Lightwave Logic (LWLG) 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 Lightwave Logic (LWLG) over the past year, gaining 28.6% versus a gain of 17.0%. Over five years, LWLG leads with a -39.4% price change compared with -48.7% for SCL. Stepan is the larger company by market cap ($1.41 billion vs $779.3 million), about 1.8 times the size.
Stepan pays a dividend yielding 2.53%, while Lightwave Logic does not currently pay one.
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 | LWLG | SCL |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $5.06 | $62.16 |
| Market cap | $779.32M | $1.41B |
| 1-day change | -6.91% | +1.37% |
| YTD return | +67.59% | +29.48% |
| 1-year return | +17.03% | +28.55% |
| 5-year return | -39.40% | -48.69% |
| Forward P/E | — | 16.85 |
| EPS (TTM) | $-0.17 | $-0.12 |
| Dividend yield | 0.00% | 2.53% |
| Annual dividend | $0.00 | $1.57 |
| 52-week high | $18.71 | $68.00 |
| 52-week low | $2.84 | $41.82 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -72.98% | -8.59% |
| Analyst consensus | none | none |
| Avg. price target upside | +97.82% | +36.74% |
| Average volume | 2.92M | 140.91K |
| Shares outstanding | 154.17M | 22.71M |
| Employees | 34 | 2,328 |
| Sector | Industrials | Consumer Discretionary |
| Industry | Containers/Packaging | 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 LWLG by 11.5 percentage points over the past year.
- Stepan offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (2.53% vs 0.00%).
- The two companies sit in different sectors: Lightwave Logic in Industrials and Stepan in Consumer Discretionary.
About Lightwave Logic
LWLG stock →Lightwave Logic, Inc. focuses on the development and commercialization of electro-optic polymer materials for data communications and other photonic application in the United States and internationally.
Industrials · Containers/Packaging · 34 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
LWLG vs SCL FAQ
Which is bigger, Lightwave Logic or Stepan?
Stepan (SCL) is larger, with a market capitalization of $1.41B compared with $779.32M for Lightwave Logic (LWLG).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, LWLG or SCL?
SCL returned +28.55% over the past 12 months, compared with +17.03% for LWLG (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which pays a higher dividend, Lightwave Logic or Stepan?
Stepan pays a dividend yielding 2.53%, while Lightwave Logic does not currently pay a regular dividend.
Are Lightwave Logic and Stepan in the same industry?
No. Lightwave Logic is in the Industrials sector, while Stepan is in Consumer Discretionary.