AA vs. ALB: Alcoa vs. Albemarle Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

How do Alcoa (AA) and Albemarle (ALB) stack up? This page sets them side by side across company profile, performance and risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividends, and valuation, with selected fundamentals also measured against each stock's industry-group peers.

Company Profile

Alcoa (AA) and Albemarle (ALB) both fall under the Materials industry group, but AA is classified in Metals & Mining while ALB is classified in Chemicals.

Company profile comparison for Alcoa (AA) and Albemarle (ALB)
Profile Item	AA	ALB
Name	Alcoa Corporation	Albemarle Corporation
Country/Region	United States	United States
GICS Sector	Materials	Materials
GICS Industry Group	Materials	Materials
GICS Industry	Metals & Mining	Chemicals
GICS Sub-Industry	Aluminum	Specialty Chemicals
Market Capitalization	10.44 billion USD	11.71 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	NYSE
Listing Date	January 2, 1962	February 22, 1994
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

ALB

GSPC

Alcoa (AA) vs. Albemarle (ALB), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Trailing Returns

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Trailing total returns for Alcoa (AA) and Albemarle (ALB). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Alcoa (AA) and Albemarle (ALB). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Alcoa (AA) and Albemarle (ALB)
Metric	AA	ALB
Total Return (1Y)	12.55%	1.28%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	20.53%	-3.80%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	-1.46%	-17.74%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

ALB

GSPC

Alcoa (AA) vs. Albemarle (ALB), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Return Distribution

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Distribution of monthly total returns for Alcoa (AA) and Albemarle (ALB). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Alcoa (AA) and Albemarle (ALB)
Metric	AA	ALB
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	53.37%	53.59%
Beta (5Y)	1.80	1.32
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-75.46%	-83.90%
Avg. Volume (3M)	4.61M	2.40M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

AA and ALB are plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. The dashed Capital Allocation Line runs from the risk-free rate through the shared industry median.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for Alcoa (AA) and Albemarle (ALB)
Metric	AA	ALB
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	0.16	-0.06
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	0.23	-0.08

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Alcoa (AA) at 20.58% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Albemarle (ALB) at 7.05% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for AA.

AA

Materials industry group

20.58%

Max: 52.88%
AA: 20.58%
Q3: 19.49%
Median: 8.76%
Q1: -3.41%
Min: -32.81%

ALB

Materials industry group

7.05%

Max: 52.88%
Q3: 19.49%
Median: 8.76%
ALB: 7.05%
Q1: -3.41%
Min: -32.81%

Alcoa (AA) vs. Albemarle (ALB): A comparison of their ROE against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Both Alcoa (AA) at 10.68% and Albemarle (ALB) at 11.08% keep about the typical share of revenue as profit for their industries — neither bottom line stands out from peers.

AA

Materials industry group

10.68%

Max: 38.66%
Q3: 15.98%
AA: 10.68%
Median: 5.28%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: -20.40%

ALB

Materials industry group

11.08%

Max: 38.66%
Q3: 15.98%
ALB: 11.08%
Median: 5.28%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: -20.40%

Alcoa (AA) vs. Albemarle (ALB): A comparison of their net margin against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Alcoa (AA) at 16.01% and Albemarle (ALB) at 11.74% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.

AA

Materials industry group

16.01%

Max: 66.70%
Q3: 28.92%
AA: 16.01%
Median: 12.56%
Q1: 3.28%
Min: -14.07%

ALB

Materials industry group

11.74%

Max: 66.70%
Q3: 28.92%
Median: 12.56%
ALB: 11.74%
Q1: 3.28%
Min: -14.07%

Alcoa (AA) vs. Albemarle (ALB): A comparison of their operating margin against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Alcoa (AA) and Albemarle (ALB)
Metric	AA	ALB
ROE (TTM)	20.58%	7.05%
ROA (TTM)	7.52%	3.95%
Net Margin (TTM)	10.68%	11.08%
Operating Margin (TTM)	16.01%	11.74%
Gross Margin (TTM)	22.76%	26.17%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Alcoa (AA) at 7.87% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while Albemarle (ALB) at -4.37% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.

Alcoa (AA) vs. Albemarle (ALB): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Only one side can be read here: Alcoa (AA) reports EPS growth of 1,600.00%, ranked against its industry; Albemarle (ALB) has no EPS growth figure this period.

