VHI vs RTX vs LMT vs KRO vs TROX

For growth investors, RTX Corporation (RTX) is the stronger pick with 9.

7% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -5. 7% for Tronox Holdings plc (TROX). Lockheed Martin Corporation (LMT) offers the better valuation at 23. 8x trailing P/E (17. 1x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate RTX Corporation (RTX) a "Buy" — based on 26 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, Lockheed Martin Corporation (LMT) is the cheapest at 23.

8x versus RTX Corporation at 35. 6x. On forward P/E, Valhi, Inc. is actually cheaper at 4. 2x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, RTX Corporation (RTX) delivered a total return of +120.

1%, compared to -55. 1% for Tronox Holdings plc (TROX). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: RTX returned +234. 7% 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), Lockheed Martin Corporation (LMT) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

12β versus Tronox Holdings plc's 2. 37β — meaning TROX is approximately 1818% more volatile than LMT relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Valhi, Inc. (VHI) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 45% versus 3% for Lockheed Martin Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), RTX Corporation (RTX) is pulling ahead at 9.

7% versus -5. 7% for Tronox Holdings plc (TROX). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: RTX Corporation grew EPS 39. 7% year-over-year, compared to -890. 0% for Tronox Holdings plc. Over a 3-year CAGR, RTX leads at 9. 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.

RTX Corporation (RTX) is the more profitable company, earning 7.

6% net margin versus -16. 2% for Tronox Holdings plc — meaning it keeps 7. 6% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: LMT leads at 10. 3% versus -1. 7% for KRO. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — RTX leads at 20. 1%, 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, Valhi, Inc.

(VHI) trades at 4. 2x forward P/E versus 25. 5x for RTX Corporation — 21. 4x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for RTX: 27. 2% to $224. 89.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Tronox Holdings plc (TROX) offers the highest yield at 3. 6%, versus 1. 5% for RTX Corporation (RTX).

For long-horizon retirement investors, Lockheed Martin Corporation (LMT) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.

12), 2. 6% yield, +156. 2% 10Y return). 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 (LMT: +156. 2%, 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.

These companies operate in different sectors (VHI (Basic Materials) and RTX (Industrials) and LMT (Industrials) and KRO (Unknown) and TROX (Basic Materials)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: VHI is a small-cap quality compounder stock; RTX is a large-cap quality compounder stock; LMT is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; KRO is a small-cap quality compounder stock; TROX 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.