Yield Theory

Materials stock comparison

DOW vs EMN: which business are you actually underwriting?

Compare Dow Inc. with Eastman Chemical Company using their business models, SEC classifications, fiscal calendars, current primary filings, and the research questions that matter. This is a thesis framework—not a price target or automatic winner.
Sector
Materials
Industry
Same SIC
Shared themes
1
Updated
2026-02-13

DOW vs EMN: quick comparison

Company factDOWEMN
CompanyDow Inc.Eastman Chemical Company
ExchangeNYSENYSE
HeadquartersMidland, Michigan—
Founded1897—
SEC industryPlastic Materials, Synth Resins & Nonvulcan ElastomersPlastic Materials, Synth Resins & Nonvulcan Elastomers
Fiscal year-endDecember 31December 31
Latest annual filing10-K · 2026-02-0310-K · 2026-02-13

DOW vs EMN: audited financials

DOW reported about 4.6× the revenue of EMN in the latest audited fiscal year. Scale and margin are starting facts for the thesis, not the verdict.

MetricDOWEMN
Revenue$40.0B$8.8B
Net income—$474M
Operating cash flow$1.0B$970M
Diluted EPS−$3.70$4.10
Net margin—5.4%

DOW: FY ending 2025-12-31 · EMN: FY ending 2025-12-31. Figures as tagged in each issuer's SEC XBRL filing; fiscal calendars may not align.

How the businesses differ

Why this pair belongs in the comparison set

DOW and EMN share the SEC industry classification “Plastic Materials, Synth Resins & Nonvulcan Elastomers,” giving the comparison a primary-source operating relationship. A shared classification or theme makes the pair useful for a defined research question; it does not mean the companies have identical products, economics, or risks.

Dow Inc. (DOW)

Dow is a large commodity-chemicals producer making plastics, industrial intermediates, and performance materials. Its volumes are cyclical and sensitive to global manufacturing and energy costs.

Eastman Chemical Company (EMN)

Eastman Chemical makes specialty chemicals, plastics, and fibers for industrial and consumer uses.

The useful starting point is not which ticker has performed better. It is whether the two companies convert the same economic forces into revenue and cash flow in the same way. DOW is classified by the SEC as Plastic Materials, Synth Resins & Nonvulcan Elastomers, while EMN is classified as Plastic Materials, Synth Resins & Nonvulcan Elastomers. The matching industry code strengthens the peer comparison, although product mix can still differ materially.

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The thesis, the numbers behind it, and what would break it. Full access is $15 a month.

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Which thesis does each company fit?

Use the distinction below to decide which filing deserves deeper work. It is a research routing rule, not a recommendation or prediction.

Study DOW when…

  • Chinese industrial and construction demand
  • The US dollar and commodity prices
  • Energy-transition metals like copper and lithium
  • Tariffs and global trade flows

Study EMN when…

  • Chinese industrial and construction demand
  • The US dollar and commodity prices
  • Energy-transition metals like copper and lithium
  • Tariffs and global trade flows

Shared research themes

Economic trends

SEC filing comparison and disclosure evidence

Start with primary filings because fiscal calendars and accounting presentation can make superficially similar quarters incomparable.DOW's fiscal year ends December 31, while EMN's ends December 31. Normalize the reporting periods before comparing growth, margins, capital intensity, or guidance.

The current verified House and Senate snapshot contains 7matched transaction rows for DOWand 3 for EMN. These delayed, range-based disclosures can identify a filing to inspect; they do not establish motive, conviction, or a real-time trading signal.

What this comparison cannot tell you

This page does not contain licensed live prices, a valuation model, earnings estimates, portfolio constraints, or a forecast of future returns. SEC classifications can be broad, company descriptions can lag strategic change, and the latest annual filing may predate a material acquisition or divestiture. Read subsequent quarterly and current reports before making a decision.

A stronger business is not automatically the better stock. Starting valuation, expectations, capital structure, cyclicality, dilution, and the probability of each thesis determine the investment outcome. Use this comparison to frame the work, then verify the numbers in the linked filings and current company disclosures.

DOW vs EMN FAQs

Are DOW and EMN direct competitors?

Dow Inc. and Eastman Chemical Company share the SEC industry classification “Plastic Materials, Synth Resins & Nonvulcan Elastomers.” That makes the operating comparison relevant, but it does not prove that every product, customer, or revenue stream competes directly.

Which is better, DOW or EMN?

There is no context-free winner. Compare the operating exposures, filing evidence, valuation, balance sheet, and risks against the specific thesis you are testing. This page deliberately does not turn a static profile into a buy or sell recommendation.

Does this DOW vs EMN comparison include live prices?

No. Yield Theory does not republish unlicensed real-time market data. The financial figures on this page are the audited annual numbers Dow Inc. and Eastman Chemical Company tagged in their SEC XBRL filings. Use a regulated broker or licensed quote provider for current prices and valuation multiples.

Where does the company information come from?

Company classifications, fiscal year-ends, and filing links come from the SEC EDGAR submissions API snapshot refreshed 2026-09-25. Business summaries and research themes are maintained by Yield Theory.

Data snapshot: SEC EDGAR submissions API, refreshed 2026-09-25. Independent educational research; not investment advice.

A comparison is the setup. The thesis is the call.

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