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Materion Corporation wins at 0. 82x versus Luxfer Holdings PLC's 1. 32x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Materion Corporation (MTRN) delivered a total return of +155.

6%, compared to -21. 3% for Luxfer Holdings PLC (LXFR). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: MTRN returned +724. 3% versus LXFR's +68. 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), Luxfer Holdings PLC (LXFR) is the lower-risk stock at 1.

37β versus Materion Corporation's 1. 62β — meaning MTRN is approximately 19% more volatile than LXFR relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Luxfer Holdings PLC (LXFR) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 17% versus 64% for Materion Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Materion Corporation (MTRN) is pulling ahead at 6.

0% versus -1. 9% for Luxfer Holdings PLC (LXFR). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Materion Corporation grew EPS 1179% year-over-year, compared to 66. 7% for Luxfer Holdings PLC. Over a 3-year CAGR, MTRN leads at 0. 6% 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.

Luxfer Holdings PLC (LXFR) is the more profitable company, earning 8.

1% net margin versus 4. 2% for Materion Corporation — meaning it keeps 8. 1% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: MTRN leads at 6. 5% versus 6. 2% for LXFR. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — LXFR leads at 23. 2%, 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, Materion Corporation (MTRN) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 82x versus Luxfer Holdings PLC's 1. 32x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Luxfer Holdings PLC (LXFR) trades at 12. 9x forward P/E versus 30. 0x for Materion Corporation — 17. 0x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Luxfer Holdings PLC (LXFR) offers the highest yield at 3. 3%, versus 0. 3% for Materion Corporation (MTRN).

For long-horizon retirement investors, Luxfer Holdings PLC (LXFR) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (3.

3% yield). Materion Corporation (MTRN) carries a higher beta of 1. 62 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (LXFR: +68. 9%, MTRN: +724. 3%), 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 (LXFR (Industrials) and MTRN (Basic Materials)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: LXFR is a small-cap deep-value stock; MTRN is a small-cap quality compounder stock. LXFR pays a dividend while MTRN 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.