Element Solutions Inc vs MOSAIC CO, two Chemicals stocks. A side-by-side on valuation, growth, margins, returns, and what each price is betting.
Element Solutions, in electronics and surface-finish chemistry, is profitable and priced for growth, a 5.32% net margin and 5.41% return on equity at 73.68 times earnings and 4.05 times book. Mosaic mines phosphate and potash through a weak cycle, net margin of 0.36%, no earnings multiple, and trades at 0.59 times book, below the value of its assets. Their cash and payout profiles diverge: Element yields -1.28% in free cash with a small 0.7% dividend, Mosaic -6.89% with a 3.93% dividend. Both carry moderate leverage. Element Solutions is priced far above book on expectations, Mosaic below book on a depressed commodity.
Comparison updated 2026-07-11.
| Metric | ESI | MOS |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $39.83 | $21.51 |
| Market cap | $9.7B | $6.8B |
| Sector | Chemicals | Chemicals |
| Stage | Growth | Growth |
| Implied growth (priced in) | — | -0.7% |
| P/E | 64.2 | — |
| P/B | 3.53 | 0.57 |
| P/S | 3.47 | 0.55 |
| EV/EBITDA | 21.8 | 8.8 |
| Revenue growth | +13.4% | +12.4% |
| Gross margin | 38.4% | 7.9% |
| Operating margin | 13.3% | -12.4% |
| Net margin | 5.3% | 0.4% |
| Return on equity | 5.4% | 0.4% |
| Return on assets | 2.6% | 0.2% |
| Return on invested capital | 5.3% | 0.5% |
| FCF yield | -1.5% | -7.2% |
| Dividend yield | 0.8% | 4.1% |
| Debt / equity | 0.75 | 0.36 |
| Current ratio | 2.68 | 1.25 |
| Altman Z (solvency) | 2.48 | 7.30 |
| Piotroski F (quality) | 5 / 9 | 6 / 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.