OEC
Orion Engineered Carbons S.A.
Chemicals - Specialty
Market Cap$403M
5Y Perf.-35.2%
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Stock Comparison
OEC vs KRO
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
KRO
Kronos Worldwide, Inc.
Chemicals - Specialty
Market Cap$811M
5Y Perf.-27.8%
OEC vs KRO — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | OEC | KRO |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Chemicals - Specialty | Chemicals - Specialty |
| Market Cap | $403M | $811M |
| Revenue (TTM) | $1.79B | $1.88B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $-89M | $-134M |
| Gross Margin | 19.1% | 10.1% |
| Operating Margin | 4.5% | -3.1% |
| Forward P/E | 31.8x | — |
| Total Debt | $980M | $577M |
| Cash & Equiv. | $61M | $37M |
OEC vs KRO — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
OEC
KRO
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Orion Engineered Ca… (OEC) | 100 | 64.8 | -35.2% |
| Kronos Worldwide, I… (KRO) | 100 | 72.2 | -27.8% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: OEC vs KRO
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: OEC leads in 4 of 6 categories, making it the strongest pick for profitability and margin quality and capital preservation and lower volatility. Kronos Worldwide, Inc. is the stronger pick specifically for growth and revenue expansion and recent price momentum and sentiment. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
OEC
Orion Engineered Carbons S.A.
The Income Pick
OEC carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and sleep-well-at-night.
- Dividend streak 3 yrs, beta 1.39, yield 1.2%
- Lower volatility, beta 1.39, current ratio 1.03x
- -5.0% margin vs KRO's -7.1%
Best for: income & stability and sleep-well-at-night
KRO
Kronos Worldwide, Inc.
The Growth Play
KRO is the clearest fit if your priority is growth exposure and long-term compounding.
- Rev growth -1.5%, EPS growth -228.0%, 3Y rev CAGR -1.2%
- 129.0% 10Y total return vs OEC's -29.7%
- Beta 1.57, yield 2.8%, current ratio 2.70x
Best for: growth exposure and long-term compounding
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | KRO | -1.5% revenue growth vs OEC's -3.8% |
| Quality / Margins | OEC | -5.0% margin vs KRO's -7.1% |
| Stability / Safety | OEC | Beta 1.39 vs KRO's 1.57 |
| Dividends | OEC | 1.2% yield, 3-year raise streak, vs KRO's 2.8% |
| Momentum (1Y) | KRO | -1.2% vs OEC's -35.4% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | OEC | -4.6% ROA vs KRO's -9.4%, ROIC 5.5% vs -1.9% |
OEC vs KRO — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2025
FY 2014
OEC vs KRO — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLOECLAGGINGKRO
KROKronos Worldwide, Inc.
2leads
OECOrion Engineered Carb…
2leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs KROMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
OEC4/6
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
OEC3/4
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
KRO5/9
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
KRO6/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
Tied
—
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
Tied
—
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
OEC leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
KRO and OEC operate at a comparable scale, with $1.9B and $1.8B in trailing revenue. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from -5.0% (OEC) to -7.1% (KRO). On growth, KRO holds the edge at +4.1% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | OECOrion Engineered … | KROKronos Worldwide,… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $1.8B | $1.9B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $180M | -$9M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | -$89M | -$134M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $68M | $35M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +19.1% | +10.1% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +4.5% | -3.1% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | -5.0% | -7.1% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +3.8% | +1.9% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -3.8% | +4.1% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -2.1% | -126.1% |
OEC leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
OEC leads this category, winning 3 of 4 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
On an enterprise value basis, OEC's 5.7x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than KRO's 40.7x.
