Quaker Houghton (KWR) vs Valvoline (VVV)
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 Valvoline (VVV) over the past year, gaining 19.8% versus a loss of 10.5%. Over five years, VVV leads with a -11.7% price change compared with -32.9% for KWR. Valvoline is the larger company by market cap ($3.86 billion vs $2.68 billion), about 1.4 times the size.
On valuation, Valvoline trades at a lower forward P/E (15.2x vs 16.4x for Quaker Houghton). Quaker Houghton pays a dividend yielding 1.31%, while Valvoline does not currently pay one. Valvoline converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 12.3% 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 | KWR | VVV |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $155.95 | $30.27 |
| Market cap | $2.68B | $3.86B |
| 1-day change | -1.37% | -1.85% |
| YTD return | +15.15% | +6.13% |
| 1-year return | +19.83% | -10.53% |
| 5-year return | -32.90% | -11.68% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 28.20 | 37.37 |
| Forward P/E | 16.37 | 15.25 |
| EPS (TTM) | $5.53 | $0.81 |
| Dividend yield | 1.31% | 0.00% |
| Annual dividend | $2.04 | $0.00 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $1.89B | $1.71B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +2.66% | +5.64% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $-2.49M | $210.70M |
| Gross margin | 35.97% | 38.50% |
| Operating margin | 2.81% | 22.80% |
| Net margin | -0.13% | 12.32% |
| 52-week high | $183.01 | $41.08 |
| 52-week low | $112.18 | $26.21 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -14.79% | -26.31% |
| Analyst consensus | strong_buy | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +23.48% | +42.48% |
| Average volume | 147.66K | 2.41M |
| Shares outstanding | 17.21M | 127.54M |
| Employees | 4,700 | 10,600 |
| Sector | Industrials | 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
- KWR has outperformed VVV by 30.4 percentage points over the past year.
- Valvoline trades at a higher earnings multiple (37.4x vs 28.2x trailing P/E).
- Quaker Houghton offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (1.31% vs 0.00%).
- Valvoline is more profitable, keeping 12.3 cents of every revenue dollar as net income versus -0.1 cents for Quaker Houghton.
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 Valvoline
VVV stock →Valvoline Inc. provides automotive preventive maintenance through its retail stores in the United States and Canada.
Industrials · Major Chemicals · 10,600 employees
KWR vs VVV FAQ
Which is bigger, Quaker Houghton or Valvoline?
Valvoline (VVV) is larger, with a market capitalization of $3.86B compared with $2.68B for Quaker Houghton (KWR).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, KWR or VVV?
KWR returned +19.83% over the past 12 months, compared with -10.53% for VVV (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, KWR or VVV?
KWR has the lower trailing P/E at 28.2, versus 37.4 for VVV. 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, Quaker Houghton or Valvoline?
Quaker Houghton pays a dividend yielding 1.31%, while Valvoline does not currently pay a regular dividend.
Are Quaker Houghton and Valvoline in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Major Chemicals industry within the Industrials sector.