PKX
POSCO Holdings Inc.
Steel
Market Cap$103.23B
5Y Perf.+131.2%
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Stock Comparison
PKX vs RS
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
RS
Reliance Steel & Aluminum Co.
Steel
Market Cap$19.01B
5Y Perf.+283.5%
PKX vs RS — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | PKX | RS |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Steel | Steel |
| Market Cap | $103.23B | $19.01B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $52.26T | $14.84B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $883.00B | $806M |
| Gross Margin | 7.9% | 27.2% |
| Operating Margin | 3.8% | 7.5% |
| Forward P/E | 0.0x | 19.1x |
| Total Debt | $28.53T | $1.99B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $7.05T | $217M |
PKX vs RS — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
PKX
RS
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| POSCO Holdings Inc. (PKX) | 100 | 231.2 | +131.2% |
| Reliance Steel & Al… (RS) | 100 | 383.5 | +283.5% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: PKX vs RS
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: RS leads in 5 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for growth and revenue expansion and profitability and margin quality. POSCO Holdings Inc. is the stronger pick specifically for valuation and capital efficiency and recent price momentum and sentiment. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
PKX
POSCO Holdings Inc.
The Value Play
PKX is the clearest fit if your priority is value and momentum.
- Lower P/E (0.0x vs 19.1x)
- +87.2% vs RS's +27.8%
Best for: value and momentum
RS
Reliance Steel & Aluminum Co.
The Income Pick
RS carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and growth exposure.
- Dividend streak 23 yrs, beta 0.75, yield 1.3%
- Rev growth 3.3%, EPS growth -10.2%, 3Y rev CAGR -5.7%
- 450.7% 10Y total return vs PKX's 127.1%
Best for: income & stability and growth exposure
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | RS | 3.3% revenue growth vs PKX's -5.1% |
| Value | PKX | Lower P/E (0.0x vs 19.1x) |
| Quality / Margins | RS | 5.4% margin vs PKX's 1.7% |
| Stability / Safety | RS | Beta 0.75 vs PKX's 0.99, lower leverage |
| Dividends | RS | 1.3% yield, 23-year raise streak, vs PKX's 0.6% |
| Momentum (1Y) | PKX | +87.2% vs RS's +27.8% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | RS | 7.6% ROA vs PKX's 0.9%, ROIC 8.9% vs 1.7% |
PKX vs RS — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2024
FY 2025
PKX vs RS — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLRSLAGGINGPKX
PKXPOSCO Holdings Inc.
0leads
RSReliance Steel & Alum…
5leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs PKXMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
RS5/6
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
RS3/5
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
RS9/9
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
RS4/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
Tied
—
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
RS2/2
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
RS leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
PKX is the larger business by revenue, generating $52.26T annually — 3522.9x RS's $14.8B. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from 5.4% (RS) to 1.7% (PKX). On growth, RS holds the edge at +15.5% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | PKXPOSCO Holdings In… | RSReliance Steel & … |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $52.26T | $14.8B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $5.07T | $1.4B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $883.0B | $806M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | -$1.47T | $612M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +7.9% | +27.2% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +3.8% | +7.5% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +1.7% | +5.4% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | -2.8% | +4.1% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -99.9% | +15.5% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +100.0% | +36.4% |
RS leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
RS leads this category, winning 3 of 5 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 26.6x trailing earnings, RS trades at a 89% valuation discount to PKX's 247.8x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, RS's 16.0x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than PKX's 28.8x.
| Metric | PKXPOSCO Holdings In… | RSReliance Steel & … |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $103.2B | $19.0B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $117.8B | $20.8B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 247.79x | 26.61x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 0.01x | 19.09x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 1.34x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 28.84x | 15.98x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 2.21x | 1.33x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 2.61x | 2.74x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | — | 37.84x |
RS leads this category, winning 3 of 5 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
RS leads this category, winning 9 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
RS delivers a 11.2% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $11 in annual profit, vs $1 for PKX. RS carries lower financial leverage with a 0.28x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to PKX's 0.46x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), RS scores 5/9 vs PKX's 4/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | PKXPOSCO Holdings In… | RSReliance Steel & … |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +1.4% | +11.2% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +0.9% | +7.6% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +1.7% | +8.9% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +2.3% | +11.2% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 4 | 5 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.46x | 0.28x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $21.48T | $1.8B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $7.05T | $217M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $28.53T | $2.0B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 2.39x | 18.77x |
RS leads this category, winning 9 of 9 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
RS leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in RS five years ago would be worth $22,887 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $11,186 for PKX. Over the past 12 months, PKX leads with a +87.2% total return vs RS's +27.8%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors RS at 16.5% vs PKX's 7.6% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | PKXPOSCO Holdings In… | RSReliance Steel & … |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +60.2% | +26.2% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +87.2% | +27.8% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +24.5% | +58.3% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +11.9% | +128.9% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +127.1% | +450.7% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +7.6% | +16.5% |
RS leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — PKX and RS each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
RS is the less volatile stock with a 0.75 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than PKX's 0.99 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500.
