NL
NL Industries, Inc.
Security & Protection Services
Market Cap$294M
5Y Perf.+92.0%
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Stock Comparison
NL vs SXI
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
SXI
Standex International Corporation
Industrial - Machinery
Market Cap$3.25B
5Y Perf.+407.2%
NL vs SXI — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | NL | SXI |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Security & Protection Services | Industrial - Machinery |
| Market Cap | $294M | $3.25B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $159M | $869M |
| Net Income (TTM) | $-34M | $54M |
| Gross Margin | 31.1% | 40.0% |
| Operating Margin | 7.8% | 15.1% |
| Forward P/E | 6.9x | 30.8x |
| Total Debt | $500K | $604M |
| Cash & Equiv. | $114M | $105M |
NL vs SXI — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
NL
SXI
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| NL Industries, Inc. (NL) | 100 | 192.0 | +92.0% |
| Standex Internation… (SXI) | 100 | 507.2 | +407.2% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: NL vs SXI
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: SXI 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. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
NL
NL Industries, Inc.
The Income Pick
NL is the clearest fit if your priority is income & stability and sleep-well-at-night.
- Dividend streak 0 yrs, beta 0.87, yield 9.5%
- Lower volatility, beta 0.87, Low D/E 0.1%, current ratio 7.77x
- Beta 0.87, yield 9.5%, current ratio 7.77x
Best for: income & stability and sleep-well-at-night
SXI
Standex International Corporation
The Growth Play
SXI carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for growth exposure and long-term compounding.
- Rev growth 9.6%, EPS growth -24.4%, 3Y rev CAGR 2.4%
- 247.8% 10Y total return vs NL's 226.1%
- 9.6% revenue growth vs NL's 8.5%
Best for: growth exposure and long-term compounding
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | SXI | 9.6% revenue growth vs NL's 8.5% |
| Value | NL | Lower P/E (6.9x vs 30.8x) |
| Quality / Margins | SXI | 6.2% margin vs NL's -21.5% |
| Stability / Safety | NL | Beta 0.87 vs SXI's 1.40, lower leverage |
| Dividends | NL | 9.5% yield, vs SXI's 0.5% |
| Momentum (1Y) | SXI | +76.8% vs NL's -27.3% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | SXI | 3.5% ROA vs NL's -9.1%, ROIC 9.7% vs 3.9% |
NL vs SXI — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2025
FY 2025
NL vs SXI — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLSXILAGGINGNL
NLNL Industries, Inc.
1leads
SXIStandex International…
3leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs NLMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
SXI5/6
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
NL5/5
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
SXI5/9
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
SXI6/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
Tied
—
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
Tied
—
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
SXI leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
SXI is the larger business by revenue, generating $869M annually — 5.5x NL's $159M. SXI is the more profitable business, keeping 6.2% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to NL's -21.5%. On growth, SXI holds the edge at +16.6% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | NLNL Industries, In… | SXIStandex Internati… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $159M | $869M |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $15M | $161M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | -$34M | $54M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $4M | $52M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +31.1% | +40.0% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +7.8% | +15.1% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | -21.5% | +6.2% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +2.6% | +5.9% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +0.7% | +16.6% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +8.0% | +152.5% |
SXI leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
NL leads this category, winning 5 of 5 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
On an enterprise value basis, NL's 10.5x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than SXI's 23.8x.
| Metric | NLNL Industries, In… | SXIStandex Internati… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $294M | $3.3B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $180M | $3.8B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | -7.81x | 57.84x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 6.91x | 30.78x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 8.28x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 10.47x | 23.85x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 1.86x | 4.12x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 0.78x | 4.36x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | — | 78.84x |
NL leads this category, winning 5 of 5 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
SXI leads this category, winning 5 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
SXI delivers a 7.3% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $7 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 SXI's 0.82x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), NL scores 4/9 vs SXI's 3/9, reflecting mixed financial health.
