Quaker Houghton (KWR)
Market Price (12/18/2025): $139.95 | Market Cap: $2.4 BilSector: Materials | Industry: Specialty Chemicals
Quaker Houghton (KWR)
Market Price (12/18/2025): $139.95Market Cap: $2.4 BilSector: MaterialsIndustry: Specialty Chemicals
Investment Highlights
Why It Matters
Which of these 2 stories sounds closer for this stock?
1. Generates cash flow
The stock generated 4% or more of the share price (called cash flow yield), and shows moderate 10-15% or more growth.
2. Riding a trend
Think Tesla during the pandemic of 2020 when EVs were riding a cultural high, or Nvidia in the current AI boom, or even Figma. These companies don’t have enough yield, or, enough growth, or both - however - they are riding a trend. They have momentum. These can be more volatile - they don’t have the floor of strong cash flow
| Low stock price volatilityVol 12M is 43% | Weak multi-year price returns2Y Excs Rtn is -70%, 3Y Excs Rtn is -87% | Expensive valuation multiplesP/EBITPrice/EBIT or Price/(Operating Income) ratio is 47x |
| Megatrend and thematic driversMegatrends include Advanced Materials, Automation & Robotics, and Battery Technology & Metals. Themes include Specialty Chemicals for Performance, Show more. | Meaningful short interestShort Interest Days-to-CoverDTC = (Short Interest Share Quantity) / (Average Daily Trading Volume). Reflects how many days it would take to cover (close out) the short interest based on average volumes. High DTC can signify an increased risk of a short squeeze. is 14.32, Short Interest % of Basic SharesShort Interest % of Basic Shares = (Short Interest Quantity) / (Basic Shares Outstanding). A high fraction of short interest can indicate potential risk of a short squeeze. is 11% | Weak revenue growthRev Chg 3Y AvgRevenue Change % averaged over trailing 3 years is -0.7% |
| Yield minus risk free rate is negativeERPEquity Risk Premium (ERP) = Total Yield - Risk Free Rate, Reflects the premium above risk free assets offered by the investment. is -3.4% | ||
| Key risksKWR key risks include [1] intense competition for its specialized technical talent and [2] significant exposure to foreign currency fluctuations and volatility in commodity-derived raw material costs. |
| Low stock price volatilityVol 12M is 43% |
| Megatrend and thematic driversMegatrends include Advanced Materials, Automation & Robotics, and Battery Technology & Metals. Themes include Specialty Chemicals for Performance, Show more. |
| Weak multi-year price returns2Y Excs Rtn is -70%, 3Y Excs Rtn is -87% |
| Meaningful short interestShort Interest Days-to-CoverDTC = (Short Interest Share Quantity) / (Average Daily Trading Volume). Reflects how many days it would take to cover (close out) the short interest based on average volumes. High DTC can signify an increased risk of a short squeeze. is 14.32, Short Interest % of Basic SharesShort Interest % of Basic Shares = (Short Interest Quantity) / (Basic Shares Outstanding). A high fraction of short interest can indicate potential risk of a short squeeze. is 11% |
| Expensive valuation multiplesP/EBITPrice/EBIT or Price/(Operating Income) ratio is 47x |
| Weak revenue growthRev Chg 3Y AvgRevenue Change % averaged over trailing 3 years is -0.7% |
| Yield minus risk free rate is negativeERPEquity Risk Premium (ERP) = Total Yield - Risk Free Rate, Reflects the premium above risk free assets offered by the investment. is -3.4% |
| Key risksKWR key risks include [1] intense competition for its specialized technical talent and [2] significant exposure to foreign currency fluctuations and volatility in commodity-derived raw material costs. |
Valuation, Metrics & Events
KWR Stock
Why The Stock Moved
Qualitative Assessment
AI Generated Analysis | Feedback
For Quaker Houghton (KWR), a decline of approximately 3.2% in its stock price between August 31, 2025, and December 18, 2025, could be attributed to several factors stemming from its financial performance and market outlook in late 2024 and early 2025, along with technical indicators observed within the requested timeframe.
1. Declining Net Sales: Quaker Houghton reported a 6% decline in net sales for the third quarter of 2024 compared to the prior year, reaching $462.3 million, and a 5% decline in the fourth quarter of 2024, with net sales of $444.1 million. This consistent top-line contraction suggests a challenging revenue environment for the company.
2. Soft End-Market Conditions: The company experienced persistent and further weakening soft end-market conditions, particularly in the Americas and EMEA regions, which led to lower sales volumes and increased price pressures. The CEO, Andy Tometich, anticipated these difficult market conditions would likely persist through the end of 2024.
