NL vs SXI vs CW vs KALU

For growth investors, Curtiss-Wright Corporation (CW) is the stronger pick with 12.

1% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 8. 5% for NL Industries, Inc. (NL). Kaiser Aluminum Corporation (KALU) offers the better valuation at 26. 0x trailing P/E (18. 7x 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.

On trailing P/E, Kaiser Aluminum Corporation (KALU) is the cheapest at 26.

0x versus Standex International Corporation at 57. 8x. On forward P/E, NL Industries, Inc. is actually cheaper at 6. 9x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Kaiser Aluminum Corporation wins at 0. 62x versus Standex International Corporation's 4. 40x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Curtiss-Wright Corporation (CW) delivered a total return of +449.

0%, compared to +19. 8% for NL Industries, Inc. (NL). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: CW returned +815. 8% versus KALU's +135. 1%. 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), NL Industries, Inc.

(NL) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 87β versus Kaiser Aluminum Corporation's 1. 71β — meaning KALU is approximately 96% 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 136% for Kaiser Aluminum Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Curtiss-Wright Corporation (CW) is pulling ahead at 12.

1% versus 8. 5% for NL Industries, Inc. (NL). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Kaiser Aluminum Corporation grew EPS 135. 9% year-over-year, compared to -155. 8% for NL Industries, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, CW leads at 11. 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.

Curtiss-Wright Corporation (CW) is the more profitable company, earning 13.

8% net margin versus -23. 9% for NL Industries, Inc. — meaning it keeps 13. 8% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: CW leads at 18. 2% versus 5. 7% for KALU. 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.

The PEG ratio (forward P/E divided by expected earnings growth rate) is the most precise measure of undervaluation relative to growth potential.

By this metric, Kaiser Aluminum Corporation (KALU) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 62x versus Standex International Corporation's 4. 40x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, NL Industries, Inc. (NL) trades at 6. 9x forward P/E versus 48. 0x for Curtiss-Wright Corporation — 41. 1x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for SXI: 13. 5% to $304. 50.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

NL Industries, Inc. (NL) offers the highest yield at 9. 5%, versus 0. 1% for Curtiss-Wright Corporation (CW).

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.

These companies operate in different sectors (NL (Industrials) and SXI (Industrials) and CW (Industrials) and KALU (Basic Materials)), 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; SXI is a small-cap quality compounder stock; CW is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; KALU is a small-cap quality compounder stock. NL, KALU pay a dividend while SXI, CW do 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.