RPM International Inc. vs Westlake Corporation. A side-by-side on valuation, growth, margins, returns, and what each price is betting.
Coatings and sealants that reorder steadily give RPM International a 21.15% return on equity, no net debt, and an 8.63% net margin. Westlake makes commodity chemicals and building products, and this downturn drove it to a negative 18.09% return and a negative 14.91% margin. RPM generated a 4.01% free-cash yield while Westlake burned cash at a negative 5.18%. The prices show it: RPM at 21.67 times earnings and 4.55 times book, Westlake with no earnings multiple and 1.08 times book. Westlake pays a 2.75% dividend to hold shareholders through the trough; RPM pays 1.12% out of steady profit and keeps compounding.
Comparison updated 2026-07-11.
| Metric | RPM | WLK |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $105.13 | $75.50 |
| Market cap | $13.4B | $9.7B |
| Sector | Specialty Chemicals | Chemicals |
| Stage | Mature | Mature |
| P/E | 20.3 | — |
| P/B | 4.26 | 1.07 |
| P/S | 1.74 | 0.88 |
| EV/EBITDA | 254.9 | — |
| Revenue growth | +5.9% | -8.7% |
| Gross margin | 39.5% | 4.2% |
| Operating margin | — | -6.5% |
| Net margin | 8.6% | -14.9% |
| Return on equity | 21.1% | -18.1% |
| Return on assets | 8.4% | -8.3% |
| Return on invested capital | — | -9.0% |
| FCF yield | 4.3% | -5.3% |
| Dividend yield | 1.2% | 2.8% |
| Debt / equity | 0.00 | 0.67 |
| Current ratio | 2.28 | 2.17 |
| Altman Z (solvency) | 7.85 | 1.87 |
| Piotroski F (quality) | 6 / 9 | 4 / 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.