Hawkins (HWKN) vs Stepan (SCL)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 8, 2026.
Summary
Stepan (SCL) has outperformed Hawkins (HWKN) over the past year, gaining 28.6% versus a loss of 24.8%. Over five years, HWKN leads with a +245.1% price change compared with -48.7% for SCL. Hawkins is the larger company by market cap ($2.74 billion vs $1.40 billion), about 2.0 times the size.
On valuation, Stepan trades at a lower forward P/E (16.7x vs 27.4x for Hawkins). Stepan offers the higher dividend yield (2.55% vs 0.58%).
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 | SCL |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $131.33 | $61.52 |
| Market cap | $2.74B | $1.40B |
| 1-day change | -0.80% | +0.33% |
| YTD return | -6.81% | +29.48% |
| 1-year return | -24.84% | +28.55% |
| 5-year return | +245.10% | -48.69% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 34.02 | — |
| Forward P/E | 27.37 | 16.67 |
| EPS (TTM) | $3.86 | $-0.12 |
| Dividend yield | 0.58% | 2.55% |
| Annual dividend | $0.76 | $1.57 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $1.08B | — |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +11.21% | — |
| Net income (latest FY) | $81.55M | — |
| Gross margin | 22.61% | — |
| Operating margin | 11.19% | — |
| Net margin | 7.52% | — |
| 52-week high | $177.91 | $68.00 |
| 52-week low | $116.05 | $41.82 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -26.18% | -9.53% |
| Analyst consensus | none | none |
| Avg. price target upside | +32.69% | +38.17% |
| Average volume | 165.97K | 140.91K |
| Shares outstanding | 20.88M | 22.71M |
| Employees | 1,200 | 2,328 |
| Sector | Consumer Discretionary | Consumer Discretionary |
| Industry | Specialty Chemicals | Package Goods/Cosmetics |
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
- SCL has outperformed HWKN by 53.4 percentage points over the past year.
- Stepan offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (2.55% vs 0.58%).
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 Stepan
SCL stock →Stepan Company, together with its subsidiaries, produces and sells specialty and intermediate chemicals to other manufacturers for use in various end products in the United States, France, Poland, the United Kingdom, Brazil, Mexico, and internationally. It operates through three segments: Surfactants, Polymers, and Specialty Products.
Consumer Discretionary · Package Goods/Cosmetics · 2,328 employees
HWKN vs SCL FAQ
Which is bigger, Hawkins or Stepan?
Hawkins (HWKN) is larger, with a market capitalization of $2.74B compared with $1.40B for Stepan (SCL).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, HWKN or SCL?
SCL returned +28.55% over the past 12 months, compared with -24.84% for HWKN (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which pays a higher dividend, Hawkins or Stepan?
Stepan has the higher yield at 2.55%, compared with 0.58% for Hawkins.
Are Hawkins and Stepan in the same industry?
Both are in the Consumer Discretionary sector, but in different industries: Specialty Chemicals for Hawkins and Package Goods/Cosmetics for Stepan.