Axalta vs RPM International
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KIRA’s take AI analyst
I put Axalta and RPM International side by side, using each one’s latest annual report. Here is what stands out:
- RPM International is the larger business, with $7.9B of revenue in fiscal 2026 against $5.1B for Axalta, about 1.5 times as much.
- RPM International grew revenue faster (6.7%, against −3.0%).
- RPM International earned a higher return on the capital invested in it (13.9%, against 10.5%).
- Investors pay more for each dollar of Axalta’s earnings: a P/E of 20.2x against 18.2x for RPM International.
Who comes out ahead
Of the 10 measures where higher (or lower) is clearly better, how many each company leads.
Axalta
AXTA
4/10
5-year growthFCF marginPiotroski F-scoreShare count change
RPM International
RPM
6/10
Revenue growthGross marginNet marginReturn on capitalReturn on equityNet debt / EBITDA
Side by side
Best in the row
| Latest fiscal year | AXTA FY25 | RPM FY26 |
|---|---|---|
| Size | ||
| Market cap | $7.4B | $12.5B |
| Revenue | $5.1B | $7.9B |
| Free cash flow | $453M | $675M |
| Net income | $378M | $661M |
| Growth | ||
| Revenue growth | −3.0% | 6.7% |
| 5-year growth | 6.5% | 5.2% |
| Share count change | −1.5% | −0.5% |
| Profitability | ||
| Gross margin | 34.4% | 41.4% |
| Operating margin | 14.4% | — |
| Net margin | 7.4% | 8.4% |
| FCF margin | 8.9% | 8.6% |
| Return on capital | 10.5% | 13.9% |
| Return on equity | 17.8% | 21.4% |
| Balance sheet | ||
| Net debt | $2.5B | $2.2B |
| Net debt / EBITDA | 2.5x | 1.9x |
| Dividends and buybacks | $165M | $349M |
| Valuation & quality | ||
| P/E | 20.2x | 18.2x |
| Piotroski F-score | 7 | 6 |
Ten years
Revenue
Operating margin
Free cash flow
Return on capital
Each company's latest fiscal year; fiscal years end in different months. The best value in each row is highlighted where higher (or lower) is clearly better. Not investment advice.

