MEOH vs OLN vs CE vs WLK vs EMN

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

7% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -8. 0% for Westlake Corporation (WLK). Eastman Chemical Company (EMN) offers the better valuation at 18. 0x trailing P/E (12. 5x 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.

0x versus Methanex Corporation at 65. 3x. On forward P/E, Methanex Corporation is actually cheaper at 8. 2x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Methanex Corporation (MEOH) delivered a total return of +62.

2%, compared to -59. 5% for Celanese Corporation (CE). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: WLK returned +142. 4% versus CE's +13. 3%. 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 Olin Corporation's 1. 47β — meaning OLN is approximately 277% more volatile than MEOH relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Westlake Corporation (WLK) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 69% 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 -8. 0% for Westlake Corporation (WLK). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Celanese Corporation grew EPS 23. 6% year-over-year, compared to -352. 8% for Westlake 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 -13. 5% for Westlake 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 -14. 1% for WLK. 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.

2x forward P/E versus 26. 1x for Westlake Corporation — 17. 9x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for CE: 12. 0% to $65. 40.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Eastman Chemical Company (EMN) offers the highest yield at 4. 5%, 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, +135. 7% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (MEOH: +135. 7%, CE: +13. 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.

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; WLK is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; EMN is a small-cap deep-value stock. MEOH, OLN, WLK, EMN 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.