UFPT vs DOW vs LYB vs HUN

For growth investors, UFP Technologies, Inc.

(UFPT) is the stronger pick with 19. 5% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -25. 2% for LyondellBasell Industries N. V. (LYB). UFP Technologies, Inc. (UFPT) offers the better valuation at 25. 2x trailing P/E (23. 3x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate UFP Technologies, Inc. (UFPT) a "Buy" — based on 2 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 forward P/E, LyondellBasell Industries N.

V. is actually cheaper at 9. 9x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, UFP Technologies, Inc.

(UFPT) delivered a total return of +306. 1%, compared to -39. 8% for Huntsman Corporation (HUN). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: UFPT returned +785. 4% versus DOW's +12. 2%. 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), LyondellBasell Industries N.

V. (LYB) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 38β versus Huntsman Corporation's 1. 73β — meaning HUN is approximately 355% more volatile than LYB relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, UFP Technologies, Inc. (UFPT) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 36% versus 156% for LyondellBasell Industries N. V. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), UFP Technologies, Inc.

(UFPT) is pulling ahead at 19. 5% versus -25. 2% for LyondellBasell Industries N. V. (LYB). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: UFP Technologies, Inc. grew EPS 15. 7% year-over-year, compared to -335. 0% for Dow Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, UFPT leads at 19. 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.

UFP Technologies, Inc.

(UFPT) is the more profitable company, earning 11. 3% net margin versus -6. 6% for Dow Inc. — meaning it keeps 11. 3% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: UFPT leads at 15. 3% versus -1. 1% for LYB. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — UFPT leads at 28. 3%, 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.

On forward earnings alone, LyondellBasell Industries N.

V. (LYB) trades at 9. 9x forward P/E versus 23. 3x for UFP Technologies, Inc. — 13. 4x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for UFPT: 34. 6% to $298. 00.

In this comparison, LYB (7.

7% yield), HUN (5. 7% yield), DOW (5. 6% yield) pay a dividend. UFPT does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, LyondellBasell Industries N.

V. (LYB) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 38), 7. 7% yield). Huntsman Corporation (HUN) carries a higher beta of 1. 73 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (LYB: +48. 6%, HUN: +57. 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.

These companies operate in different sectors (UFPT (Healthcare) and DOW (Basic Materials) and LYB (Basic Materials) and HUN (Basic Materials)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: UFPT is a small-cap high-growth stock; DOW is a mid-cap income-oriented stock; LYB is a mid-cap income-oriented stock; HUN is a small-cap income-oriented stock. DOW, LYB, HUN pay a dividend while UFPT 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.