KOP
Basic MaterialsKoppers Holdings Inc. · Chemicals - Specialty · $780M
What is Koppers Holdings Inc.?
Koppers Holdings Inc. is a Pittsburgh-based supplier of treated wood products, wood preservation chemicals, and carbon compounds serving customers across North America, Australasia, and Europe.
The company operates three segments: Railroad and Utility Products and Services, which treats crossties, poles, and lumber for rail and utility infrastructure; Performance Chemicals, which produces copper-based wood preservatives and fire-retardant treatments; and Carbon Materials and Chemicals, which manufactures creosote, carbon pitch, and naphthalene used in aluminum, steel, and chemical production. Revenue comes from selling these materials and related services to industrial and infrastructure customers worldwide.
Koppers Holdings was incorporated in 2006 and is headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
- Treated railroad crossties and utility poles
- Copper-based wood preservatives and fire-retardant chemicals
- Carbon pitch and creosote for industrial applications
- Naphthalene and phthalic anhydride feedstocks
Is KOP a Good Stock to Buy?
UQS Score rates KOP as Below Average overall, reflecting meaningful headwinds across several key quality dimensions.
The Valuation pillar stands out as Attractive, suggesting the market may already be pricing in many of the company's challenges — which can be relevant context for value-oriented investors evaluating entry points.
The Moat, Growth, and Risk pillars all register as Weak, pointing to limited competitive differentiation, constrained expansion prospects, and elevated financial or operational risk relative to peers.
See the exact pillar breakdown and full financial metrics by signing up for a UQS Pro account. Sign up free →
Past performance does not guarantee future results. UQS Score is based on fundamental data and is not a buy/sell recommendation.
Does KOP pay dividends?
Yes — Koppers Holdings Inc. pays a dividend.
Koppers Holdings pays a regular dividend, which may appeal to income-focused investors in the basic materials space. Given the company's capital-intensive operations across treated wood and carbon chemicals, dividend sustainability depends on consistent cash generation from its industrial segments. Investors should review the latest payout details on Koppers' investor relations page.
When does KOP report earnings?
Koppers Holdings reports earnings on a quarterly cadence, consistent with standard practice for US-listed equities.
Performance across the three segments — railroad products, performance chemicals, and carbon materials — tends to reflect broader infrastructure spending cycles and raw material cost dynamics. Results can vary meaningfully quarter to quarter given commodity exposure.
For the most recent quarter's results and guidance, visit Koppers Holdings' official investor relations page.
KOP Price History
+12.1% over 5Y
Monthly close, adjusted for stock splits and dividend reinvestment.
What if I invested in Koppers Holdings Inc.?
Based on Koppers Holdings Inc.'s historical closing prices, adjusted for stock splits and dividend reinvestment. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is for informational purposes only and is not financial advice.
KOP Long-term Outlook
The UQS Growth and Risk pillars both register as Weak, suggesting the near-term fundamental outlook faces meaningful constraints. Demand from railroad maintenance and utility infrastructure provides some baseline stability, but limited pricing power and commodity cost exposure temper the growth picture. The Attractive Valuation pillar indicates the stock may reflect these risks, though a re-rating would likely require improvement in underlying business fundamentals.
Growth drivers
- Ongoing railroad infrastructure maintenance and replacement demand
- Utility pole and wood preservative demand tied to grid modernization
- Industrial demand for carbon pitch in aluminum and steel production
Key risks
- Commodity and raw material cost volatility across all three segments
- Weak competitive moat limiting pricing power in competitive markets
- Leverage and capital intensity given the industrial nature of operations
KOP vs Peers
Koppers operates in a fragmented basic materials landscape alongside specialty chemical and materials producers.
Kronos focuses on titanium dioxide production, giving it a different end-market exposure compared to Koppers' wood treatment and carbon chemical mix.
Neo specializes in rare earth and specialty materials, targeting advanced technology applications rather than infrastructure-oriented wood and carbon products.
Oil-Dri derives its revenues primarily from absorbent minerals for consumer and agricultural markets, a distinct niche from Koppers' industrial chemical and treated wood focus.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Koppers Holdings do?
Koppers Holdings supplies treated wood products, wood preservation chemicals, and carbon compounds. Its three segments serve railroad operators, electric utilities, and industrial manufacturers across North America, Australasia, and Europe.
Does KOP pay dividends?
Yes, Koppers Holdings pays a regular dividend. Income-focused investors should check the company's investor relations page for the current dividend rate, payment schedule, and any recent changes to the payout policy.
When does KOP report earnings?
Koppers Holdings follows a standard quarterly earnings cadence for US-listed companies. For exact upcoming report dates, refer to the company's investor relations page or a financial calendar service.
Is KOP a good stock to buy?
UQS Score rates KOP as Below Average, driven by Weak scores on Moat, Growth, and Risk. The Valuation pillar is Attractive, which may interest value-oriented investors. The full pillar breakdown is available to UQS Pro members.
Is KOP overvalued?
The UQS Valuation pillar for KOP is rated Attractive, suggesting the stock is not considered overvalued on a composite basis relative to its fundamentals. Whether that represents an opportunity depends on how the other pillar risks resolve over time.
How does KOP compare to its competitors?
Koppers competes in the broader basic materials space alongside specialty chemical producers. Unlike peers focused on titanium dioxide or rare earth materials, Koppers is more concentrated in infrastructure-linked wood treatment and carbon chemical markets.
