ALB vs. APD: Albemarle vs. Air Products and Chemicals Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

How do Albemarle (ALB) and Air Products and Chemicals (APD) 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

Albemarle (ALB) and Air Products and Chemicals (APD) both belong to the Chemicals industry, though ALB is classified under Specialty Chemicals while APD falls under Industrial Gases.

Company profile comparison for Albemarle (ALB) and Air Products and Chemicals (APD)
Profile Item	ALB	APD
Name	Albemarle Corporation	Air Products and Chemicals Inc.
Country/Region	United States	United States
GICS Sector	Materials	Materials
GICS Industry Group	Materials	Materials
GICS Industry	Chemicals	Chemicals
GICS Sub-Industry	Specialty Chemicals	Industrial Gases
Market Capitalization	11.71 billion USD	67.88 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	NYSE
Listing Date	February 22, 1994	March 17, 1980
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

ALB

APD

GSPC

Albemarle (ALB) vs. Air Products and Chemicals (APD), 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 Albemarle (ALB) and Air Products and Chemicals (APD). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Albemarle (ALB) and Air Products and Chemicals (APD). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Albemarle (ALB) and Air Products and Chemicals (APD)
Metric	ALB	APD
Total Return (1Y)	1.28%	23.26%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	-3.80%	8.49%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	-17.74%	2.43%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

ALB

APD

GSPC

Albemarle (ALB) vs. Air Products and Chemicals (APD), 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 Albemarle (ALB) and Air Products and Chemicals (APD). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Albemarle (ALB) has an aggressive beta of 1.32, indicating higher sensitivity to broad-market moves, while Air Products and Chemicals (APD) is defensive at 0.67 and tends to be less market-sensitive — they sit on opposite ends of the beta spectrum.

Risk profile metrics for Albemarle (ALB) and Air Products and Chemicals (APD)
Metric	ALB	APD
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	53.59%	25.21%
Beta (5Y)	1.32	0.67
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-83.90%	-31.77%
Avg. Volume (3M)	2.40M	1.06M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

ALB and APD 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 Albemarle (ALB) and Air Products and Chemicals (APD)
Metric	ALB	APD
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	-0.06	0.75
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	-0.08	1.14

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both Albemarle (ALB) at 7.05% and Air Products and Chemicals (APD) at 3.19% land near their industries’ usual ROE ranges, so capital efficiency looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

ALB

Materials industry group

7.05%

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

APD

Materials industry group

3.19%

Max: 52.88%
Q3: 19.49%
Median: 8.76%
APD: 3.19%
Q1: -3.41%
Min: -32.81%

Albemarle (ALB) vs. Air Products and Chemicals (APD): A comparison of their ROE against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Both Albemarle (ALB) at 11.08% and Air Products and Chemicals (APD) at 4.10% keep about the typical share of revenue as profit for their industries — neither bottom line stands out from peers.

ALB

Materials industry group

11.08%

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

APD

Materials industry group

4.10%

Max: 38.66%
Q3: 15.98%
Median: 5.28%
APD: 4.10%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: -20.40%

Albemarle (ALB) vs. Air Products and Chemicals (APD): A comparison of their net margin against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Albemarle (ALB) at 11.74% and Air Products and Chemicals (APD) at 17.68% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.

ALB

Materials industry group

11.74%

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

APD

Materials industry group

17.68%

Max: 66.70%
Q3: 28.92%
APD: 17.68%
Median: 12.56%
Q1: 3.28%
Min: -14.07%

Albemarle (ALB) vs. Air Products and Chemicals (APD): A comparison of their operating margin against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Albemarle (ALB) and Air Products and Chemicals (APD)
Metric	ALB	APD
ROE (TTM)	7.05%	3.19%
ROA (TTM)	3.95%	4.80%
Net Margin (TTM)	11.08%	4.10%
Operating Margin (TTM)	11.74%	17.68%
Gross Margin (TTM)	26.17%	31.58%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Albemarle (ALB) at -4.37% and Air Products and Chemicals (APD) at -0.52% post bottom-quartile revenue growth versus peers, pointing to weaker demand or pricing momentum than typical rivals.

