NL
NL Industries, Inc.
Security & Protection Services
Market Cap$294M
5Y Perf.-15.4%
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Stock Comparison
NL vs COMP
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
COMP
Compass, Inc.
Software - Application
Market Cap$5.32B
5Y Perf.-54.0%
NL vs COMP — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | NL | COMP |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Security & Protection Services | Software - Application |
| Market Cap | $294M | $5.32B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $159M | $8.31B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $-34M | $14M |
| Gross Margin | 31.1% | 10.8% |
| Operating Margin | 7.8% | -4.2% |
| Forward P/E | 6.9x | 53.5x |
| Total Debt | $500K | $454M |
| Cash & Equiv. | $114M | $199M |
NL vs COMP — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
NL
COMP
| Stock | Apr 21 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| NL Industries, Inc. (NL) | 100 | 84.6 | -15.4% |
| Compass, Inc. (COMP) | 100 | 46.0 | -54.0% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: NL vs COMP
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: COMP leads in 4 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for growth and revenue expansion and profitability and margin quality. NL Industries, Inc. is the stronger pick specifically for valuation and capital efficiency and capital preservation and lower volatility. This set spans 2 sectors — these stocks serve different portfolio roles, not just different price points.
NL
NL Industries, Inc.
The Income Pick
NL is the clearest fit if your priority is income & stability and long-term compounding.
- Dividend streak 0 yrs, beta 0.87, yield 9.5%
- 226.1% 10Y total return vs COMP's -56.6%
- Lower volatility, beta 0.87, Low D/E 0.1%, current ratio 7.77x
Best for: income & stability and long-term compounding
COMP
Compass, Inc.
The Growth Play
COMP carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for growth exposure.
- Rev growth 23.7%, EPS growth 67.7%, 3Y rev CAGR 5.0%
- 23.7% revenue growth vs NL's 8.5%
- 0.2% margin vs NL's -21.5%
Best for: growth exposure
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | COMP | 23.7% revenue growth vs NL's 8.5% |
| Value | NL | Lower P/E (6.9x vs 53.5x) |
| Quality / Margins | COMP | 0.2% margin vs NL's -21.5% |
| Stability / Safety | NL | Beta 0.87 vs COMP's 1.79, lower leverage |
| Dividends | NL | 9.5% yield; the other pay no meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | COMP | +14.4% vs NL's -27.3% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | COMP | 0.4% ROA vs NL's -9.1%, ROIC -2.5% vs 3.9% |
NL vs COMP — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2025
Segment breakdown not available.
NL vs COMP — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLNLLAGGINGCOMP
COMPCompass, Inc.
0leads
NLNL Industries, Inc.
4leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs COMPMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
NL4/6
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
NL3/5
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
NL5/8
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
Tied
—
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
NL2/2
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
—
—
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
NL leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
COMP is the larger business by revenue, generating $8.3B annually — 52.4x NL's $159M. COMP is the more profitable business, keeping 0.2% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to NL's -21.5%. On growth, COMP holds the edge at +99.4% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | NLNL Industries, In… | COMPCompass, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $159M | $8.3B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $15M | -$100M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | -$34M | $14M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $4M | $16M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +31.1% | +10.8% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +7.8% | -4.2% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | -21.5% | +0.2% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +2.6% | +0.2% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +0.7% | +99.4% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +8.0% | +133.3% |
NL leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
NL leads this category, winning 3 of 5 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
On an enterprise value basis, NL's 10.5x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than COMP's 66.9x.
| Metric | NLNL Industries, In… | COMPCompass, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $294M | $5.3B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $180M | $5.6B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | -7.81x | -87.50x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 6.91x | 53.52x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 10.47x | 66.86x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 1.86x | 0.76x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 0.78x | 6.36x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | — | 26.18x |
NL leads this category, winning 3 of 5 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
NL leads this category, winning 5 of 8 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
COMP delivers a 1.1% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $1 in annual profit, vs $-9 for NL. NL carries lower financial leverage with a 0.00x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to COMP's 0.58x.
