VHI vs KRO vs TROX vs HUN

For growth investors, Valhi, Inc.

(VHI) is the stronger pick with -1. 3% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -5. 8% for Huntsman Corporation (HUN). Analysts rate Tronox Holdings plc (TROX) a "Buy" — based on 17 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.

Over the past 5 years, Huntsman Corporation (HUN) delivered a total return of -39.

8%, compared to -55. 1% for Tronox Holdings plc (TROX). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: KRO returned +129. 0% versus VHI's -2. 7%. 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), Valhi, Inc.

(VHI) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 06β versus Tronox Holdings plc's 2. 37β — meaning TROX is approximately 123% more volatile than VHI relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Valhi, Inc. (VHI) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 45% versus 2% for Tronox Holdings plc — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Valhi, Inc.

(VHI) is pulling ahead at -1. 3% versus -5. 8% for Huntsman Corporation (HUN). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Huntsman Corporation grew EPS -44. 5% year-over-year, compared to -890. 0% for Tronox Holdings plc. 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.

Valhi, Inc.

(VHI) is the more profitable company, earning -2. 8% net margin versus -16. 2% for Tronox Holdings plc — meaning it keeps -2. 8% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: VHI leads at -0. 0% versus -1. 7% for KRO. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — VHI leads at 14. 7%, 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.

Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for TROX: -13.

8% to $7. 25.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Huntsman Corporation (HUN) offers the highest yield at 5. 7%, versus 2. 2% for Valhi, Inc. (VHI).

For long-horizon retirement investors, Valhi, Inc.

(VHI) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1. 06), 2. 2% yield). Tronox Holdings plc (TROX) carries a higher beta of 2. 37 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (VHI: -2. 7%, TROX: +116. 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.

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.

In terms of investment character: VHI is a small-cap quality compounder stock; KRO is a small-cap quality compounder stock; TROX is a small-cap income-oriented stock; HUN is a small-cap income-oriented stock. 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.