WST vs. KMB
WST (West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc.) and KMB (Kimberly-Clark Corporation) are both stocks. WST operates in Medical Instruments & Supplies (Healthcare), while KMB operates in Household & Personal Products (Consumer Defensive). Over the past 10 years, WST returned 16.30%/yr vs 0.95%/yr for KMB. At a 0.19 correlation, their price movements are largely independent.
Performance
WST vs. KMB - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, WST achieves a 19.71% return, which is significantly higher than KMB's 4.05% return. Over the past 10 years, WST has outperformed KMB with an annualized return of 16.30%, while KMB has yielded a comparatively lower 0.95% annualized return.
WST
- 1D
- -0.46%
- 1M
- 8.56%
- YTD
- 19.71%
- 6M
- 23.10%
- 1Y
- 48.67%
- 3Y*
- -2.51%
- 5Y*
- -0.72%
- 10Y*
- 16.30%
KMB
- 1D
- 0.74%
- 1M
- 8.12%
- YTD
- 4.05%
- 6M
- 1.77%
- 1Y
- -17.99%
- 3Y*
- -4.95%
- 5Y*
- -0.92%
- 10Y*
- 0.95%
WST vs. KMB - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
WST West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. | 19.71% | -15.73% | -6.75% | 49.97% | -49.70% | 65.88% | 89.05% | 54.13% | -0.08% | 17.02% |
KMB Kimberly-Clark Corporation | 4.05% | -19.86% | 11.79% | -7.08% | -1.58% | 9.66% | 0.95% | 24.57% | -2.06% | 9.04% |
Correlation
The correlation between WST and KMB is 0.11, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.11 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.09 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.15 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.19 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jan 5, 1988 | 0.19 |
The correlation between WST and KMB shifts across timeframes, from 0.09 (3 years) to 0.19 (all time), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
Fundamentals
WST:
$23.81B
KMB:
$34.08B
WST:
$7.47
KMB:
$5.93
WST:
44.02
KMB:
17.26
WST:
7.42
KMB:
2.06
WST:
7.96
KMB:
18.98
WST:
$3.22B
KMB:
$16.54B
WST:
$1.17B
KMB:
$5.93B
WST:
$799.00M
KMB:
$3.07B
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Return for Risk
WST vs. KMB — Risk / Return Rank
WST
KMB
WST vs. KMB - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. (WST) and Kimberly-Clark Corporation (KMB). Risk-adjusted metrics are performance indicators that assess an investment's returns in relation to its risk, enabling a more accurate comparison of different investment options.
Values are calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. Risk-adjusted metrics are more stable over longer periods — use the period switch above to explore them.
| WST | KMB | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +1.91 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +3.07 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.26 | 0.87 | +0.39 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.90 | -0.67 | +2.57 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 3.81 | -1.03 | +4.83 |
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Drawdowns
WST vs. KMB - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum WST drawdown since its inception was -59.29%, which is greater than KMB's maximum drawdown of -36.97%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for WST and KMB.
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Drawdown Indicators
| WST | KMB | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -59.29% | -36.97% | -22.32% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -24.70% | -29.60% | +4.90% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -53.79% | -34.06% | -19.73% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -59.29% | -34.06% | -25.23% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -59.29% | -34.06% | -25.23% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -29.39% | -26.52% | -2.87% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -16.89% | -8.85% | -8.04% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 12.30% | 19.43% | -7.13% |
Volatility
WST vs. KMB - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. (WST) is 7.48%, while Kimberly-Clark Corporation (KMB) has a volatility of 8.42%. This indicates that WST experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than KMB based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| WST | KMB | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 7.48% | 8.42% | -0.94% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 25.29% | 16.67% | +8.62% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 41.32% | 25.77% | +15.55% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 40.59% | 20.19% | +20.40% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 34.65% | 21.07% | +13.58% |
Dividends
WST vs. KMB - Dividend Comparison
WST's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.26%, less than KMB's 4.97% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
KMB Kimberly-Clark Corporation | 4.97% | 5.00% | 3.72% | 3.88% | 3.42% | 3.19% | 3.17% | 3.00% | 3.51% | 3.22% | 3.22% | 2.77% |
WST West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. | 0.26% | 0.31% | 0.25% | 0.22% | 0.31% | 0.15% | 0.23% | 0.41% | 0.58% | 0.54% | 0.58% | 0.75% |
Financials
WST vs. KMB - Financials Comparison
This section allows you to compare key financial metrics between West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. and Kimberly-Clark Corporation. You can select fields from income statements, balance sheets, and cash flow statements to easily visualize and compare the financial health of both companies.
Total Revenue: Total amount of money received from sales and other business activities
WST vs. KMB - Profitability Comparison
WST - Gross Margin
Gross margin is calculated as gross profit divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. reported a gross profit of 296.40M and revenue of 844.90M. Therefore, the gross margin over that period was 35.1%.
KMB - Gross Margin
Gross margin is calculated as gross profit divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Kimberly-Clark Corporation reported a gross profit of 1.53B and revenue of 4.16B. Therefore, the gross margin over that period was 36.9%.
WST - Operating Margin
Operating margin is calculated as operating income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. reported an operating income of 177.10M and revenue of 844.90M, resulting in an operating margin of 21.0%.
KMB - Operating Margin
Operating margin is calculated as operating income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Kimberly-Clark Corporation reported an operating income of 753.00M and revenue of 4.16B, resulting in an operating margin of 18.1%.
WST - Net Margin
Net margin is calculated as net income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. reported a net income of 138.80M and revenue of 844.90M, resulting in a net margin of 16.4%.
KMB - Net Margin
Net margin is calculated as net income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Kimberly-Clark Corporation reported a net income of 521.00M and revenue of 4.16B, resulting in a net margin of 12.5%.
Frequently Asked Questions
WST and KMB have a correlation of 0.11, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
KMB has higher volatility (8.42%) compared to WST (7.48%). In terms of maximum drawdown, WST dropped -59.29% vs KMB's -36.97%.
WST currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.14 vs -0.77), meaning it's delivered slightly more return per unit of risk over the trailing 12 months. However, this ranking shifts over time - use the Risk/Return Score above for a more comprehensive view that combines Sharpe, Sortino, and other measures used by quantitative funds.
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