ALB vs. CRH: A Head-to-Head Stock Comparison
Updated onHere’s a clear look at ALB and CRH, comparing key factors like historical performance, profitability, financial strength, growth, dividend, and valuation.
Company Overview
CRH’s market capitalization of 64.18 billion USD is significantly greater than ALB’s 7.91 billion USD, highlighting its more substantial market valuation.
With betas of 1.61 for ALB and 1.22 for CRH, both stocks show similar sensitivity to overall market movements.
| Symbol | ALB | CRH |
|---|---|---|
| Company Name | Albemarle Corporation | CRH plc |
| Country | US | IE |
| Sector | Basic Materials | Basic Materials |
| Industry | Chemicals - Specialty | Construction Materials |
| CEO | Jerry Kent Masters Jr. | Jim Mintern |
| Price | 67.21 USD | 94.94 USD |
| Market Cap | 7.91 billion USD | 64.18 billion USD |
| Beta | 1.61 | 1.22 |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| IPO Date | February 22, 1994 | July 13, 1989 |
| ADR | No | No |
Historical Performance
This chart compares the performance of ALB and CRH by tracking the growth of an initial $10,000 investment in each. Use the tabs to select the desired time period.
Data is adjusted for dividends and splits.
Profitability
Return on Equity
ALB
-11.01%
Chemicals - Specialty Industry
- Max
- 34.45%
- Q3
- 15.78%
- Median
- 7.65%
- Q1
- 2.96%
- Min
- -12.04%
ALB has a negative Return on Equity of -11.01%. This indicates the company is generating a loss for its shareholders, which can be a result of unprofitability or negative shareholder equity and is often a sign of financial distress.
CRH
15.42%
Construction Materials Industry
- Max
- 32.32%
- Q3
- 20.74%
- Median
- 15.42%
- Q1
- 12.55%
- Min
- 11.55%
CRH’s Return on Equity of 15.42% is on par with the norm for the Construction Materials industry, indicating its profitability relative to shareholder equity is typical for the sector.
Return on Invested Capital
ALB
-8.62%
Chemicals - Specialty Industry
- Max
- 20.22%
- Q3
- 10.99%
- Median
- 5.25%
- Q1
- 3.06%
- Min
- -8.62%
ALB has a negative Return on Invested Capital of -8.62%. This indicates that its operations are failing to generate a profit on the total capital invested, signaling significant inefficiency or value destruction.
CRH
8.38%
Construction Materials Industry
- Max
- 15.45%
- Q3
- 12.02%
- Median
- 9.68%
- Q1
- 7.11%
- Min
- 7.02%
CRH’s Return on Invested Capital of 8.38% is in line with the norm for the Construction Materials industry, reflecting a standard level of efficiency in generating profits from its capital base.
Net Profit Margin
ALB
-22.39%
Chemicals - Specialty Industry
- Max
- 23.23%
- Q3
- 10.64%
- Median
- 5.14%
- Q1
- 0.64%
- Min
- -8.93%
ALB has a negative Net Profit Margin of -22.39%, indicating the company is operating at a net loss as its expenses exceeded its revenues.
CRH
9.19%
Construction Materials Industry
- Max
- 20.50%
- Q3
- 16.08%
- Median
- 10.94%
- Q1
- 9.16%
- Min
- 4.73%
CRH’s Net Profit Margin of 9.19% is aligned with the median group of its peers in the Construction Materials industry. This indicates its ability to convert revenue into profit is typical for the sector.
Operating Profit Margin
ALB
-25.05%
Chemicals - Specialty Industry
- Max
- 26.42%
- Q3
- 15.81%
- Median
- 10.07%
- Q1
- 4.82%
- Min
- -7.44%
ALB has a negative Operating Profit Margin of -25.05%. This signifies the company is unprofitable at the operational level, as its core business expenses exceed its revenue.
CRH
13.73%
Construction Materials Industry
- Max
- 26.51%
- Q3
- 22.33%
- Median
- 18.96%
- Q1
- 12.92%
- Min
- 6.22%
CRH’s Operating Profit Margin of 13.73% is around the midpoint for the Construction Materials industry, indicating that its efficiency in managing core business operations is typical for the sector.
