ALB vs. BHP: Albemarle vs. BHP Stock Comparison
How do Albemarle (ALB) 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
Albemarle (ALB) and BHP (BHP) both fall under the Materials industry group, but ALB is classified in Chemicals while BHP is classified in Metals & Mining.
Albemarle (ALB) 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.
| Profile Item | ALB | BHP |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Albemarle Corporation | BHP Group Ltd. Sponsored ADR |
| Country/Region | United States | Australia |
| GICS Sector | Materials | Materials |
| GICS Industry Group | Materials | Materials |
| GICS Industry | Chemicals | Metals & Mining |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Specialty Chemicals | Diversified Metals & Mining |
| Market Capitalization | 11.71 billion USD | 203.04 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | February 22, 1994 | March 17, 1980 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | ADR |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | ALB | BHP |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 1.28% | 55.75% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | -3.80% | 17.27% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | -17.74% | 18.05% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | ALB | BHP |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 53.59% | 34.60% |
| Beta (5Y) | 1.32 | 0.77 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -83.90% | -37.21% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 2.40M | 2.84M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | ALB | BHP |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | -0.06 | 1.49 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | -0.08 | 2.22 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
BHP (BHP) at 24.00% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Albemarle (ALB) at 7.05% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for BHP.
ALB
Materials industry group
7.05%
- Max
- 52.88%
- Q3
- 19.49%
- Median
- 8.76%
- ALB
- 7.05%
- 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%
Net Margin (TTM)
BHP (BHP) at 16.73% 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%
BHP
Materials industry group
16.73%
- Max
- 38.66%
- BHP
- 16.73%
- Q3
- 15.98%
- Median
- 5.28%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- -20.40%
Operating Margin (TTM)
BHP (BHP) at 43.34% 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%
BHP
Materials industry group
43.34%
- Max
- 66.70%
- BHP
- 43.34%
- Q3
- 28.92%
- Median
- 12.56%
- Q1
- 3.28%
- Min
- -14.07%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | ALB | BHP |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 7.05% | 24.00% |
| ROA (TTM) | 3.95% | 13.43% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 11.08% | 16.73% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 11.74% | 43.34% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 26.17% | 85.92% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
BHP (BHP) at 14.63% 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.
EPS Growth
Only one side can be read here: BHP (BHP) reports EPS growth of 8.91%, ranked against its industry; Albemarle (ALB) has no EPS growth figure this period.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | ALB | BHP |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | -4.37% | 14.63% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | -11.10% | 2.97% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | -- | 8.91% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | -- | -8.80% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Both Albemarle (ALB) at 2.34 and BHP (BHP) at 1.89 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
BHP
Materials industry group
1.89
- Max
- 5.96
- Q3
- 3.30
- Median
- 2.24
- BHP
- 1.89
- Q1
- 1.45
- Min
- 0.16
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Both Albemarle (ALB) at 0.18 and BHP (BHP) at 0.50 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
BHP
Materials industry group
0.50
- Max
- 1.98
- Q3
- 0.89
- BHP
- 0.50
- Median
- 0.47
- Q1
- 0.13
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | ALB | BHP |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 2.34 | 1.89 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 0.18 | 0.50 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 0.09 | 0.33 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
BHP (BHP) at 2.19% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while Albemarle (ALB) at 1.65% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, BHP 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%
BHP
Materials industry group
2.19%
- Max
- 4.52%
- BHP
- 2.19%
- Q3
- 1.85%
- Median
- 0.38%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Albemarle (ALB) at 39.16% pays out a band-typical share of earnings, while BHP (BHP) at 68.84% 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%
BHP
Materials industry group
68.84%
- Max
- 83.62%
- BHP
- 68.84%
- Q3
- 41.37%
- Median
- 9.54%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | ALB | BHP |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 1.65% | 2.19% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 39.16% | 68.84% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Both Albemarle (ALB) at 23.92 and BHP (BHP) at 20.70 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
BHP
Materials industry group
20.70
- Max
- 59.00
- Q3
- 32.93
- BHP
- 20.70
- Median
- 18.82
- Q1
- 11.96
- Min
- 3.93
P/S Ratio (TTM)
On P/S ratio, both Albemarle (ALB) at 1.90 and BHP (BHP) at 3.46 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
BHP
Materials industry group
3.46
- Max
- 9.62
- Q3
- 4.34
- BHP
- 3.46
- Median
- 1.87
- Q1
- 0.73
- Min
- 0.00
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Albemarle (ALB) at 1.41 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.
ALB
Materials industry group
1.41
- Max
- 6.59
- Q3
- 3.55
- Median
- 2.08
- ALB
- 1.41
- 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
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | ALB | BHP |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 23.92 | 20.70 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 1.90 | 3.46 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 1.41 | 3.98 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 10.67% | 4.72% |