Quaker Houghton (KWR) 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 Quaker Houghton (KWR) over the past year, gaining 28.6% versus a gain of 22.4%. Over five years, KWR leads with a -33.2% price change compared with -48.7% for SCL. Quaker Houghton is the larger company by market cap ($2.69 billion vs $1.40 billion), about 1.9 times the size.
On valuation, Quaker Houghton trades at a lower forward P/E (16.4x vs 16.7x for Stepan). Stepan offers the higher dividend yield (2.55% vs 1.30%).
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 | KWR | SCL |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $156.16 | $61.51 |
| Market cap | $2.69B | $1.40B |
| 1-day change | -0.74% | +0.31% |
| YTD return | +14.58% | +29.48% |
| 1-year return | +22.39% | +28.55% |
| 5-year return | -33.23% | -48.69% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 27.84 | — |
| Forward P/E | 16.39 | 16.67 |
| EPS (TTM) | $5.61 | $-0.12 |
| Dividend yield | 1.30% | 2.55% |
| Annual dividend | $2.04 | $1.57 |
| 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 | $183.01 | $68.00 |
| 52-week low | $112.18 | $41.82 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -14.67% | -9.54% |
| Analyst consensus | strong_buy | none |
| Avg. price target upside | +23.32% | +38.19% |
| Average volume | 147.52K | 140.91K |
| Shares outstanding | 17.21M | 22.71M |
| Employees | 4,700 | 2,328 |
| Sector | Industrials | Consumer Discretionary |
| Industry | Major 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
- Stepan offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (2.55% vs 1.30%).
- The two companies sit in different sectors: Quaker Houghton in Industrials and Stepan in Consumer Discretionary.
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
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
KWR vs SCL FAQ
Which is bigger, Quaker Houghton or Stepan?
Quaker Houghton (KWR) is larger, with a market capitalization of $2.69B compared with $1.40B for Stepan (SCL).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, KWR or SCL?
SCL returned +28.55% 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, Quaker Houghton or Stepan?
Stepan has the higher yield at 2.55%, compared with 1.30% for Quaker Houghton.
Are Quaker Houghton and Stepan in the same industry?
No. Quaker Houghton is in the Industrials sector, while Stepan is in Consumer Discretionary.