Alcoa (AA) vs. Albemarle (ALB): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Alcoa (AA) and Albemarle (ALB)
Metric	AA	ALB
Revenue Growth (YoY)	7.87%	-4.37%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	1.01%	-11.10%
EPS Growth (YoY)	1,600.00%	--
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	--	--

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Alcoa (AA) at 2.31 and Albemarle (ALB) at 2.34 carry current ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges, suggesting balanced short-term liquidity relative to peers.

AA

Materials industry group

2.31

Max: 5.96
Q3: 3.30
AA: 2.31
Median: 2.24
Q1: 1.45
Min: 0.16

ALB

Materials industry group

2.34

Max: 5.96
Q3: 3.30
ALB: 2.34
Median: 2.24
Q1: 1.45
Min: 0.16

Alcoa (AA) vs. Albemarle (ALB): A comparison of their current ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both Alcoa (AA) at 0.58 and Albemarle (ALB) at 0.18 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.

AA

Materials industry group

0.58

Max: 1.98
Q3: 0.89
AA: 0.58
Median: 0.47
Q1: 0.13
Min: 0.00

ALB

Materials industry group

0.18

Max: 1.98
Q3: 0.89
Median: 0.47
ALB: 0.18
Q1: 0.13
Min: 0.00

Alcoa (AA) vs. Albemarle (ALB): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Alcoa (AA) and Albemarle (ALB)
Metric	AA	ALB
Current Ratio (MRQ)	2.31	2.34
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	0.58	0.18
Net Debt / EBITDA	0.14	0.09

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Alcoa (AA) at 1.04% and Albemarle (ALB) at 1.65% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.

AA

Materials industry group

1.04%

Max: 4.52%
Q3: 1.85%
AA: 1.04%
Median: 0.38%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

ALB

Materials industry group

1.65%

Max: 4.52%
Q3: 1.85%
ALB: 1.65%
Median: 0.38%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Alcoa (AA) vs. Albemarle (ALB): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both Alcoa (AA) at 6.96% and Albemarle (ALB) at 39.16% keep payout ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges — dividend policies that share earnings without consuming too much of them.

AA

Materials industry group

6.96%

Max: 83.62%
Q3: 41.37%
Median: 9.54%
AA: 6.96%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

ALB

Materials industry group

39.16%

Max: 83.62%
Q3: 41.37%
ALB: 39.16%
Median: 9.54%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Alcoa (AA) vs. Albemarle (ALB): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Alcoa (AA) and Albemarle (ALB)
Metric	AA	ALB
Dividend Yield (TTM)	1.04%	1.65%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	6.96%	39.16%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Alcoa (AA) at 6.88 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while Albemarle (ALB) at 23.92 is closer to its industry’s usual earnings multiple — a discount for AA, though growth and earnings durability still matter.

AA

Materials industry group

6.88

Max: 59.00
Q3: 32.93
Median: 18.82
Q1: 11.96
AA: 6.88
Min: 3.93

ALB

Materials industry group

23.92

Max: 59.00
Q3: 32.93
ALB: 23.92
Median: 18.82
Q1: 11.96
Min: 3.93

Alcoa (AA) vs. Albemarle (ALB): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Alcoa (AA) at 0.73 sits in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile while Albemarle (ALB) at 1.90 prices around its industry’s middle — AA costs less per dollar of sales, though read it alongside growth and margins.

AA

Materials industry group

0.73

Max: 9.62
Q3: 4.34
Median: 1.87
Q1: 0.73
AA: 0.73
Min: 0.00

ALB

Materials industry group

1.90

Max: 9.62
Q3: 4.34
ALB: 1.90
Median: 1.87
Q1: 0.73
Min: 0.00

Alcoa (AA) vs. Albemarle (ALB): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

On P/B ratio, both Alcoa (AA) at 1.27 and Albemarle (ALB) at 1.41 are valued close to their industries’ norm against book — neither stands out from peers.

AA

Materials industry group

1.27

Max: 6.59
Q3: 3.55
Median: 2.08
AA: 1.27
Q1: 1.26
Min: -0.17

ALB

Materials industry group

1.41

Max: 6.59
Q3: 3.55
Median: 2.08
ALB: 1.41
Q1: 1.26
Min: -0.17

Alcoa (AA) vs. Albemarle (ALB): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Alcoa (AA) and Albemarle (ALB)
Metric	AA	ALB
P/E Ratio (TTM)	6.88	23.92
P/S Ratio (TTM)	0.73	1.90
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	1.27	1.41
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	8.80%	10.67%