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ALB vs. BALL: Albemarle vs. Ball Stock Comparison

How do Albemarle (ALB) and Ball (BALL) 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 Ball (BALL) both fall under the Materials industry group, but ALB is classified in Chemicals while BALL is classified in Containers & Packaging.

Company profile comparison for Albemarle (ALB) and Ball (BALL)
Profile ItemALBBALL
NameAlbemarle CorporationBall Corporation
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorMaterialsMaterials
GICS Industry GroupMaterialsMaterials
GICS IndustryChemicalsContainers & Packaging
GICS Sub-IndustrySpecialty ChemicalsMetal, Glass & Plastic Containers
Market Capitalization11.71 billion USD17.16 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateFebruary 22, 1994February 21, 1973
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

ALB
BALL
GSPC
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Albemarle (ALB) vs. Ball (BALL), 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 Ball (BALL). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Albemarle (ALB) and Ball (BALL)
MetricALBBALL
Total Return (1Y)1.28%38.59%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)-3.80%12.78%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)-17.74%-4.75%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

ALB
BALL
GSPC
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Albemarle (ALB) vs. Ball (BALL), 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 Ball (BALL). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Albemarle (ALB) and Ball (BALL)
MetricALBBALL
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)53.59%27.54%
Beta (5Y)1.320.94
Max Drawdown (5Y)-83.90%-54.87%
Avg. Volume (3M)2.40M2.12M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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ALB and BALL 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 Ball (BALL)
MetricALBBALL
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)-0.061.25
Sortino Ratio (1Y)-0.082.02

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both Albemarle (ALB) at 7.05% and Ball (BALL) at 9.49% 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%

BALL

Materials industry group

9.49%

Max
52.88%
Q3
19.49%
BALL
9.49%
Median
8.76%
Q1
-3.41%
Min
-32.81%
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Albemarle (ALB) vs. Ball (BALL): A comparison of their ROE against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Both Albemarle (ALB) at 11.08% and Ball (BALL) at 3.52% 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%

BALL

Materials industry group

3.52%

Max
38.66%
Q3
15.98%
Median
5.28%
BALL
3.52%
Q1
0.00%
Min
-20.40%
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Albemarle (ALB) vs. Ball (BALL): A comparison of their net margin against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Albemarle (ALB) at 11.74% and Ball (BALL) at 9.67% 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%

BALL

Materials industry group

9.67%

Max
66.70%
Q3
28.92%
Median
12.56%
BALL
9.67%
Q1
3.28%
Min
-14.07%
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Albemarle (ALB) vs. Ball (BALL): A comparison of their operating margin against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Albemarle (ALB) and Ball (BALL)
MetricALBBALL
ROE (TTM)7.05%9.49%
ROA (TTM)3.95%4.65%
Net Margin (TTM)11.08%3.52%
Operating Margin (TTM)11.74%9.67%
Gross Margin (TTM)26.17%17.84%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Ball (BALL) at 11.58% 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.

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

EPS Growth

Only one side can be read here: Ball (BALL) reports EPS growth of -74.62%, ranked against its industry; Albemarle (ALB) has no EPS growth figure this period.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Albemarle (ALB) and Ball (BALL)
MetricALBBALL
Revenue Growth (YoY)-4.37%11.58%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)-11.10%-0.53%
EPS Growth (YoY)---74.62%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)--13.62%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Albemarle (ALB) at 2.34 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Ball (BALL) at 1.04 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for BALL.

ALB

Materials industry group

2.34

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

BALL

Materials industry group

1.04

Max
5.96
Q3
3.30
Median
2.24
Q1
1.45
BALL
1.04
Min
0.16
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Albemarle (ALB) vs. Ball (BALL): 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 Ball (BALL) at 1.33 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

BALL

Materials industry group

1.33

Max
1.98
BALL
1.33
Q3
0.89
Median
0.47
Q1
0.13
Min
0.00
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Albemarle (ALB) vs. Ball (BALL): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Albemarle (ALB) and Ball (BALL)
MetricALBBALL
Current Ratio (MRQ)2.341.04
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.181.33
Net Debt / EBITDA0.093.45

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Albemarle (ALB) at 1.65% and Ball (BALL) at 1.20% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.

ALB

Materials industry group

1.65%

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

BALL

Materials industry group

1.20%

Max
4.52%
Q3
1.85%
BALL
1.20%
Median
0.38%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Albemarle (ALB) vs. Ball (BALL): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both Albemarle (ALB) at 39.16% and Ball (BALL) at 40.20% keep payout ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges — dividend policies that share earnings without consuming too much of them.

ALB

Materials industry group

39.16%

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

BALL

Materials industry group

40.20%

Max
83.62%
Q3
41.37%
BALL
40.20%
Median
9.54%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Albemarle (ALB) vs. Ball (BALL): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Albemarle (ALB) and Ball (BALL)
MetricALBBALL
Dividend Yield (TTM)1.65%1.20%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)39.16%40.20%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Albemarle (ALB) at 23.92 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Ball (BALL) at 33.13 sits in the richer quartile — BALL needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.

ALB

Materials industry group

23.92

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

BALL

Materials industry group

33.13

Max
59.00
BALL
33.13
Q3
32.93
Median
18.82
Q1
11.96
Min
3.93
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Albemarle (ALB) vs. Ball (BALL): 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 Ball (BALL) at 1.13 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

BALL

Materials industry group

1.13

Max
9.62
Q3
4.34
Median
1.87
BALL
1.13
Q1
0.73
Min
0.00
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Albemarle (ALB) vs. Ball (BALL): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

On P/B ratio, both Albemarle (ALB) at 1.41 and Ball (BALL) at 3.02 are valued close to their industries’ norm against book — neither stands out from peers.

ALB

Materials industry group

1.41

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

BALL

Materials industry group

3.02

Max
6.59
Q3
3.55
BALL
3.02
Median
2.08
Q1
1.26
Min
-0.17
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Albemarle (ALB) vs. Ball (BALL): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Albemarle (ALB) and Ball (BALL)
MetricALBBALL
P/E Ratio (TTM)23.9233.13
P/S Ratio (TTM)1.901.13
P/B Ratio (MRQ)1.413.02
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)10.67%1.54%