| Metric | PKXPOSCO Holdings In… | RSReliance Steel & … |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.99x | 0.75x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $85.55 | $373.77 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $42.35 | $260.31 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +99.7% | +99.5% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 82.3 | 73.8 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 198K | 316K |
Evenly matched — PKX and RS each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
RS leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates PKX as "Buy" and RS as "Hold". Consensus price targets imply -2.7% upside for RS (target: $362) vs -9.8% for PKX (target: $77). For income investors, RS offers the higher dividend yield at 1.29% vs PKX's 0.56%.
| Metric | PKXPOSCO Holdings In… | RSReliance Steel & … |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Hold |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $77.00 | $362.00 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 9 | 27 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +0.6% | +1.3% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 0 | 23 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $706.77 | $4.82 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | +3.1% |
RS leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Key Takeaway
RS leads in 5 of 6 categories — strongest in Income & Cash Flow and Valuation Metrics. 1 category is tied.
Best OverallReliance Steel & Aluminum C… (RS)Leads 5 of 6 categories
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PKX vs RS: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is PKX or RS a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Reliance Steel & Aluminum Co.
(RS) is the stronger pick with 3. 3% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -5. 1% for POSCO Holdings Inc. (PKX). Reliance Steel & Aluminum Co. (RS) offers the better valuation at 26. 6x trailing P/E (19. 1x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate POSCO Holdings Inc. (PKX) a "Buy" — based on 9 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 — PKX or RS?
On trailing P/E, Reliance Steel & Aluminum Co.
(RS) is the cheapest at 26. 6x versus POSCO Holdings Inc. at 247. 8x. On forward P/E, POSCO Holdings Inc. is actually cheaper at 0. 0x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.
03Which is the better long-term investment — PKX or RS?
Over the past 5 years, Reliance Steel & Aluminum Co.
(RS) delivered a total return of +128. 9%, compared to +11. 9% for POSCO Holdings Inc. (PKX). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: RS returned +450. 7% versus PKX's +127. 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 — PKX or RS?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Reliance Steel & Aluminum Co.
(RS) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 75β versus POSCO Holdings Inc. 's 0. 99β — meaning PKX is approximately 32% more volatile than RS relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Reliance Steel & Aluminum Co. (RS) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 28% versus 46% for POSCO Holdings Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — PKX or RS?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Reliance Steel & Aluminum Co.
(RS) is pulling ahead at 3. 3% versus -5. 1% for POSCO Holdings Inc. (PKX). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Reliance Steel & Aluminum Co. grew EPS -10. 2% year-over-year, compared to -83. 4% for POSCO Holdings Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, RS leads at -5. 7% 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 — PKX or RS?
Reliance Steel & Aluminum Co.
(RS) is the more profitable company, earning 5. 2% net margin versus 1. 0% for POSCO Holdings Inc. — meaning it keeps 5. 2% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: RS leads at 7. 2% versus 2. 7% for PKX. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — RS leads at 26. 8%, 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 PKX or RS more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, POSCO Holdings Inc.
(PKX) trades at 0. 0x forward P/E versus 19. 1x for Reliance Steel & Aluminum Co. — 19. 1x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for RS: -2. 7% to $362. 00.
08Which pays a better dividend — PKX or RS?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
Reliance Steel & Aluminum Co. (RS) offers the highest yield at 1. 3%, versus 0. 6% for POSCO Holdings Inc. (PKX).
09Is PKX or RS better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Reliance Steel & Aluminum Co.
(RS) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 75), 1. 3% yield, +450. 7% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (RS: +450. 7%, PKX: +127. 1%), 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 PKX and RS?
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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(PKX: -99.9% · RS: 15.5%)P/E Ratio<
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