Hawkins (HWKN) vs Quaker Houghton (KWR)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 9, 2026.
Summary
Quaker Houghton (KWR) has outperformed Hawkins (HWKN) over the past year, gaining 19.8% versus a loss of 28.4%. Over five years, HWKN leads with a +233.1% price change compared with -32.9% for KWR. Hawkins is the larger company by market cap ($2.73 billion vs $2.70 billion), about 1.0 times the size.
On valuation, Quaker Houghton trades at a lower forward P/E (16.5x vs 27.2x for Hawkins). Quaker Houghton offers the higher dividend yield (1.30% vs 0.58%). Hawkins converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 7.5% versus -0.1%.
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 | HWKN | KWR |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $130.69 | $157.13 |
| Market cap | $2.73B | $2.70B |
| 1-day change | +2.27% | -0.62% |
| YTD return | -10.05% | +15.15% |
| 1-year return | -28.45% | +19.83% |
| 5-year return | +233.13% | -32.90% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 33.86 | 28.01 |
| Forward P/E | 27.24 | 16.49 |
| EPS (TTM) | $3.86 | $5.61 |
| Dividend yield | 0.58% | 1.30% |
| Annual dividend | $0.76 | $2.04 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $1.08B | $1.89B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +11.21% | +2.66% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $81.55M | $-2.49M |
| Gross margin | 22.61% | 35.97% |
| Operating margin | 11.19% | 2.81% |
| Net margin | 7.52% | -0.13% |
| 52-week high | $176.58 | $183.01 |
| 52-week low | $116.05 | $112.18 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -25.99% | -14.14% |
| Analyst consensus | none | strong_buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +33.34% | +22.56% |
| Average volume | 166.27K | 148.09K |
| Shares outstanding | 20.88M | 17.21M |
| Employees | 1,200 | 4,700 |
| Sector | Consumer Discretionary | Industrials |
| 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
- KWR has outperformed HWKN by 48.3 percentage points over the past year.
- Hawkins is more profitable, keeping 7.5 cents of every revenue dollar as net income versus -0.1 cents for Quaker Houghton.
- Hawkins grew revenue faster in its latest fiscal year (+11.21% vs +2.66%).
- The two companies sit in different sectors: Hawkins in Consumer Discretionary and Quaker Houghton in Industrials.
About Hawkins
HWKN stock →Hawkins, Inc. operates as a water treatment and specialty ingredients company in the United States.
Consumer Discretionary · Specialty Chemicals · 1,200 employees
About Quaker Houghton
KWR stock →Quaker Chemical Corporation, doing business as Quaker Houghton, provides industrial process fluids worldwide. The company develops, produces, and markets various formulated specialty chemical products; and offers chemical management services for various heavy industrial and manufacturing applications.
Industrials · Major Chemicals · 4,700 employees
HWKN vs KWR FAQ
Which is bigger, Hawkins or Quaker Houghton?
Hawkins (HWKN) is larger, with a market capitalization of $2.73B compared with $2.70B for Quaker Houghton (KWR).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, HWKN or KWR?
KWR returned +19.83% over the past 12 months, compared with -28.45% for HWKN (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, HWKN or KWR?
KWR has the lower trailing P/E at 28.0, versus 33.9 for HWKN. 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, Hawkins or Quaker Houghton?
Quaker Houghton has the higher yield at 1.30%, compared with 0.58% for Hawkins.
Are Hawkins and Quaker Houghton in the same industry?
No. Hawkins is in the Consumer Discretionary sector, while Quaker Houghton is in Industrials.