| Metric | OECOrion Engineered … | KROKronos Worldwide,… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $403M | $811M |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $1.3B | $1.4B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | -5.78x | -7.34x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 31.80x | — |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 5.66x | 40.71x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 0.22x | 0.44x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 1.05x | 1.08x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 8.04x | — |
OEC leads this category, winning 3 of 4 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
KRO leads this category, winning 5 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
KRO delivers a -17.0% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $-17 in annual profit, vs $-22 for OEC. KRO carries lower financial leverage with a 0.77x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to OEC's 2.55x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), KRO scores 5/9 vs OEC's 4/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | OECOrion Engineered … | KROKronos Worldwide,… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | -21.8% | -17.0% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | -4.6% | -9.4% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +5.5% | -1.9% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +7.8% | -2.2% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 4 | 5 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 2.55x | 0.77x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $919M | $540M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $61M | $37M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $980M | $577M |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | -0.14x | -2.32x |
KRO leads this category, winning 5 of 9 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
KRO leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in KRO five years ago would be worth $5,607 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $3,442 for OEC. Over the past 12 months, KRO leads with a -1.2% total return vs OEC's -35.4%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors KRO at -0.2% vs OEC's -32.3% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | OECOrion Engineered … | KROKronos Worldwide,… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +36.7% | +58.5% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -35.4% | -1.2% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -69.0% | -0.7% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -65.6% | -43.9% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -29.7% | +129.0% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -32.3% | -0.2% |
KRO leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — OEC and KRO each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
OEC is the less volatile stock with a 1.39 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than KRO's 1.57 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. KRO currently trades 89.2% from its 52-week high vs OEC's 59.3% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | OECOrion Engineered … | KROKronos Worldwide,… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.39x | 1.57x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $12.10 | $7.90 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $4.35 | $4.08 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +59.3% | +89.2% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 74.4 | 63.4 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 610K | 350K |
Evenly matched — OEC and KRO each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Evenly matched — OEC and KRO each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates OEC as "Buy" and KRO as "Hold". Consensus price targets imply -18.0% upside for OEC (target: $6) vs -29.1% for KRO (target: $5). For income investors, KRO offers the higher dividend yield at 2.84% vs OEC's 1.16%.
| Metric | OECOrion Engineered … | KROKronos Worldwide,… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Hold |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $5.88 | $5.00 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 14 | 7 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +1.2% | +2.8% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 3 | 0 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $0.08 | $0.20 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +6.1% | 0.0% |
Evenly matched — OEC and KRO each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Key Takeaway
OEC leads in 2 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Valuation Metrics). KRO leads in 2 (Profitability & Efficiency, Total Returns). 2 tied.
Best OverallOrion Engineered Carbons S.… (OEC)Leads 2 of 6 categories
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OEC vs KRO: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is OEC or KRO a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Kronos Worldwide, Inc.
(KRO) is the stronger pick with -1. 5% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -3. 8% for Orion Engineered Carbons S. A. (OEC). Analysts rate Orion Engineered Carbons S. A. (OEC) a "Buy" — based on 14 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 — OEC or KRO?
Over the past 5 years, Kronos Worldwide, Inc.
(KRO) delivered a total return of -43. 9%, compared to -65. 6% for Orion Engineered Carbons S. A. (OEC). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: KRO returned +129. 0% versus OEC's -29. 7%. 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 — OEC or KRO?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Orion Engineered Carbons S.
A. (OEC) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 39β versus Kronos Worldwide, Inc. 's 1. 57β — meaning KRO is approximately 13% more volatile than OEC relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Kronos Worldwide, Inc. (KRO) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 77% versus 3% for Orion Engineered Carbons S. A. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
04Which is growing faster — OEC or KRO?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Kronos Worldwide, Inc.
(KRO) is pulling ahead at -1. 5% versus -3. 8% for Orion Engineered Carbons S. A. (OEC). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Kronos Worldwide, Inc. grew EPS -228. 0% year-over-year, compared to -263. 2% for Orion Engineered Carbons S. A.. Over a 3-year CAGR, KRO leads at -1. 2% 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 — OEC or KRO?
Orion Engineered Carbons S.
A. (OEC) is the more profitable company, earning -3. 9% net margin versus -6. 0% for Kronos Worldwide, Inc. — meaning it keeps -3. 9% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: OEC leads at 5. 6% versus -1. 7% for KRO. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — OEC leads at 19. 9%, 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 OEC or KRO more undervalued right now?
Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for OEC: -18.
0% to $5. 88.
07Which pays a better dividend — OEC or KRO?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
Kronos Worldwide, Inc. (KRO) offers the highest yield at 2. 8%, versus 1. 2% for Orion Engineered Carbons S. A. (OEC).
08Is OEC or KRO better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Orion Engineered Carbons S.
A. (OEC) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (1. 2% yield). Kronos Worldwide, Inc. (KRO) carries a higher beta of 1. 57 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (OEC: -29. 7%, KRO: +129. 0%), 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 OEC and KRO?
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.
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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