Albemarle (ALB) vs. Air Products and Chemicals (APD): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Only one side can be read here: Air Products and Chemicals (APD) reports EPS growth of -110.30%, ranked against its industry; Albemarle (ALB) has no EPS growth figure this period.

Albemarle (ALB) vs. Air Products and Chemicals (APD): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Albemarle (ALB) and Air Products and Chemicals (APD)
Metric	ALB	APD
Revenue Growth (YoY)	-4.37%	-0.52%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	-11.10%	-1.77%
EPS Growth (YoY)	--	-110.30%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	--	--

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Albemarle (ALB) at 2.34 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Air Products and Chemicals (APD) at 1.07 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for APD.

ALB

Materials industry group

2.34

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

APD

Materials industry group

1.07

Max: 5.96
Q3: 3.30
Median: 2.24
Q1: 1.45
APD: 1.07
Min: 0.16

Albemarle (ALB) vs. Air Products and Chemicals (APD): A comparison of their current ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Albemarle (ALB) at 0.18 carries an industry-typical debt-to-equity mix, while Air Products and Chemicals (APD) at 1.06 uses more debt funding than most peers.

ALB

Materials industry group

0.18

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

APD

Materials industry group

1.06

Max: 1.98
APD: 1.06
Q3: 0.89
Median: 0.47
Q1: 0.13
Min: 0.00

Albemarle (ALB) vs. Air Products and Chemicals (APD): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Albemarle (ALB) and Air Products and Chemicals (APD)
Metric	ALB	APD
Current Ratio (MRQ)	2.34	1.07
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	0.18	1.06
Net Debt / EBITDA	0.09	3.61

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Air Products and Chemicals (APD) at 2.33% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while Albemarle (ALB) at 1.65% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, APD the richer one.

ALB

Materials industry group

1.65%

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

APD

Materials industry group

2.33%

Max: 4.52%
APD: 2.33%
Q3: 1.85%
Median: 0.38%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Albemarle (ALB) vs. Air Products and Chemicals (APD): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Albemarle (ALB) at 39.16% pays out a band-typical share of earnings, while Air Products and Chemicals (APD) at 75.66% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.

ALB

Materials industry group

39.16%

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

APD

Materials industry group

75.66%

Max: 83.62%
APD: 75.66%
Q3: 41.37%
Median: 9.54%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Albemarle (ALB) vs. Air Products and Chemicals (APD): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Albemarle (ALB) and Air Products and Chemicals (APD)
Metric	ALB	APD
Dividend Yield (TTM)	1.65%	2.33%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	39.16%	75.66%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Albemarle (ALB) at 23.92 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Air Products and Chemicals (APD) at 127.55 sits above its peer range — an unusually expensive price for APD’s trailing earnings.

ALB

Materials industry group

23.92

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

APD

Materials industry group

127.55

APD: 127.55
Max: 59.00
Q3: 32.93
Median: 18.82
Q1: 11.96
Min: 3.93

Albemarle (ALB) vs. Air Products and Chemicals (APD): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Albemarle (ALB) at 1.90 is priced about in line with its industry on P/S ratio, while Air Products and Chemicals (APD) at 5.23 sits in the pricier quartile — APD costs more per dollar of sales.

ALB

Materials industry group

1.90

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

APD

Materials industry group

5.23

Max: 9.62
APD: 5.23
Q3: 4.34
Median: 1.87
Q1: 0.73
Min: 0.00

Albemarle (ALB) vs. Air Products and Chemicals (APD): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Albemarle (ALB) at 1.41 is valued about in line with its industry on P/B ratio, while Air Products and Chemicals (APD) at 4.76 carries an above-peer premium to book — APD is pricier on assets.

ALB

Materials industry group

1.41

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

APD

Materials industry group

4.76

Max: 6.59
APD: 4.76
Q3: 3.55
Median: 2.08
Q1: 1.26
Min: -0.17

Albemarle (ALB) vs. Air Products and Chemicals (APD): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Albemarle (ALB) and Air Products and Chemicals (APD)
Metric	ALB	APD
P/E Ratio (TTM)	23.92	127.55
P/S Ratio (TTM)	1.90	5.23
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	1.41	4.76
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	10.67%	-0.28%