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AA vs. IFF: Alcoa vs. Intl Flavors & Fragrances Stock Comparison

How do Alcoa (AA) and Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) 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 Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) both fall under the Materials industry group, but AA is classified in Metals & Mining while IFF is classified in Chemicals.

Company profile comparison for Alcoa (AA) and Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF)
Profile ItemAAIFF
NameAlcoa CorporationInternational Flavors & Fragrances, Inc.
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorMaterialsMaterials
GICS Industry GroupMaterialsMaterials
GICS IndustryMetals & MiningChemicals
GICS Sub-IndustryAluminumSpecialty Chemicals
Market Capitalization10.44 billion USD20.69 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateJanuary 2, 1962December 17, 1974
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

AA
IFF
GSPC
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Alcoa (AA) vs. Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF), 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 Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Alcoa (AA) and Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Alcoa (AA) and Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF)
MetricAAIFF
Total Return (1Y)12.55%40.13%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)20.53%8.28%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)-1.46%-8.71%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

AA
IFF
GSPC
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Alcoa (AA) vs. Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF), 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 Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Alcoa (AA) and Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF)
MetricAAIFF
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)53.37%36.26%
Beta (5Y)1.800.88
Max Drawdown (5Y)-75.46%-56.66%
Avg. Volume (3M)4.61M1.88M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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AA and IFF 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 Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF)
MetricAAIFF
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.160.99
Sortino Ratio (1Y)0.231.71

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) reports a negative ROE of -7.37%; negative ROE can reflect losses or negative shareholders’ equity, so it is harder to read as capital efficiency. Meanwhile Alcoa (AA) reports 20.58%, ranking against industry peers normally.

AA

Materials industry group

20.58%

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

IFF

Materials industry group

-7.37%

Max
52.88%
Q3
19.49%
Median
8.76%
Q1
-3.41%
IFF
-7.37%
Min
-32.81%
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Alcoa (AA) vs. Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF): A comparison of their ROE against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Both Alcoa (AA) at 10.68% and Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) at 1.68% 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%

IFF

Materials industry group

1.68%

Max
38.66%
Q3
15.98%
Median
5.28%
IFF
1.68%
Q1
0.00%
Min
-20.40%
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Alcoa (AA) vs. Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF): A comparison of their net margin against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Alcoa (AA) at 16.01% and Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) at 9.53% 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%

IFF

Materials industry group

9.53%

Max
66.70%
Q3
28.92%
Median
12.56%
IFF
9.53%
Q1
3.28%
Min
-14.07%
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Alcoa (AA) vs. Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF): A comparison of their operating margin against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Alcoa (AA) and Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF)
MetricAAIFF
ROE (TTM)20.58%-7.37%
ROA (TTM)7.52%2.18%
Net Margin (TTM)10.68%1.68%
Operating Margin (TTM)16.01%9.53%
Gross Margin (TTM)22.76%36.27%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Alcoa (AA) at 7.87% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) at -5.17% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.

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Alcoa (AA) vs. Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Alcoa (AA) at 1,600.00% delivers above-range EPS growth, while Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) at -248.42% falls into the bottom quartile — a wide split in earnings momentum.

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Alcoa (AA) vs. Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Alcoa (AA) and Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF)
MetricAAIFF
Revenue Growth (YoY)7.87%-5.17%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)1.01%-4.34%
EPS Growth (YoY)1,600.00%-248.42%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)----

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Alcoa (AA) at 2.31 and Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) at 1.87 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

IFF

Materials industry group

1.87

Max
5.96
Q3
3.30
Median
2.24
IFF
1.87
Q1
1.45
Min
0.16
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Alcoa (AA) vs. Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF): A comparison of their current ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both Alcoa (AA) at 0.58 and Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) at 0.51 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

IFF

Materials industry group

0.51

Max
1.98
Q3
0.89
IFF
0.51
Median
0.47
Q1
0.13
Min
0.00
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Alcoa (AA) vs. Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Alcoa (AA) and Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF)
MetricAAIFF
Current Ratio (MRQ)2.311.87
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.580.51
Net Debt / EBITDA0.143.51

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) at 1.85% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while Alcoa (AA) at 1.04% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, IFF 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%

IFF

Materials industry group

1.85%

Max
4.52%
IFF
1.85%
Q3
1.85%
Median
0.38%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Alcoa (AA) vs. Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF): 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 Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) at 62.26% 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%

IFF

Materials industry group

62.26%

Max
83.62%
IFF
62.26%
Q3
41.37%
Median
9.54%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Alcoa (AA) vs. Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Alcoa (AA) and Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF)
MetricAAIFF
Dividend Yield (TTM)1.04%1.85%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)6.96%62.26%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Alcoa (AA) at 6.88 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) at 236.06 trades above its peer range — a wide earnings-valuation gap relative to industry peers.

AA

Materials industry group

6.88

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

IFF

Materials industry group

236.06

IFF
236.06
Max
59.00
Q3
32.93
Median
18.82
Q1
11.96
Min
3.93
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Alcoa (AA) vs. Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF): 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 Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) at 1.91 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

IFF

Materials industry group

1.91

Max
9.62
Q3
4.34
IFF
1.91
Median
1.87
Q1
0.73
Min
0.00
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Alcoa (AA) vs. Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF): 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 Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) at 1.56 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

IFF

Materials industry group

1.56

Max
6.59
Q3
3.55
Median
2.08
IFF
1.56
Q1
1.26
Min
-0.17
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Alcoa (AA) vs. Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Alcoa (AA) and Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF)
MetricAAIFF
P/E Ratio (TTM)6.88236.06
P/S Ratio (TTM)0.731.91
P/B Ratio (MRQ)1.271.56
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)8.80%-10.66%