Profitability at a Glance
| Symbol | ALB | CRH |
|---|---|---|
| Return on Equity (TTM) | -11.01% | 15.42% |
| Return on Assets (TTM) | -6.71% | 6.33% |
| Return on Invested Capital (TTM) | -8.62% | 8.38% |
| Net Profit Margin (TTM) | -22.39% | 9.19% |
| Operating Profit Margin (TTM) | -25.05% | 13.73% |
| Gross Profit Margin (TTM) | 3.53% | 35.57% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio
ALB
2.11
Chemicals - Specialty Industry
- Max
- 3.95
- Q3
- 2.60
- Median
- 2.04
- Q1
- 1.60
- Min
- 0.77
ALB’s Current Ratio of 2.11 aligns with the median group of the Chemicals - Specialty industry, indicating that its short-term liquidity is in line with its sector peers.
CRH
1.63
Construction Materials Industry
- Max
- 2.94
- Q3
- 2.73
- Median
- 2.25
- Q1
- 1.63
- Min
- 0.87
CRH’s Current Ratio of 1.63 aligns with the median group of the Construction Materials industry, indicating that its short-term liquidity is in line with its sector peers.
Debt-to-Equity Ratio
ALB
0.36
Chemicals - Specialty Industry
- Max
- 1.65
- Q3
- 1.10
- Median
- 0.73
- Q1
- 0.55
- Min
- 0.01
Falling into the lower quartile for the Chemicals - Specialty industry, ALB’s Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 0.36 points to a conservative financing strategy. This results in lower financial risk but potentially limits strategic investments compared to more leveraged competitors.
CRH
0.80
Construction Materials Industry
- Max
- 0.88
- Q3
- 0.71
- Median
- 0.53
- Q1
- 0.21
- Min
- 0.01
CRH’s leverage is in the upper quartile of the Construction Materials industry, with a Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 0.80. While this approach can boost equity growth, it also exposes the company to greater financial vulnerability.
Interest Coverage Ratio
ALB
-9.99
Chemicals - Specialty Industry
- Max
- 13.69
- Q3
- 9.06
- Median
- 5.24
- Q1
- 1.68
- Min
- -3.09
ALB has a negative Interest Coverage Ratio of -9.99. This indicates that its earnings were insufficient to cover even its operational costs, let alone its interest payments, signaling significant financial distress.
CRH
7.45
Construction Materials Industry
- Max
- 32.44
- Q3
- 18.11
- Median
- 7.75
- Q1
- 5.31
- Min
- 3.30
CRH’s Interest Coverage Ratio of 7.45 is positioned comfortably within the norm for the Construction Materials industry, indicating a standard and healthy capacity to cover its interest payments.
Financial Strength at a Glance
| Symbol | ALB | CRH |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (TTM) | 2.11 | 1.63 |
| Quick Ratio (TTM) | 1.26 | 1.07 |
| Debt-to-Equity Ratio (TTM) | 0.36 | 0.80 |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio (TTM) | 0.21 | 0.33 |
| Net Debt-to-EBITDA Ratio (TTM) | -2.61 | 2.09 |
| Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM) | -9.99 | 7.45 |
Growth
The following charts compare key year-over-year (YoY) growth metrics for ALB and CRH. These metrics are based on the companies’ annual financial reports.
Revenue Growth
Earnings Per Share (EPS) Growth
Free Cash Flow Growth
Dividend
Dividend Yield
ALB
2.41%
Chemicals - Specialty Industry
- Max
- 9.19%
- Q3
- 2.44%
- Median
- 1.46%
- Q1
- 0.25%
- Min
- 0.00%
ALB’s Dividend Yield of 2.41% is consistent with its peers in the Chemicals - Specialty industry, providing a dividend return that is standard for its sector.
CRH
1.51%
Construction Materials Industry
- Max
- 8.35%
- Q3
- 1.57%
- Median
- 0.61%
- Q1
- 0.22%
- Min
- 0.00%
CRH’s Dividend Yield of 1.51% is consistent with its peers in the Construction Materials industry, providing a dividend return that is standard for its sector.
Dividend Payout Ratio
ALB
-31.01%
Chemicals - Specialty Industry
- Max
- 163.70%
- Q3
- 57.04%
- Median
- 30.02%
- Q1
- 12.51%
- Min
- 0.00%
ALB has a negative Dividend Payout Ratio of -31.01%. This typically means the company paid a dividend despite reporting a net loss, a situation that may signal financial instability.