Stock Movement Drivers
Return vs. Risk
Price Returns Compared
| 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | Total [1] | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Returns | |||||||
| KWR Return | 55% | -8% | -27% | 29% | -33% | -1% | -11% |
| Peers Return | � | � | � | � | � | � | � |
| S&P 500 Return | 16% | 27% | -19% | 24% | 23% | 14% | 108% |
Monthly Win Rates [3] | |||||||
| KWR Win Rate | 67% | 58% | 33% | 58% | 33% | 50% | |
| Peers Win Rate | � | � | � | � | � | � | |
| S&P 500 Win Rate | 58% | 75% | 42% | 67% | 75% | 73% | |
Max Drawdowns [4] | |||||||
| KWR Max Drawdown | -32% | -13% | -42% | -16% | -35% | -31% | |
| Peers Max Drawdown | � | � | � | � | � | � | |
| S&P 500 Max Drawdown | -31% | -1% | -25% | -1% | -2% | -15% | |
[1] Cumulative total returns since the beginning of 2020
[2] Peers: BCPC, AVNT, VRDE, SHW, ECL. See KWR Returns vs. Peers.
[3] Win Rate = % of calendar months in which monthly returns were positive
[4] Max drawdown represents maximum peak-to-trough decline within a year
[5] 2025 data is for the year up to 12/17/2025 (YTD)
How Low Can It Go
| Event | KWR | S&P 500 |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 Inflation Shock | ||
| % Loss | -55.4% | -25.4% |
| % Gain to Breakeven | 124.0% | 34.1% |
| Time to Breakeven | Not Fully Recovered days | 464 days |
| 2020 Covid Pandemic | ||
| % Loss | -40.4% | -33.9% |
| % Gain to Breakeven | 67.8% | 51.3% |
| Time to Breakeven | 65 days | 148 days |
| 2018 Correction | ||
| % Loss | -35.7% | -19.8% |
| % Gain to Breakeven | 55.5% | 24.7% |
| Time to Breakeven | 356 days | 120 days |
| 2008 Global Financial Crisis | ||
| % Loss | -85.8% | -56.8% |
| % Gain to Breakeven | 604.7% | 131.3% |
| Time to Breakeven | 410 days | 1,480 days |
Compare to BCPC, AVNT, VRDE, SHW, ECL
In The Past
Quaker Houghton's stock fell -55.4% during the 2022 Inflation Shock from a high on 2/22/2021. A -55.4% loss requires a 124.0% gain to breakeven.
Preserve Wealth
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Asset Allocation
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Latest Trefis Analyses
| Title | |
|---|---|
| ARTICLES |
Trade Ideas
Select past ideas related to KWR. For more, see Trefis Trade Ideas.
| Date | Ticker | Company | Category | Trade Strategy | 6M Fwd Rtn | 12M Fwd Rtn | 12M Max DD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11212025 | DD | DuPont de Nemours | Dip Buy | DB | FCF Yield | Low D/EDip Buy with High Free Cash Flow YieldBuying dips for companies with significant free cash flow yield (FCF / Market Cap) and reasonable debt / market cap | 5.5% | 5.5% | -0.2% |
| 11212025 | CF | CF Industries | Monopoly | MY | Getting CheaperMonopoly-Like with P/S DeclineLarge cap with monopoly-like margins or cash flow generation and getting cheaper based on P/S multiple | -1.3% | -1.3% | -3.1% |
| 11212025 | HL | Hecla Mining | Quality | Q | Momentum | UpsideQuality Stocks with Momentum and UpsideBuying quality stocks with strong momentum but still having room to run | 42.2% | 42.2% | 0.0% |
| 11072025 | CDE | Coeur Mining | Dip Buy | DB | P/E OPMDip Buy with Low PE and High MarginBuying dips for companies with tame PE and meaningfully high operating margin | 15.0% | 15.0% | -5.7% |
| 10312025 | ATR | AptarGroup | Dip Buy | DB | P/E OPMDip Buy with Low PE and High MarginBuying dips for companies with tame PE and meaningfully high operating margin | 5.9% | 5.9% | -2.5% |
| 07312025 | KWR | Quaker Houghton | Dip Buy | DB | FCFY OPMDip Buy with High FCF Yield and High MarginBuying dips for companies with high FCF yield and meaningfully high operating margin | 20.6% | 20.6% | 0.0% |
| Date | Ticker | Company | Category | Trade Strategy | 6M Fwd Rtn | 12M Fwd Rtn | 12M Max DD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11212025 | DD | DuPont de Nemours | Dip Buy | DB | FCF Yield | Low D/EDip Buy with High Free Cash Flow YieldBuying dips for companies with significant free cash flow yield (FCF / Market Cap) and reasonable debt / market cap | 5.5% | 5.5% | -0.2% |
