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Akzo Nobel N.V. vs Element Solutions: Which Stock Looks Stronger in 2026?

The structural profiles are close, with Element Solutions carrying a narrow edge on valuation. Akzo Nobel still has the edge on valuation, which keeps the comparison from looking entirely one-sided. The market setup is mixed, without a decisive signal in either direction. The market is not adding a decisive signal either way — the structural read carries the weight.

The comparison is based on similar long-term financial trajectories, not sector labels. Peer scores are normalised within each company's primary universe (AKZA.AS: STOXX 600, ESI: Russell 1000).

Updated 2026-07-05

On valuation, the clearer edge sits with Akzo Nobel N.V., while the overall score remains tighter and points the other way.

INDUSTRY COMPARISON

Both operate in: Specialty Chemicals

This comparison is based on industry proximity, not on functional trajectory similarity. AKZA.AS and ESI share the same industry classification.

For a similarity-based comparison, see how Akzo Nobel and Element Solutions each position within their functional peer groups in AssetNext.

Peer-Relative Score
AKZA.AS
Akzo Nobel N.V.
40
Peer-Score
Signal qualitylow
Peer basis: STOXX 600
vs
ESI
Element Solutions Inc
44
Peer-Score
Signal qualityHigh
Peer basis: Russell 1000

Scores reflect position relative to comparable companies with similar long-term financial trajectories.

The largest gaps do not all point in the same direction.

Dimension spread: AKZA.AS vs ESI Profitability 33 55 Stability 9 47 Valuation 75 27 Growth 28 50 AKZA.AS ESI
Gap Ranking
#1 Valuation +48
#2 Stability +38
#3 Growth +22
#4 Profitability +22
Price Setup

Left means cheaper relative valuation. Higher means stronger structure.

Price setup map for AKZA.AS and ESI Stronger + cheaper Stronger + richer Weaker + cheaper Weaker + richer AKZA.ASESI Relative valuation Structural strength

Element Solutions Inc occupies the cheaper side of the setup map, although Akzo Nobel N.V. still holds the stronger structural profile.

Valuation position uses peer-relative PE percentile (idx_pct_pe) where available.

Entry today — historical context

Where AKZA.AS and ESI each sit in their own 5-year price and valuation history.

BASED ON 5-YEAR HISTORY AKZA.AS Neutral · below norm 0th 50th 100th 39 pct gap ESI Elevated · above norm 0th 50th 100th 60th 99th
Today AKZA.AS sits in the upper-middle of its own 5-year history (60th percentile), while ESI sits higher in its own history (99th). Within each stock's own 5-year context, AKZA.AS is at a historically more favourable entry position than ESI. This reflects entry timing, not which company is structurally stronger — peer-relative analysis is a separate question addressed above.

Describes historical entry positioning only. Descriptive — not investment advice.

Relative Position vs Comparable Companies
Valuation
Akzo Nobel N.V. ranks near the top of the group on valuation; Element Solutions Inc sits in the weaker half.
Stability
Element Solutions Inc sits higher in the group on stability, adding to the overall structural advantage.
Valuation — Dominant Gap
AKZA.AS
75
ESI
27
Gap+48in favour of AKZA.AS

The main spread comes from a meaningfully cheaper peer-relative valuation.

What keeps the gap from being one-sided

Stability is the one area where Akzo Nobel N.V. still pushes back materially — it is the steadier name on this dimension, which keeps the result from reading as one-way.

What this means for the comparison

Valuation is the clearest driver of the lead, with stability adding further support — though valuation still provides a real counterweight.

Explore full peer positioning in AssetNext

Break down the AKZA.AS vs ESI comparison across all dimensions with the full interactive tool.

Explore full breakdown →
Other comparisons with conflicting dimension signals

Explore how AKZA.AS and ESI each compare against other companies in their peer groups.

Rule-based, descriptive analysis only. Derived from peer percentile dimensions. Not investment advice. Peer groups are determined algorithmically based on structural similarity — not by sector classification alone.

How AssetNext Peer Scores Work

AssetNext scores reflect each company's structural position within its functional peer group — not a ranking against all stocks simultaneously. Peers are identified by similarity across eight financial dimensions, including revenue growth trajectory, margin structure, capital intensity, and earnings stability. A score of 75 means the company ranks in the top quartile within its own peer group, not the entire market.

Four dimension scores drive the overall peer score: Growth (revenue trajectory and expansion dynamics), Quality (margin structure and capital efficiency), Valuation (peer-relative pricing on standard multiples), and Stability (earnings consistency and financial predictability). Each dimension is scored 0–100 relative to the peer group, then combined into an overall peer score using equal weighting.

Because scores are peer-relative, the same company can have slightly different scores in different index universes. On comparison pages, both companies are shown within their shared peer universe wherever possible — so the scores are directly comparable. The peer basis is stated on each score card.

Scores are recalculated periodically as underlying financial data is updated. All analysis is descriptive and rule-based — AssetNext describes structural realities and never issues buy, sell or hold recommendations.