| Metric | NLNL Industries, In… | COMPCompass, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | -8.7% | +1.1% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | -9.1% | +0.4% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +3.9% | -2.5% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +2.9% | -2.9% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 4 | 4 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.00x | 0.58x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$113M | $255M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $114M | $199M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $500,000 | $454M |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | -19.20x | -0.12x |
NL leads this category, winning 5 of 8 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
Evenly matched — NL and COMP each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in NL five years ago would be worth $11,983 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $5,174 for COMP. Over the past 12 months, COMP leads with a +14.4% total return vs NL's -27.3%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors COMP at 49.1% vs NL's 9.7% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | NLNL Industries, In… | COMPCompass, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +11.9% | -16.7% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -27.3% | +14.4% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +32.2% | +231.4% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +19.8% | -48.3% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +226.1% | -56.6% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +9.7% | +49.1% |
Evenly matched — NL and COMP each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
NL leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
NL is the less volatile stock with a 0.87 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than COMP's 1.79 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500.
| Metric | NLNL Industries, In… | COMPCompass, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.87x | 1.79x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $9.27 | $13.96 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $5.04 | $5.66 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +64.8% | +62.7% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 51.2 | 65.7 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 37K | 14.5M |
NL leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates NL as "Sell" and COMP as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 63.3% upside for COMP (target: $14) vs -0.2% for NL (target: $6). NL is the only dividend payer here at 9.48% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | NLNL Industries, In… | COMPCompass, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Sell | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $6.00 | $14.29 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 1 | 10 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +9.5% | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 0 | — |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $0.57 | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | 0.0% |
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Key Takeaway
NL leads in 4 of 6 categories — strongest in Income & Cash Flow and Valuation Metrics. 1 category is tied.
Best OverallNL Industries, Inc. (NL)Leads 4 of 6 categories
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NL vs COMP: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is NL or COMP a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Compass, Inc.
(COMP) is the stronger pick with 23. 7% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 8. 5% for NL Industries, Inc. (NL). Analysts rate Compass, Inc. (COMP) 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 is the better long-term investment — NL or COMP?
Over the past 5 years, NL Industries, Inc.
(NL) delivered a total return of +19. 8%, compared to -48. 3% for Compass, Inc. (COMP). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: NL returned +226. 1% versus COMP's -56. 6%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
03Which is safer — NL or COMP?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), NL Industries, Inc.
(NL) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 87β versus Compass, Inc. 's 1. 79β — meaning COMP is approximately 105% more volatile than NL relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, NL Industries, Inc. (NL) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 0% versus 58% for Compass, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
04Which is growing faster — NL or COMP?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Compass, Inc.
(COMP) is pulling ahead at 23. 7% versus 8. 5% for NL Industries, Inc. (NL). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Compass, Inc. grew EPS 67. 7% year-over-year, compared to -155. 8% for NL Industries, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, COMP leads at 5. 0% 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.
05Which has better profit margins — NL or COMP?
Compass, Inc.
(COMP) is the more profitable company, earning -0. 8% net margin versus -23. 9% for NL Industries, Inc. — meaning it keeps -0. 8% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: NL leads at 8. 6% versus -0. 4% for COMP. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — NL leads at 30. 4%, 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.
06Is NL or COMP more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, NL Industries, Inc.
(NL) trades at 6. 9x forward P/E versus 53. 5x for Compass, Inc. — 46. 6x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for COMP: 63. 3% to $14. 29.
07Which pays a better dividend — NL or COMP?
In this comparison, NL (9.
5% yield) pays a dividend. COMP does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
08Is NL or COMP better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, NL Industries, Inc.
(NL) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 87), 9. 5% yield, +226. 1% 10Y return). Compass, Inc. (COMP) carries a higher beta of 1. 79 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (NL: +226. 1%, COMP: -56. 6%), 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.
09What are the main differences between NL and COMP?
These companies operate in different sectors (NL (Industrials) and COMP (Technology)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.
In terms of investment character: NL is a small-cap income-oriented stock; COMP is a small-cap high-growth stock. NL pays a dividend while COMP 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.
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