What is KOP's market cap bracket?
Koppers Holdings is classified as a small-cap company. This places it in a segment of the market that can offer differentiated exposure but may also carry higher volatility and lower liquidity than large- or mega-cap peers.
Who founded Koppers Holdings?
Koppers Holdings was incorporated in 2006 as a publicly traded entity, though the underlying Koppers business has much deeper historical roots in the carbon and wood treatment industries. Founding details are widely available through public company filings.
Is KOP a long-term quality investment?
As a long-term quality indicator, KOP's Below Average UQS Score — with Weak Moat and Growth pillars — suggests limited structural advantages that typically underpin durable compounding. The Attractive Valuation may offset some risk, but quality fundamentals matter for long-horizon holders.
What sector does KOP belong to?
Koppers Holdings is classified in the Basic Materials sector. Its revenues are tied to industrial demand cycles, infrastructure spending, and commodity input costs — all characteristic of this sector.
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Pro Analysis
KOP — Score History
| Date | UQS | Quality | Moat | Growth | Risk | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 22, 2026 | 48.1 | 57.9 | 27.0 | 39.5 | 30.5 | 95.8 | +0.2 |
| May 3, 2026 | 47.9 | 52.9 | 27.0 | 37.7 | 36.8 | 99.2 | 0.0 |
| Apr 26, 2026 | 47.9 | 52.9 | 27.0 | 37.7 | 36.8 | 99.4 | -0.1 |
| Apr 20, 2026 | 48.0 | 52.9 | 27.0 | 37.7 | 36.8 | 99.7 | -1.2 |
| Apr 19, 2026 | 49.2 | 56.9 | 27.0 | 37.7 | 37.9 | 99.7 | +1.2 |
| Apr 12, 2026 | 48.0 | 52.9 | 27.0 | 37.7 | 36.8 | 99.6 | 0.0 |
| Apr 10, 2026 | 48.0 | 52.9 | 27.0 | 37.7 | 36.8 | 99.7 | -1.2 |
| Apr 9, 2026 | 49.2 | 56.9 | 27.0 | 37.7 | 37.9 | 99.7 | +1.2 |
| Apr 8, 2026 | 48.0 | 52.9 | 27.0 | 37.7 | 36.8 | 99.7 | -1.2 |
| Apr 7, 2026 | 49.2 | 56.9 | 27.0 | 37.7 | 37.9 | 99.7 | +1.2 |
KOP — Pillar Breakdown
Quality
— 57.9/100 (25%)Koppers Holdings Inc. shows solid profitability with healthy returns on capital and reasonable margins.
How effectively capital is deployed to generate returns.
Profitability relative to shareholders' equity.
Ability to convert revenue into operating profit.
Bottom-line profit as a share of revenue.
Asset productivity — how much gross profit each dollar of assets generates.
Free cash flow relative to market value.
Growth
— 39.5/100 (20%)Koppers Holdings Inc. shows steady but unspectacular growth, typical for mature companies.
Revenue trajectory over the last twelve months.
Compound annual revenue growth rate over 3 years.
Year-over-year earnings per share growth.
Analyst consensus for future revenue growth.
Analyst consensus for future earnings growth.
Risk
— 30.5/100 (15%)Koppers Holdings Inc. presents elevated risk with concerns around leverage or financial stability.
Debt levels relative to earnings capacity.
Total debt relative to shareholder equity.
Short-term liquidity — ability to pay near-term obligations.
Earnings capacity relative to interest payments.
Valuation
— 96.3/100 (15%)Koppers Holdings Inc. appears attractively valued relative to its earnings, cash flows, and sector peers.
Inverse of forward P/E — higher yield means cheaper stock.
How many years of FCF the market cap represents.
P/E relative to earnings growth — lower is more attractive.
Enterprise value multiple relative to sector median.
Moat
— 27/100 (25%)Koppers Holdings Inc. operates in a highly competitive environment with limited sustainable advantages. The Moat pillar evaluates competitive advantages across five dimensions: Switching Costs, Network Effects, Cost Advantage, Intangible Assets, and Scale & Ecosystem. Sign in to customize moat ratings for KOP.
Score Composition
Financial Data
More Stock Analysis
How is the KOP UQS Score Calculated?
The UQS (Unified Quality Score) for Koppers Holdings Inc. is calculated using a proprietary 6-pillar framework with 29 financial metrics. Each pillar evaluates a different dimension on a 0–100 scale, then combines into a single weighted score. Scoring thresholds are calibrated per sector. Momentum is an optional Pro toggle — without it, you get the 5-pillar / 25-metric core shown below.
Quality (25%) measures profitability and capital efficiency — ROIC, ROE, margins, GP/Assets, and FCF Yield.
Moat (25%) assesses Koppers Holdings Inc.'s competitive advantages across switching costs, network effects, cost advantages, intangible assets, and ecosystem scale.
Growth (20%) tracks revenue trajectory and earnings momentum, combining historical results with analyst forward estimates.
Risk (15%) is inversely scored — lower leverage and strong balance sheet health result in higher scores.
Valuation (15%) measures whether Koppers Holdings Inc. is fairly priced using earnings yield, price-to-FCF, PEG ratio, and EV/EBITDA relative to sector peers.
Six investor-inspired presets are available, each with different pillar weights: Balanced, Buffett, Munger, Lynch, Cathie Wood, and Graham. The public score shown here uses the Balanced preset. Learn more in our FAQ.