Kronos Worldwide (KRO) vs Quaker Houghton (KWR)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 8, 2026.
Summary
Kronos Worldwide (KRO) has outperformed Quaker Houghton (KWR) over the past year, gaining 43.3% versus a gain of 22.4%. Over five years, KWR leads with a -33.2% price change compared with -41.1% for KRO. Quaker Houghton is the larger company by market cap ($2.71 billion vs $895.5 million), about 3.0 times the size.
On valuation, Kronos Worldwide trades at a lower forward P/E (12.7x vs 16.5x for Quaker Houghton). Kronos Worldwide offers the higher dividend yield (2.57% vs 1.29%).
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 | KRO | KWR |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $7.78 | $157.33 |
| Market cap | $895.46M | $2.71B |
| 1-day change | -1.02% | -2.33% |
| YTD return | +76.02% | +14.58% |
| 1-year return | +43.28% | +22.39% |
| 5-year return | -41.15% | -33.23% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | — | 28.04 |
| Forward P/E | 12.68 | 16.51 |
| EPS (TTM) | $-0.95 | $5.61 |
| Dividend yield | 2.57% | 1.29% |
| Annual dividend | $0.20 | $2.04 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | — | $1.89B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | — | +2.66% |
| Net income (latest FY) | — | $-2.49M |
| Gross margin | — | 35.97% |
| Operating margin | — | 2.81% |
| Net margin | — | -0.13% |
| 52-week high | $9.17 | $183.01 |
| 52-week low | $4.08 | $112.18 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -15.16% | -14.03% |
| Analyst consensus | none | strong_buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +9.25% | +22.40% |
| Average volume | 421.72K | 147.52K |
| Shares outstanding | 115.10M | 17.21M |
| Employees | 2,263 | 4,700 |
| Sector | Basic Materials | Industrials |
| Industry | Major 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
- Quaker Houghton is about 3.0 times larger than Kronos Worldwide by market value ($2.71B vs $895.46M).
- KRO has outperformed KWR by 20.9 percentage points over the past year.
- Kronos Worldwide offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (2.57% vs 1.29%).
- The two companies sit in different sectors: Kronos Worldwide in Basic Materials and Quaker Houghton in Industrials.
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
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
KRO vs KWR FAQ
Which is bigger, Kronos Worldwide or Quaker Houghton?
Quaker Houghton (KWR) is larger, with a market capitalization of $2.71B compared with $895.46M for Kronos Worldwide (KRO).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, KRO or KWR?
KRO returned +43.28% over the past 12 months, compared with +22.39% for KWR (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which pays a higher dividend, Kronos Worldwide or Quaker Houghton?
Kronos Worldwide has the higher yield at 2.57%, compared with 1.29% for Quaker Houghton.
Are Kronos Worldwide and Quaker Houghton in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Major Chemicals industry within the Basic Materials sector.