| Metric | NLNL Industries, In… | SXIStandex Internati… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | -8.7% | +7.3% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | -9.1% | +3.5% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +3.9% | +9.7% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +2.9% | +10.7% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 4 | 3 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.00x | 0.82x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$113M | $499M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $114M | $105M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $500,000 | $604M |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | -19.20x | 3.68x |
SXI leads this category, winning 5 of 9 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
SXI leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in SXI five years ago would be worth $27,029 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $11,983 for NL. Over the past 12 months, SXI leads with a +76.8% total return vs NL's -27.3%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors SXI at 26.9% vs NL's 9.7% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | NLNL Industries, In… | SXIStandex Internati… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +11.9% | +19.5% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -27.3% | +76.8% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +32.2% | +104.5% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +19.8% | +170.3% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +226.1% | +247.8% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +9.7% | +26.9% |
SXI leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — NL and SXI each lead in 1 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 SXI's 1.40 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. SXI currently trades 94.7% from its 52-week high vs NL's 64.8% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | NLNL Industries, In… | SXIStandex Internati… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.87x | 1.40x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $9.27 | $283.54 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $5.04 | $144.62 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +64.8% | +94.7% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 51.2 | 52.7 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 37K | 195K |
Evenly matched — NL and SXI each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Evenly matched — NL and SXI each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates NL as "Sell" and SXI as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 13.5% upside for SXI (target: $305) vs -0.2% for NL (target: $6). For income investors, NL offers the higher dividend yield at 9.48% vs SXI's 0.47%.
| Metric | NLNL Industries, In… | SXIStandex Internati… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Sell | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $6.00 | $304.50 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 1 | 10 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +9.5% | +0.5% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 0 | 15 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $0.57 | $1.25 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | +0.3% |
Evenly matched — NL and SXI each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Key Takeaway
SXI leads in 3 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Profitability & Efficiency). NL leads in 1 (Valuation Metrics). 2 tied.
Best OverallStandex International Corpo… (SXI)Leads 3 of 6 categories
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NL vs SXI: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is NL or SXI a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Standex International Corporation (SXI) is the stronger pick with 9.
6% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 8. 5% for NL Industries, Inc. (NL). Standex International Corporation (SXI) offers the better valuation at 57. 8x trailing P/E (30. 8x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Standex International Corporation (SXI) 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 — NL or SXI?
On forward P/E, NL Industries, Inc.
is actually cheaper at 6. 9x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.
03Which is the better long-term investment — NL or SXI?
Over the past 5 years, Standex International Corporation (SXI) delivered a total return of +170.
3%, compared to +19. 8% for NL Industries, Inc. (NL). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: SXI returned +247. 8% versus NL's +226. 1%. 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 — NL or SXI?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), NL Industries, Inc.
(NL) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 87β versus Standex International Corporation's 1. 40β — meaning SXI is approximately 61% 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 82% for Standex International Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — NL or SXI?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Standex International Corporation (SXI) is pulling ahead at 9.
6% versus 8. 5% for NL Industries, Inc. (NL). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Standex International Corporation grew EPS -24. 4% year-over-year, compared to -155. 8% for NL Industries, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, SXI leads at 2. 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.
06Which has better profit margins — NL or SXI?
Standex International Corporation (SXI) is the more profitable company, earning 7.
1% net margin versus -23. 9% for NL Industries, Inc. — meaning it keeps 7. 1% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: SXI leads at 15. 4% versus 8. 6% for NL. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — SXI leads at 38. 0%, 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 NL or SXI more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, NL Industries, Inc.
(NL) trades at 6. 9x forward P/E versus 30. 8x for Standex International Corporation — 23. 9x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for SXI: 13. 5% to $304. 50.
08Which pays a better dividend — NL or SXI?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
NL Industries, Inc. (NL) offers the highest yield at 9. 5%, versus 0. 5% for Standex International Corporation (SXI).
09Is NL or SXI 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). Both have compounded well over 10 years (NL: +226. 1%, SXI: +247. 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.
10What are the main differences between NL and SXI?
Both stocks operate in the Industrials sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.
In terms of investment character: NL is a small-cap income-oriented stock; SXI is a small-cap quality compounder stock. NL pays a dividend while SXI 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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