MEOH vs OLN vs CE vs EMN vs HUN

For growth investors, Olin Corporation (OLN) is the stronger pick with 3.

7% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -7. 2% for Celanese Corporation (CE). Eastman Chemical Company (EMN) offers the better valuation at 18. 5x trailing P/E (12. 8x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Methanex Corporation (MEOH) a "Buy" — based on 19 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, Eastman Chemical Company (EMN) is the cheapest at 18.

5x versus Methanex Corporation at 66. 4x. On forward P/E, Methanex Corporation is actually cheaper at 8. 3x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Methanex Corporation (MEOH) delivered a total return of +66.

1%, compared to -57. 2% for Celanese Corporation (CE). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: MEOH returned +126. 3% versus CE's +16. 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), Methanex Corporation (MEOH) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

39β versus Huntsman Corporation's 1. 73β — meaning HUN is approximately 344% more volatile than MEOH relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Eastman Chemical Company (EMN) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 84% versus 3% for Celanese Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Olin Corporation (OLN) is pulling ahead at 3.

7% versus -7. 2% for Celanese Corporation (CE). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Celanese Corporation grew EPS 23. 6% year-over-year, compared to -140. 7% for Olin Corporation. Over a 3-year CAGR, CE leads at -0. 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.

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

4% net margin versus -12. 2% for Celanese Corporation — meaning it keeps 5. 4% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: MEOH leads at 12. 9% versus -0. 7% for HUN. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — MEOH leads at 25. 3%, 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.

On forward earnings alone, Methanex Corporation (MEOH) trades at 8.

3x forward P/E versus 12. 8x for Eastman Chemical Company — 4. 5x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for CE: 5. 3% to $65. 40.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Huntsman Corporation (HUN) offers the highest yield at 5. 6%, versus 0. 2% for Celanese Corporation (CE).

For long-horizon retirement investors, Methanex Corporation (MEOH) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.

39), 1. 2% yield, +126. 3% 10Y return). Huntsman Corporation (HUN) carries a higher beta of 1. 73 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (MEOH: +126. 3%, HUN: +50. 8%), 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 Basic Materials sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.

In terms of investment character: MEOH is a small-cap quality compounder stock; OLN is a small-cap quality compounder stock; CE is a small-cap quality compounder stock; EMN is a small-cap income-oriented stock; HUN is a small-cap income-oriented stock. MEOH, OLN, EMN, HUN pay a dividend while CE 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.