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AA vs. BHP: Alcoa vs. BHP Stock Comparison

How do Alcoa (AA) and BHP (BHP) 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 BHP (BHP) both belong to the Metals & Mining industry, though AA is classified under Aluminum while BHP falls under Diversified Metals & Mining.

Alcoa (AA) trades as ordinary local shares, while BHP (BHP) trades as an ADR — compare with FX exposure, depositary-program fees, and dividend-withholding-tax differences in mind.

Company profile comparison for Alcoa (AA) and BHP (BHP)
Profile ItemAABHP
NameAlcoa CorporationBHP Group Ltd. Sponsored ADR
Country/RegionUnited StatesAustralia
GICS SectorMaterialsMaterials
GICS Industry GroupMaterialsMaterials
GICS IndustryMetals & MiningMetals & Mining
GICS Sub-IndustryAluminumDiversified Metals & Mining
Market Capitalization10.44 billion USD203.04 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateJanuary 2, 1962March 17, 1980
Security TypeCommon StockADR

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

AA
BHP
GSPC
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Alcoa (AA) vs. BHP (BHP), 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 BHP (BHP). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Alcoa (AA) and BHP (BHP)
MetricAABHP
Total Return (1Y)12.55%55.75%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)20.53%17.27%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)-1.46%18.05%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

AA
BHP
GSPC
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Alcoa (AA) vs. BHP (BHP), 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 BHP (BHP). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Alcoa (AA) and BHP (BHP)
MetricAABHP
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)53.37%34.60%
Beta (5Y)1.800.77
Max Drawdown (5Y)-75.46%-37.21%
Avg. Volume (3M)4.61M2.84M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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AA and BHP 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 BHP (BHP)
MetricAABHP
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.161.49
Sortino Ratio (1Y)0.232.22

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both Alcoa (AA) at 20.58% and BHP (BHP) at 24.00% sit in the top peer quartile for ROE, suggesting each generates more profit from shareholders’ equity than typical industry peers.

AA

Materials industry group

20.58%

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

BHP

Materials industry group

24.00%

Max
52.88%
BHP
24.00%
Q3
19.49%
Median
8.76%
Q1
-3.41%
Min
-32.81%
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Alcoa (AA) vs. BHP (BHP): A comparison of their ROE against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

BHP (BHP) at 16.73% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of Alcoa (AA) at 10.68%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.

AA

Materials industry group

10.68%

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

BHP

Materials industry group

16.73%

Max
38.66%
BHP
16.73%
Q3
15.98%
Median
5.28%
Q1
0.00%
Min
-20.40%
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Alcoa (AA) vs. BHP (BHP): A comparison of their net margin against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

BHP (BHP) at 43.34% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of Alcoa (AA) at 16.01%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

AA

Materials industry group

16.01%

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

BHP

Materials industry group

43.34%

Max
66.70%
BHP
43.34%
Q3
28.92%
Median
12.56%
Q1
3.28%
Min
-14.07%
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Alcoa (AA) vs. BHP (BHP): A comparison of their operating margin against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Alcoa (AA) and BHP (BHP)
MetricAABHP
ROE (TTM)20.58%24.00%
ROA (TTM)7.52%13.43%
Net Margin (TTM)10.68%16.73%
Operating Margin (TTM)16.01%43.34%
Gross Margin (TTM)22.76%85.92%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Alcoa (AA) at 7.87% and BHP (BHP) at 14.63% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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

EPS Growth

Alcoa (AA) at 1,600.00% clears its industry range for EPS growth, a much stronger earnings trajectory than BHP (BHP) at 8.91%, which is closer to a typical peer reading.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Alcoa (AA) and BHP (BHP)
MetricAABHP
Revenue Growth (YoY)7.87%14.63%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)1.01%2.97%
EPS Growth (YoY)1,600.00%8.91%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)---8.80%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Alcoa (AA) at 2.31 and BHP (BHP) at 1.89 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

BHP

Materials industry group

1.89

Max
5.96
Q3
3.30
Median
2.24
BHP
1.89
Q1
1.45
Min
0.16
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Alcoa (AA) vs. BHP (BHP): A comparison of their current ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both Alcoa (AA) at 0.58 and BHP (BHP) at 0.50 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

BHP

Materials industry group

0.50

Max
1.98
Q3
0.89
BHP
0.50
Median
0.47
Q1
0.13
Min
0.00
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Alcoa (AA) vs. BHP (BHP): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Alcoa (AA) and BHP (BHP)
MetricAABHP
Current Ratio (MRQ)2.311.89
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.580.50
Net Debt / EBITDA0.140.33

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

BHP (BHP) at 2.19% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while Alcoa (AA) at 1.04% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, BHP the richer one.

AA

Materials industry group

1.04%

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

BHP

Materials industry group

2.19%

Max
4.52%
BHP
2.19%
Q3
1.85%
Median
0.38%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Alcoa (AA) vs. BHP (BHP): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Alcoa (AA) at 6.96% pays out a band-typical share of earnings, while BHP (BHP) at 68.84% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.

AA

Materials industry group

6.96%

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

BHP

Materials industry group

68.84%

Max
83.62%
BHP
68.84%
Q3
41.37%
Median
9.54%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Alcoa (AA) vs. BHP (BHP): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Alcoa (AA) and BHP (BHP)
MetricAABHP
Dividend Yield (TTM)1.04%2.19%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)6.96%68.84%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Alcoa (AA) at 6.88 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while BHP (BHP) at 20.70 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

BHP

Materials industry group

20.70

Max
59.00
Q3
32.93
BHP
20.70
Median
18.82
Q1
11.96
Min
3.93
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Alcoa (AA) vs. BHP (BHP): 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 BHP (BHP) at 3.46 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

BHP

Materials industry group

3.46

Max
9.62
Q3
4.34
BHP
3.46
Median
1.87
Q1
0.73
Min
0.00
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Alcoa (AA) vs. BHP (BHP): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Alcoa (AA) at 1.27 is valued about in line with its industry on P/B ratio, while BHP (BHP) at 3.98 carries an above-peer premium to book — BHP is pricier on assets.

AA

Materials industry group

1.27

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

BHP

Materials industry group

3.98

Max
6.59
BHP
3.98
Q3
3.55
Median
2.08
Q1
1.26
Min
-0.17
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Alcoa (AA) vs. BHP (BHP): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Alcoa (AA) and BHP (BHP)
MetricAABHP
P/E Ratio (TTM)6.8820.70
P/S Ratio (TTM)0.733.46
P/B Ratio (MRQ)1.273.98
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)8.80%4.72%