ALB vs. AU: Albemarle vs. AngloGold Ashanti Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

How do Albemarle (ALB) and AngloGold Ashanti (AU) 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 AngloGold Ashanti (AU) both fall under the Materials industry group, but ALB is classified in Chemicals while AU is classified in Metals & Mining.

Company profile comparison for Albemarle (ALB) and AngloGold Ashanti (AU)
Profile Item	ALB	AU
Name	Albemarle Corporation	AngloGold Ashanti plc
Country/Region	United States	United States
GICS Sector	Materials	Materials
GICS Industry Group	Materials	Materials
GICS Industry	Chemicals	Metals & Mining
GICS Sub-Industry	Specialty Chemicals	Gold
Market Capitalization	11.71 billion USD	47.04 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	NYSE
Listing Date	February 22, 1994	August 5, 1998
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

ALB

GSPC

Albemarle (ALB) vs. AngloGold Ashanti (AU), 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 AngloGold Ashanti (AU). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Albemarle (ALB) and AngloGold Ashanti (AU)
Metric	ALB	AU
Total Return (1Y)	1.28%	47.97%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	-3.80%	87.34%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	-17.74%	42.76%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

ALB

GSPC

Albemarle (ALB) vs. AngloGold Ashanti (AU), 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 AngloGold Ashanti (AU). 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 AngloGold Ashanti (AU) 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 AngloGold Ashanti (AU)
Metric	ALB	AU
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	53.59%	60.11%
Beta (5Y)	1.32	0.67
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-83.90%	-51.75%
Avg. Volume (3M)	2.40M	2.54M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

ALB and AU 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 AngloGold Ashanti (AU)
Metric	ALB	AU
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	-0.06	0.73
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	-0.08	1.07

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

AngloGold Ashanti (AU) at 44.33% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Albemarle (ALB) at 7.05% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for AU.

ALB

Materials industry group

7.05%

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

AU

Materials industry group

44.33%

Max: 52.88%
AU: 44.33%
Q3: 19.49%
Median: 8.76%
Q1: -3.41%
Min: -32.81%

Albemarle (ALB) vs. AngloGold Ashanti (AU): A comparison of their ROE against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

AngloGold Ashanti (AU) at 32.64% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of Albemarle (ALB) at 11.08%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.

ALB

Materials industry group

11.08%

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

AU

Materials industry group

32.64%

Max: 38.66%
AU: 32.64%
Q3: 15.98%
Median: 5.28%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: -20.40%

Albemarle (ALB) vs. AngloGold Ashanti (AU): A comparison of their net margin against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

AngloGold Ashanti (AU) at 45.36% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of Albemarle (ALB) at 11.74%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

ALB

Materials industry group

11.74%

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

AU

Materials industry group

45.36%

Max: 66.70%
AU: 45.36%
Q3: 28.92%
Median: 12.56%
Q1: 3.28%
Min: -14.07%

Albemarle (ALB) vs. AngloGold Ashanti (AU): A comparison of their operating margin against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Albemarle (ALB) and AngloGold Ashanti (AU)
Metric	ALB	AU
ROE (TTM)	7.05%	44.33%
ROA (TTM)	3.95%	24.39%
Net Margin (TTM)	11.08%	32.64%
Operating Margin (TTM)	11.74%	45.36%
Gross Margin (TTM)	26.17%	54.84%

Growth

Revenue Growth

AngloGold Ashanti (AU) at 70.78% sits in the top revenue growth quartile, while Albemarle (ALB) at -4.37% is in the bottom quartile, showing a clear gap in revenue momentum.

Albemarle (ALB) vs. AngloGold Ashanti (AU): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Only one side can be read here: AngloGold Ashanti (AU) reports EPS growth of 122.32%, ranked against its industry; Albemarle (ALB) has no EPS growth figure this period.

Albemarle (ALB) vs. AngloGold Ashanti (AU): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Albemarle (ALB) and AngloGold Ashanti (AU)
Metric	ALB	AU
Revenue Growth (YoY)	-4.37%	70.78%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	-11.10%	30.02%
EPS Growth (YoY)	--	122.32%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	--	93.95%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Albemarle (ALB) at 2.34 and AngloGold Ashanti (AU) at 2.55 carry current ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges, suggesting balanced short-term liquidity relative to peers.

ALB

Materials industry group

2.34

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

AU

Materials industry group

2.55

Max: 5.96
Q3: 3.30
AU: 2.55
Median: 2.24
Q1: 1.45
Min: 0.16

Albemarle (ALB) vs. AngloGold Ashanti (AU): A comparison of their current ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both Albemarle (ALB) at 0.18 and AngloGold Ashanti (AU) at 0.16 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.

ALB

Materials industry group

0.18

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

AU

Materials industry group

0.16

Max: 1.98
Q3: 0.89
Median: 0.47
AU: 0.16
Q1: 0.13
Min: 0.00

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

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Albemarle (ALB) and AngloGold Ashanti (AU)
Metric	ALB	AU
Current Ratio (MRQ)	2.34	2.55
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	0.18	0.16
Net Debt / EBITDA	0.09	-0.17

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Albemarle (ALB) at 1.65% pays an industry-typical yield; AngloGold Ashanti (AU) at 4.88% is above its entire peer range — the higher number, but one that calls for a look at payout sustainability before treating it as an advantage.

ALB

Materials industry group

1.65%

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

AU

Materials industry group

4.88%

AU: 4.88%
Max: 4.52%
Q3: 1.85%
Median: 0.38%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Albemarle (ALB) vs. AngloGold Ashanti (AU): 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 AngloGold Ashanti (AU) at 58.78% 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%

AU

Materials industry group

58.78%

Max: 83.62%
AU: 58.78%
Q3: 41.37%
Median: 9.54%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Albemarle (ALB) vs. AngloGold Ashanti (AU): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Albemarle (ALB) and AngloGold Ashanti (AU)
Metric	ALB	AU
Dividend Yield (TTM)	1.65%	4.88%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	39.16%	58.78%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Albemarle (ALB) at 23.92 and AngloGold Ashanti (AU) at 12.09 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.

ALB

Materials industry group

23.92

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

AU

Materials industry group

12.09

Max: 59.00
Q3: 32.93
Median: 18.82
AU: 12.09
Q1: 11.96
Min: 3.93

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

P/S Ratio (TTM)

On P/S ratio, both Albemarle (ALB) at 1.90 and AngloGold Ashanti (AU) at 3.91 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.

ALB

Materials industry group

1.90

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

AU

Materials industry group

3.91

Max: 9.62
Q3: 4.34
AU: 3.91
Median: 1.87
Q1: 0.73
Min: 0.00

Albemarle (ALB) vs. AngloGold Ashanti (AU): 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 AngloGold Ashanti (AU) at 5.01 carries an above-peer premium to book — AU 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

AU

Materials industry group

5.01

Max: 6.59
AU: 5.01
Q3: 3.55
Median: 2.08
Q1: 1.26
Min: -0.17

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

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Albemarle (ALB) and AngloGold Ashanti (AU)
Metric	ALB	AU
P/E Ratio (TTM)	23.92	12.09
P/S Ratio (TTM)	1.90	3.91
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	1.41	5.01
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	10.67%	7.61%