CRH
29.07%
Construction Materials Industry
- Max
- 86.74%
- Q3
- 26.48%
- Median
- 13.85%
- Q1
- 4.99%
- Min
- 0.00%
CRH’s Dividend Payout Ratio of 29.07% is in the upper quartile for the Construction Materials industry. This indicates a strong commitment to shareholder returns but also suggests that a smaller portion of earnings is retained for reinvestment compared to many peers.
Dividend at a Glance
| Symbol | ALB | CRH |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 2.41% | 1.51% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | -31.01% | 29.07% |
Valuation
Price-to-Earnings Ratio
ALB
-6.93
Chemicals - Specialty Industry
- Max
- 56.68
- Q3
- 33.75
- Median
- 23.45
- Q1
- 16.09
- Min
- 7.50
ALB has a negative P/E Ratio of -6.93. This occurs when a company has negative earnings (a net loss), making the ratio unsuitable for valuation analysis.
CRH
19.53
Construction Materials Industry
- Max
- 37.00
- Q3
- 25.95
- Median
- 18.83
- Q1
- 14.75
- Min
- 6.99
CRH’s P/E Ratio of 19.53 is within the middle range for the Construction Materials industry. This suggests its valuation is in line with the sector average, representing neither a significant premium nor a discount compared to its peers.
Forward P/E to Growth Ratio
ALB
37.21
Chemicals - Specialty Industry
- Max
- 6.58
- Q3
- 3.23
- Median
- 1.64
- Q1
- 0.96
- Min
- 0.16
ALB’s Forward PEG Ratio of 37.21 is exceptionally high for the Chemicals - Specialty industry. This suggests its stock price is very high relative to its expected earnings growth, signaling significant overvaluation risk.
CRH
1.81
Construction Materials Industry
- Max
- 2.56
- Q3
- 2.21
- Median
- 1.91
- Q1
- 1.46
- Min
- 0.48
The Forward PEG Ratio is often not a primary valuation metric in the Construction Materials industry.
Price-to-Sales Ratio
ALB
1.55
Chemicals - Specialty Industry
- Max
- 3.76
- Q3
- 2.31
- Median
- 1.38
- Q1
- 0.89
- Min
- 0.16
ALB’s P/S Ratio of 1.55 aligns with the market consensus for the Chemicals - Specialty industry. This suggests its valuation, based on sales, is seen as standard and is on par with its competitors.
CRH
1.79
Construction Materials Industry
- Max
- 5.00
- Q3
- 3.98
- Median
- 2.34
- Q1
- 1.52
- Min
- 0.50
CRH’s P/S Ratio of 1.79 aligns with the market consensus for the Construction Materials industry. This suggests its valuation, based on sales, is seen as standard and is on par with its competitors.
Price-to-Book Ratio
ALB
0.79
Chemicals - Specialty Industry
- Max
- 6.73
- Q3
- 3.78
- Median
- 1.56
- Q1
- 1.27
- Min
- 0.35
ALB’s P/B Ratio of 0.79 is in the lower quartile for the Chemicals - Specialty industry. From a value investing perspective, this is favorable, as it suggests the stock is trading at a discount to its net asset value and may offer a greater margin of safety.
CRH
3.04
Construction Materials Industry
- Max
- 5.60
- Q3
- 4.69
- Median
- 3.33
- Q1
- 1.80
- Min
- 0.76
CRH’s P/B Ratio of 3.04 is within the conventional range for the Construction Materials industry. This shows a balanced market view, where the stock’s price is neither at a significant premium nor a discount to the book value of its peers.
Valuation at a Glance
| Symbol | ALB | CRH |
|---|---|---|
| Price-to-Earnings Ratio (P/E, TTM) | -6.93 | 19.53 |
| Forward PEG Ratio (TTM) | 37.21 | 1.81 |
| Price-to-Sales Ratio (P/S, TTM) | 1.55 | 1.79 |
| Price-to-Book Ratio (P/B, TTM) | 0.79 | 3.04 |
| Price-to-Free Cash Flow Ratio (P/FCF, TTM) | -56.65 | 27.60 |
| EV-to-EBITDA (TTM) | -12.35 | 11.93 |
| EV-to-Sales (TTM) | 1.97 | 2.17 |