MetaCap

Eastern (EML) vs Hillman Solutions (HLMN)

Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 9, 2026.

Summary

Eastern (EML) has outperformed Hillman Solutions (HLMN) over the past year, gaining 13.2% versus a loss of 25.5%. Over five years, EML leads with a +1.4% price change compared with -36.4% for HLMN. Hillman Solutions is the larger company by market cap ($1.36 billion vs $151.3 million), about 9.0 times the size.

On valuation, Eastern trades at a lower trailing P/E (21.9x vs 35.0x for Hillman Solutions). Eastern pays a dividend yielding 1.75%, while Hillman Solutions does not currently pay one.

Summary generated from market data by MetaCap's automated system. Methodology

Relative performance

EML+13.24%HLMN-25.50%
+35%+3%-29%
Oct 8, 20251 yearOct 8, 2026
EML+1.00%HLMN-36.33%
+41%-1%-44%
Oct 4, 20215 yearsOct 5, 2026

Percent change in share price from the first common trading day shown; excludes dividends.

Head-to-head

EML versus HLMN key metrics
MetricEMLHLMN
Share price$25.14$7.01
Market cap$151.28M$1.36B
1-day change+0.80%+1.01%
YTD return+27.68%-19.05%
1-year return+13.24%-25.50%
5-year return+1.37%-36.45%
P/E ratio (TTM)21.8635.05
Forward P/E—10.22
EPS (TTM)$1.15$0.20
Dividend yield1.75%0.00%
Annual dividend$0.44$0.00
52-week high$29.91$10.85
52-week low$17.61$6.66
Distance from 52-week high-15.95%-35.39%
Analyst consensus—buy
Avg. price target upside—+71.18%
Average volume12.33K1.53M
Shares outstanding6.02M194.54M
Employees1,2313,986
SectorConsumer DiscretionaryConsumer Discretionary
IndustryIndustrial Machinery/ComponentsIndustrial Machinery/Components

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

  • Hillman Solutions is about 9.0 times larger than Eastern by market value ($1.36B vs $151.28M).
  • EML has outperformed HLMN by 38.7 percentage points over the past year.
  • Hillman Solutions trades at a higher earnings multiple (35.0x vs 21.9x trailing P/E).
  • Eastern offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (1.75% vs 0.00%).

About Eastern

EML stock →

The Eastern Company designs, manufactures, and sells engineered solutions to industrial markets in the United States and North America. The company offers turnkey returnable packaging solutions, which are used in the assembly processes of vehicles, aircraft, and durable goods, as well as in production processes of plastic packaging products, packaged consumer goods, and pharmaceuticals; injection blow mold tooling products; design, develops, and manufactures 2-step stretch blow molds, and related components for the stretch blow molding industry; and supplies blow molds and change parts to the food, beverage, healthcare, and chemical industries.

Consumer Discretionary · Industrial Machinery/Components · 1,231 employees

About Hillman Solutions

HLMN stock →

Hillman Solutions Corp., together with its subsidiaries, provides hardware-related products and related merchandising services in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Latin America, and the Caribbean. The company offers automotive products, such as belts and chains, brake and fuel lines, and carburetor and throttles; clamps, clips, and couplers; spacers, bushings, and bearings; and thread repair, electrical, plugs, and wheel parts.

Consumer Discretionary · Industrial Machinery/Components · 3,986 employees

EML vs HLMN FAQ

Which is bigger, Eastern or Hillman Solutions?

Hillman Solutions (HLMN) is larger, with a market capitalization of $1.36B compared with $151.28M for Eastern (EML).

Which stock has performed better over the past year, EML or HLMN?

EML returned +13.24% over the past 12 months, compared with -25.50% for HLMN (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.

Which has the lower P/E ratio, EML or HLMN?

EML has the lower trailing P/E at 21.9, versus 35.0 for HLMN. A lower P/E is not by itself a sign of a better investment; it can reflect slower expected growth or higher risk.

Which pays a higher dividend, Eastern or Hillman Solutions?

Eastern pays a dividend yielding 1.75%, while Hillman Solutions does not currently pay a regular dividend.

Are Eastern and Hillman Solutions in the same industry?

Yes. Both are classified in the Industrial Machinery/Components industry within the Consumer Discretionary sector.

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