| 11212025 | CF | CF Industries | Monopoly | MY | Getting CheaperMonopoly-Like with P/S DeclineLarge cap with monopoly-like margins or cash flow generation and getting cheaper based on P/S multiple | -1.3% | -1.3% | -3.1% |
| 11212025 | HL | Hecla Mining | Quality | Q | Momentum | UpsideQuality Stocks with Momentum and UpsideBuying quality stocks with strong momentum but still having room to run | 42.2% | 42.2% | 0.0% |
| 11072025 | CDE | Coeur Mining | Dip Buy | DB | P/E OPMDip Buy with Low PE and High MarginBuying dips for companies with tame PE and meaningfully high operating margin | 15.0% | 15.0% | -5.7% |
| 10312025 | ATR | AptarGroup | Dip Buy | DB | P/E OPMDip Buy with Low PE and High MarginBuying dips for companies with tame PE and meaningfully high operating margin | 5.9% | 5.9% | -2.5% |
| 07312025 | KWR | Quaker Houghton | Dip Buy | DB | FCFY OPMDip Buy with High FCF Yield and High MarginBuying dips for companies with high FCF yield and meaningfully high operating margin | 20.6% | 20.6% | 0.0% |
Research & Analysis
Invest in Strategies
Wealth Management
Peer Comparisons for Quaker Houghton
| Peers to compare with: |
Financials
| Median | |
|---|---|
| Name | |
| Mkt Price | 159.63 |
| Mkt Cap | 5.2 |
| Rev LTM | 3,246 |
| Op Inc LTM | 250 |
| FCF LTM | 162 |
| FCF 3Y Avg | 173 |
| CFO LTM | 256 |
| CFO 3Y Avg | 256 |
Growth & Margins
| Median | |
|---|---|
| Name | |
| Rev Chg LTM | 1.0% |
| Rev Chg 3Y Avg | 2.4% |
| Rev Chg Q | 3.2% |
| QoQ Delta Rev Chg LTM | 0.8% |
| Op Mgn LTM | 15.8% |
| Op Mgn 3Y Avg | 15.2% |
| QoQ Delta Op Mgn LTM | -0.0% |
| CFO/Rev LTM | 14.2% |
| CFO/Rev 3Y Avg | 13.9% |
| FCF/Rev LTM | 10.0% |
| FCF/Rev 3Y Avg | 10.0% |
Valuation
| Median | |
|---|---|
| Name | |
| Mkt Cap | 5.2 |
| P/S | 3.7 |
| P/EBIT | 23.7 |
| P/E | 32.5 |
| P/CFO | 24.0 |
| Total Yield | 3.7% |
| Dividend Yield | 0.9% |
| FCF Yield 3Y Avg | 3.0% |
| D/E | 0.2 |
| Net D/E | 0.2 |
Returns
| Median | |
|---|---|
| Name | |
| 1M Rtn | 2.8% |
| 3M Rtn | -1.0% |
| 6M Rtn | -0.1% |
| 12M Rtn | -6.9% |
| 3Y Rtn | 34.2% |
| 1M Excs Rtn | 2.1% |
| 3M Excs Rtn | -3.2% |
| 6M Excs Rtn | -12.5% |
| 12M Excs Rtn | -19.8% |
| 3Y Excs Rtn | -44.8% |
Comparison Analyses
Returns Analyses
Earnings Returns History
Expand for More| Forward Returns | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Earnings Date | 1D Returns | 5D Returns | 21D Returns |
| 10/30/2025 | 10.5% | 4.9% | 7.3% |
| 7/31/2025 | 3.1% | 10.4% | 26.8% |
| 2/24/2025 | 2.6% | -5.2% | -6.2% |
| 10/31/2024 | 6.3% | 12.1% | 5.6% |
| 8/5/2024 | -2.6% | -3.9% | 0.6% |
| 2/29/2024 | -1.2% | -1.4% | 1.1% |
| 11/2/2023 | 11.2% | 9.8% | 28.4% |
| 8/1/2023 | -7.4% | -12.2% | -14.8% |
| ... | |||
| SUMMARY STATS | |||
| # Positive | 15 | 12 | 13 |
| # Negative | 7 | 10 | 9 |
| Median Positive | 3.9% | 10.6% | 7.3% |
| Median Negative | -4.5% | -6.1% | -6.2% |
| Max Positive | 22.2% | 25.3% | 28.4% |
| Max Negative | -7.4% | -12.8% | -20.5% |
SEC Filings
Expand for More| Report Date | Filing Date | Filing |
|---|---|---|
| 9302025 | 10302025 | 10-Q 9/30/2025 |
| 6302025 | 7312025 | 10-Q 6/30/2025 |
| 3312025 | 5012025 | 10-Q 3/31/2025 |
| 12312024 | 2242025 | 10-K 12/31/2024 |
| 9302024 | 10312024 | 10-Q 9/30/2024 |
| 6302024 | 8052024 | 10-Q 6/30/2024 |
| 3312024 | 5022024 | 10-Q 3/31/2024 |
| 12312023 | 2292024 | 10-K 12/31/2023 |
| 9302023 | 11022023 | 10-Q 9/30/2023 |
| 6302023 | 8012023 | 10-Q 6/30/2023 |
| 3312023 | 5042023 | 10-Q 3/31/2023 |
| 12312022 | 2232023 | 10-K 12/31/2022 |
| 9302022 | 11032022 | 10-Q 9/30/2022 |
| 6302022 | 8042022 | 10-Q 6/30/2022 |
| 3312022 | 5052022 | 10-Q 3/31/2022 |
| 12312021 | 3012022 | 10-K 12/31/2021 |
External Quote Links
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| TradingView | Morningstar |
| SeekingAlpha | ValueLine |
| Motley Fool | Robinhood |
| CNBC | Etrade |
| MarketWatch | Unusual Whales |
| YCharts | Perplexity Finance |
| FinViz |