Comparing RPM International (NYSE:RPM) and Quaker Houghton (NYSE:KWR)

RPM International (NYSE:RPM) and Quaker Houghton (NYSE:KWR) are both basic materials companies, but which is the superior stock? We will compare the two companies based on the strength of their dividends, valuation, analyst recommendations, profitability, institutional ownership, earnings and risk.

Valuation & Earnings

This table compares RPM International and Quaker Houghton”s gross revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

	Gross Revenue	Price/Sales Ratio	Net Income	Earnings Per Share	Price/Earnings Ratio
RPM International	$7.37 billion	1.65	$688.69 million	$5.19	18.36
Quaker Houghton	$1.89 billion	1.27	-$2.49 million	$0.28	493.15

RPM International has higher revenue and earnings than Quaker Houghton. RPM International is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Quaker Houghton, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Risk & Volatility

RPM International has a beta of 1.04, meaning that its stock price is 4% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Quaker Houghton has a beta of 1.42, meaning that its stock price is 42% more volatile than the S&P 500.

Analyst Ratings

This is a summary of current recommendations for RPM International and Quaker Houghton, as reported by MarketBeat.com.

	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
RPM International	0	5	10	0	2.67
Quaker Houghton	2	0	3	0	2.20

RPM International presently has a consensus target price of $126.33, suggesting a potential upside of 32.59%. Quaker Houghton has a consensus target price of $166.00, suggesting a potential upside of 20.22%. Given RPM International’s stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, analysts plainly believe RPM International is more favorable than Quaker Houghton.

Profitability

This table compares RPM International and Quaker Houghton’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
RPM International	8.63%	22.55%	8.75%
Quaker Houghton	0.22%	9.03%	4.39%

Institutional and Insider Ownership

81.0% of RPM International shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 77.5% of Quaker Houghton shares are owned by institutional investors. 1.6% of RPM International shares are owned by company insiders. Comparatively, 1.0% of Quaker Houghton shares are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, hedge funds and endowments believe a company will outperform the market over the long term.

Dividends

RPM International pays an annual dividend of $2.16 per share and has a dividend yield of 2.3%. Quaker Houghton pays an annual dividend of $2.03 per share and has a dividend yield of 1.5%. RPM International pays out 41.6% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Quaker Houghton pays out 725.0% of its earnings in the form of a dividend, suggesting it may not have sufficient earnings to cover its dividend payment in the future. RPM International has raised its dividend for 51 consecutive years and Quaker Houghton has raised its dividend for 17 consecutive years. RPM International is clearly the better dividend stock, given its higher yield and longer track record of dividend growth.

Summary

RPM International beats Quaker Houghton on 15 of the 17 factors compared between the two stocks.

About RPM International

RPM International Inc. manufactures and sells specialty chemicals for the industrial, specialty, and consumer markets worldwide. It offers waterproofing, coating, and traditional roofing systems; sealants, air barriers, tapes, and foams; residential home weatherization systems; roofing and building maintenance services; sealing and bonding, subfloor preparation, flooring, and glazing solutions; resin flooring systems, polyurethane, MMA waterproof, epoxy floor paint and coatings, concrete repair, and protection products; fire stopping and intumescent steel coating, and manufacturing industry solutions; rolled asphalt roofing materials and chemical admixtures; concrete and masonry admixtures, concrete fibers, curing and sealing compounds, structural grouts and mortars, epoxy adhesives, injection resins, polyurethane foams, floor hardeners and toppings, joint fillers, industrial and architectural coatings, decorative color/stains/stamps, and restoration materials; insulated building cladding materials; and concrete form wall systems. It also provides polymer flooring systems; fiberglass reinforced plastic gratings and shapes; corrosion-control coating, containment and railcar lining, fire and sound proofing, and heat and cryogenic insulation products; specialty construction products; amine curing agents, reactive diluents, and epoxy resins; fluorescent colorants and pigments; shellac-based-specialty and marine coatings; fire and water damage restoration, carpet cleaning, and disinfecting products; fuel additives; wood treatments, coatings, and touch-up products; and nail enamels, polishes, and coating components. In addition, it offers solutions for the paint contractors and DIYers, concrete restoration and flooring, metallic and faux finish coatings, cleaners, and hobby paints and cements; and caulks, adhesives, insulating foams, and patches, as well as spackling, glazing, and repair products. The company was incorporated in 1947 and is headquartered in Medina, Ohio.

About Quaker Houghton

Quaker Chemical Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, develops, produces, and markets various formulated specialty chemical products for a range of heavy industrial and manufacturing applications in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia Pacific. It offers metal removal fluids, cleaning fluids, corrosion inhibitors, metal drawing and forming fluids, die-cast mold releases, heat treatment and quenchants, metal forging fluids, hydraulic fluids, specialty greases, offshore sub-sea energy control fluids, rolling lubricants, rod and wire drawing fluids, and surface treatment chemicals. The company also provides chemical management services. It serves steel, aluminum, automotive, aerospace, offshore, container, mining, and metalworking companies. The company was founded in 1918 and is headquartered in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania.