Ashland (ASH) vs Kronos Worldwide (KRO)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 8, 2026.
Summary
Ashland (ASH) has outperformed Kronos Worldwide (KRO) over the past year, gaining 48.8% versus a gain of 43.3%. Over five years, ASH leads with a -26.2% price change compared with -41.1% for KRO. Ashland is the larger company by market cap ($3.24 billion vs $895.5 million), about 3.6 times the size.
On valuation, Kronos Worldwide trades at a lower forward P/E (12.7x vs 16.4x for Ashland). Kronos Worldwide offers the higher dividend yield (2.57% vs 2.36%).
Summary generated from market data by MetaCap's automated system. Methodology
Relative performance
Percent change in share price from the first common trading day shown; excludes dividends.
Head-to-head
| Metric | ASH | KRO |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $70.67 | $7.78 |
| Market cap | $3.24B | $895.46M |
| 1-day change | -0.42% | -1.02% |
| YTD return | +20.45% | +76.02% |
| 1-year return | +48.81% | +43.28% |
| 5-year return | -26.19% | -41.15% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 45.30 | — |
| Forward P/E | 16.43 | 12.68 |
| EPS (TTM) | $1.56 | $-0.94 |
| Dividend yield | 2.36% | 2.57% |
| Annual dividend | $1.67 | $0.20 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $1.82B | — |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | -13.68% | — |
| Net income (latest FY) | $-845.00M | — |
| Gross margin | 30.10% | — |
| Operating margin | -42.49% | — |
| Net margin | -46.33% | — |
| 52-week high | $78.25 | $9.17 |
| 52-week low | $47.12 | $4.08 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -9.69% | -15.16% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | none |
| Avg. price target upside | +13.07% | +9.25% |
| Average volume | 681.71K | 425.02K |
| Shares outstanding | 45.79M | 115.10M |
| Employees | 2,900 | 2,263 |
| Sector | Consumer Discretionary | Basic Materials |
| Industry | Specialty Chemicals | Major Chemicals |
Highlighted cells mark the higher value for growth, returns, margins and yield, and the lower value for P/E ratios. Highlighting is a mechanical comparison, not a recommendation.
Key differences
- Ashland is about 3.6 times larger than Kronos Worldwide by market value ($3.24B vs $895.46M).
- The two companies sit in different sectors: Ashland in Consumer Discretionary and Kronos Worldwide in Basic Materials.
About Ashland
ASH stock →Ashland Inc. provides additives and specialty ingredients in the North and Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and internationally.
Consumer Discretionary · Specialty Chemicals · 2,900 employees
About Kronos Worldwide
KRO stock →Kronos Worldwide, Inc. produces and markets titanium dioxide pigments (TiO2) in Europe, North America, the Asia Pacific, and internationally.
Basic Materials · Major Chemicals · 2,263 employees
ASH vs KRO FAQ
Which is bigger, Ashland or Kronos Worldwide?
Ashland (ASH) is larger, with a market capitalization of $3.24B compared with $895.46M for Kronos Worldwide (KRO).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, ASH or KRO?
ASH returned +48.81% over the past 12 months, compared with +43.28% for KRO (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which pays a higher dividend, Ashland or Kronos Worldwide?
Kronos Worldwide has the higher yield at 2.57%, compared with 2.36% for Ashland.
Are Ashland and Kronos Worldwide in the same industry?
No. Ashland is in the Consumer Discretionary sector, while Kronos Worldwide is in Basic Materials.