Stock pay outran buybacks. Stock-based pay expense $83M vs $25M spent repurchasing shares over the 3 fiscal years to 2025.
Over three fiscal years Element Solutions recorded $83M of stock-based pay expense and spent $25M repurchasing shares (repurchases can include shares withheld to cover employees' taxes). Repurchases were smaller than the stock pay, so they did little to offset new employee shares.Over three fiscal years Element Solutions recorded $83M of stock-based pay expense and spent $25M repurchasing shares. Repurchases were smaller than the stock pay, so they did little to offset new employee shares.
Fast revenue growth. Revenue grew 27% in the 12 months to June 2026 vs the 12 months before, faster than 87% of peers.
Revenue grew 27% in the 12 months to June 2026 vs the 12 months before, faster than 87% of its peers.
StockQuotient Score
50/ 100▲ 1 since Oct 27 closeOct 5 49 → Nov 4 50 (+1)
Why it changed since the Oct 27, 2026 close: Score 57 → 58
Peer companies moved+1
Each step re-scores the company against its peers as they were on Oct 28, 2026; the parts add up to the change. Price effects on EBITDA yield are approximate.
Why it changed since the Oct 27, 2026 close: Safety percentile 34 → 35
Peer companies moved+1
Each step re-scores the company against its peers as they were on Oct 28, 2026; the parts add up to the change. Price effects on EBITDA yield are approximate.
Valuation, growth and profitability scores: higher is better. Risk: 0 is lower, 2 is higher. Risk is a relative proxy, not a bankruptcy probability. Scores depend on available sector peers.
Questions investors ask about Element Solutions
Is Element Solutions getting weaker?
Its latest SEC filing (Jul 28, 2026) showed no major changes. Its overall score is 50/100, up 1 since Oct 28, 2026.
How is Element Solutions valued vs its peers?
Priced higher than most peers relative to what it earns. Valuation scores 35/100 against 1,371 basic materials peers.EBITDA yield 5.3% vs a peer median of 8.5% (weaker than 65% of peers).EBITDA yield 5.3% vs peers 8.5% (weaker than 65% of peers).
Is Element Solutions growing?
Yes, faster than most of its peers. Growth scores 71/100 against 1,371 basic materials peers.Revenue growth 26.6% vs a peer median of 3.4% (stronger than 87% of peers).Revenue growth 26.6% vs peers 3.4% (stronger than 87% of peers).Earnings per share growth -26.3% vs a peer median of 9.4% (weaker than 77% of peers).Earnings per share growth -26.3% vs peers 9.4% (weaker than 77% of peers).
How profitable is Element Solutions?
About as profitable as its peers. Profitability scores 58/100 against 1,371 basic materials peers.Operating margin 12.6% vs a peer median of 7.6% (stronger than 70% of peers).Operating margin 12.6% vs peers 7.6% (stronger than 70% of peers).
How risky is Element Solutions?
Moderate risk relative to 1,371 basic materials peers, judged on debt, liquidity and share-price swings.Current ratio 2.91× vs a peer median of 1.76× (stronger than 76% of peers).Current ratio 2.91× vs peers 1.76× (stronger than 76% of peers).Beta 1.26 vs a peer median of 0.69 (weaker than 84% of peers).Beta 1.26 vs peers 0.69 (weaker than 84% of peers). A relative measure, not a bankruptcy probability.
Latest filing: what changed
Quarter ended Jun 30, 2026 · filed Jul 28, 2026 · compared with the quarter ended Mar 31, 2026
No major changes
Previous quarter
Latest quarter
Change
Revenue (12 months)
2.8B USD
3.2B USD
+12.6%
Net income (12 months)
148.7M USD
178.6M USD
+20.1%
Operating margin
13.4%
12.6%
−0.9 pts
Free cash flow (12 months)
120.9M USD
137.7M USD
+13.9%
Debt
2.2B USD
2.1B USD
−1.7%
Cash
177.3M USD
189.6M USD
+6.9%
Shares outstanding
243.6M
243.7M
+0.0%
From the company’s own SEC filings, as filed. Twelve-month figures roll forward one quarter at a time.
Industry valuation context
Industry: Specialty Chemicals · 32 companies
Valuations in Specialty Chemicals are above their usual range since 2016.
74% of months since 2016 were valued lower than now.
17% of companies are in the most expensive fifth of their own price-to-sales history.
Over 24 months, company values −8% and earnings +13% (medians): earnings grew faster than prices.
Median price-to-sales is −36% vs the whole market, against a usual −31%.
2016Shaded: most expensive fifth of its range2026
This is a cyclical group: after a downturn, trailing earnings and sales fall faster than prices, which can make valuations look high near a cycle's low.
Describes valuations since 2016; it does not predict prices. US companies worth $1B+, from SEC filings and month-end prices, as of Aug 2026. Today's companies and industry labels are used throughout. Measured on earnings, EBITDA, sales and free cash flow yields. How this works
Financials
Fiscal years from SEC annual filings · change vs the prior year
Key ratios
FY 2021
FY 2022
FY 2023
FY 2024
FY 2025
Change
Gross margin
40.0%
37.4%
39.4%
42.2%
42.0%
▼ 0.2 pts
Operating margin
12.5%
12.8%
7.4%
14.0%
13.4%
▼ 0.6 pts
Net margin
8.5%
7.3%
5.1%
9.9%
7.5%
▼ 2.5 pts
Return on assets (ROA)
4.0%
3.8%
2.4%
5.0%
3.7%
▼ 1.3 pts
Return on equity (ROE)
8.2%
8.0%
5.1%
10.2%
7.1%
▼ 3.1 pts
Free cash flow margin
11.7%
9.7%
12.0%
12.0%
8.9%
▼ 3.0 pts
Current ratio
2.93×
3.45×
3.24×
3.34×
3.68×
▲ 10%
Quick ratio
2.26×
2.61×
2.43×
2.70×
3.00×
▲ 11%
Debt to equity
0.78×
0.82×
0.84×
0.77×
0.61×
▼ 21%
ESI price history
Price history is added with the daily price update and will appear after the next one.