EASTMAN CHEMICAL CO vs Element Solutions Inc, two Chemicals stocks. A side-by-side on valuation, growth, margins, returns, and what each price is betting.
Both make specialty chemicals, and both stay profitable, but the market prices them worlds apart. Eastman Chemical earns a 4.62% net margin and 6.56% return on equity, trades at 20.44 times earnings and just 1.34 times book, and pays a 4.71% dividend backed by a 6.12% free-cash yield. Element Solutions, focused on electronics and surface finishes, earns a similar 5.32% net margin and 5.41% return on equity, yet costs 73.68 times earnings and 4.05 times book, with slightly negative free cash at -1.28% and a small 0.7% dividend. Eastman carries more leverage at 0.86 to equity. Comparable economics, sharply different price tags.
Comparison updated 2026-07-11.
| Metric | EMN | ESI |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $67.53 | $39.83 |
| Market cap | $7.8B | $9.7B |
| Sector | Chemicals | Chemicals |
| Stage | Mature | Growth |
| P/E | 19.5 | 64.2 |
| P/B | 1.28 | 3.53 |
| P/S | 0.90 | 3.47 |
| EV/EBITDA | 25.1 | 21.8 |
| Revenue growth | -7.7% | +13.4% |
| Gross margin | 19.8% | 38.4% |
| Operating margin | — | 13.3% |
| Net margin | 4.6% | 5.3% |
| Return on equity | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Return on assets | 2.6% | 2.6% |
| Return on invested capital | — | 5.3% |
| FCF yield | 6.4% | -1.5% |
| Dividend yield | 4.9% | 0.8% |
| Debt / equity | 0.86 | 0.75 |
| Current ratio | 1.47 | 2.68 |
| Altman Z (solvency) | 2.11 | 2.48 |
| Piotroski F (quality) | 5 / 9 | 5 / 9 |
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The stronger value is highlighted per metric where one is strictly better on that single number; it is not an overall verdict on either company. For informational and research purposes only. Not investment advice. Not a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold any security. boothcheck is not a registered investment adviser. Past performance does not guarantee future results.