Industrial Materials
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MTRN vs MP
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
Industrial Materials
MTRN vs MP — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | ||
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Industrial Materials | Industrial Materials |
| Market Cap | $4.09B | $12.91B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $1.92B | $275M |
| Net Income (TTM) | $76M | $-86M |
| Gross Margin | 15.8% | 5.8% |
| Operating Margin | 6.1% | -53.0% |
| Forward P/E | 30.8x | 288.3x |
| Total Debt | $601M | $1.04B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $14M | $1.17B |
MTRN vs MP — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
| Stock | Jun 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Materion Corporation (MTRN) | 100 | 319.5 | +219.5% |
| MP Materials Corp. (MP) | 100 | 728.7 | +628.7% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: MTRN vs MP
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
MTRN carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for growth exposure and long-term compounding.
- Rev growth 6.0%, EPS growth 11.8%, 3Y rev CAGR 0.6%
- 6.7% 10Y total return vs MP's 6.3%
- Lower P/E (30.8x vs 288.3x)
MP is the clearest fit if your priority is income & stability and sleep-well-at-night.
- beta 1.40
- Lower volatility, beta 1.40, Low D/E 43.6%, current ratio 7.24x
- Beta 1.40, current ratio 7.24x
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | 35.1% revenue growth vs MTRN's 6.0% | |
| Value | Lower P/E (30.8x vs 288.3x) | |
| Quality / Margins | 4.0% margin vs MP's -31.2% | |
| Stability / Safety | Beta 1.40 vs MTRN's 1.62, lower leverage | |
| Dividends | 0.3% yield; 13-year raise streak; the other pay no meaningful dividend | |
| Momentum (1Y) | +194.2% vs MTRN's +151.7% | |
| Efficiency (ROA) | 4.2% ROA vs MP's -2.7%, ROIC 6.0% vs -4.7% |
MTRN vs MP — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
MTRN vs MP — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
MTRN leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
MTRN is the larger business by revenue, generating $1.9B annually — 7.0x MP's $275M. MTRN is the more profitable business, keeping 4.0% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to MP's -31.2%. On growth, MP holds the edge at +70.0% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $1.9B | $275M |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $187M | -$56M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $76M | -$86M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $7M | -$328M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +15.8% | +5.8% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +6.1% | -53.0% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +4.0% | -31.2% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +0.4% | -119.1% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +30.8% | +70.0% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +8.2% | +133.8% |
Valuation Metrics
MTRN leads this category, winning 3 of 4 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $4.1B | $12.9B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $4.7B | $12.8B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 54.88x | -145.30x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 30.80x | 288.29x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 1.50x | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 25.27x | — |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 2.29x | 46.86x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 4.36x | 5.17x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 81.79x | — |
Profitability & Efficiency
MTRN leads this category, winning 7 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
MTRN delivers a 8.2% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $8 in annual profit, vs $-5 for MP. MP carries lower financial leverage with a 0.44x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to MTRN's 0.64x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), MTRN scores 5/9 vs MP's 4/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +8.2% | -5.0% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +4.2% | -2.7% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +6.0% | -4.7% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +7.7% | -4.2% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 5 | 4 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.64x | 0.44x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $587M | -$123M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $14M | $1.2B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $601M | $1.0B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 4.07x | -2.74x |
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
Evenly matched — MTRN and MP each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in MTRN five years ago would be worth $25,943 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $24,787 for MP. Over the past 12 months, MP leads with a +194.2% total return vs MTRN's +151.7%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors MP at 50.1% vs MTRN's 23.9% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +53.0% | +32.2% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +151.7% | +194.2% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +90.0% | +238.1% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +159.4% | +147.9% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +669.3% | +626.5% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +23.9% | +50.1% |
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — MTRN and MP each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
MP is the less volatile stock with a 1.40 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than MTRN's 1.62 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. MTRN currently trades 97.3% from its 52-week high vs MP's 72.5% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.62x | 1.40x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $201.88 | $100.25 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $70.94 | $18.64 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +97.3% | +72.5% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 71.6 | 61.6 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 233K | 5.6M |
Analyst Outlook
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates MTRN as "Buy" and MP as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 7.7% upside for MP (target: $78) vs -18.0% for MTRN (target: $161). MTRN is the only dividend payer here at 0.28% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $161.00 | $78.25 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 10 | 11 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +0.3% | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 13 | — |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $0.55 | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +0.3% | 0.0% |
MTRN leads in 3 of 6 categories — strongest in Income & Cash Flow and Valuation Metrics. 2 categories are tied.
MTRN vs MP: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is MTRN or MP a better buy right now?
For growth investors, MP Materials Corp.
(MP) is the stronger pick with 35. 1% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 6. 0% for Materion Corporation (MTRN). Materion Corporation (MTRN) offers the better valuation at 54. 9x trailing P/E (30. 8x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Materion Corporation (MTRN) a "Buy" — based on 10 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 — MTRN or MP?
On forward P/E, Materion Corporation is actually cheaper at 30.
8x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — MTRN or MP?
Over the past 5 years, Materion Corporation (MTRN) delivered a total return of +159.
4%, compared to +147. 9% for MP Materials Corp. (MP). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: MTRN returned +669. 3% versus MP's +626. 5%. 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 — MTRN or MP?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), MP Materials Corp.
(MP) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 40β versus Materion Corporation's 1. 62β — meaning MTRN is approximately 16% more volatile than MP relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, MP Materials Corp. (MP) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 44% versus 64% for Materion Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — MTRN or MP?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), MP Materials Corp.
(MP) is pulling ahead at 35. 1% versus 6. 0% for Materion Corporation (MTRN). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Materion Corporation grew EPS 1179% year-over-year, compared to 12. 3% for MP Materials Corp.. 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.
06Which has better profit margins — MTRN or MP?
Materion Corporation (MTRN) is the more profitable company, earning 4.
2% net margin versus -31. 2% for MP Materials Corp. — meaning it keeps 4. 2% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: MTRN leads at 6. 5% versus -44. 6% for MP. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — MTRN leads at 16. 7%, 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 MTRN or MP more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Materion Corporation (MTRN) trades at 30.
8x forward P/E versus 288. 3x for MP Materials Corp. — 257. 5x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for MP: 7. 7% to $78. 25.
08Which pays a better dividend — MTRN or MP?
In this comparison, MTRN (0.
3% yield) pays a dividend. MP does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
09Is MTRN or MP better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, MP Materials Corp.
(MP) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (+626. 5% 10Y return). 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 (MP: +626. 5%, MTRN: +669. 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.
10What are the main differences between MTRN and MP?
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: MTRN is a small-cap quality compounder stock; MP is a mid-cap high-growth 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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