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ALB vs. CX: Albemarle vs. CEMEX Stock Comparison

How do Albemarle (ALB) and CEMEX (CX) 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 CEMEX (CX) both fall under the Materials industry group, but ALB is classified in Chemicals while CX is classified in Construction Materials.

Albemarle (ALB) trades as ordinary local shares, while CEMEX (CX) trades as an ADR — compare with FX exposure, depositary-program fees, and dividend-withholding-tax differences in mind.

Company profile comparison for Albemarle (ALB) and CEMEX (CX)
Profile ItemALBCX
NameAlbemarle CorporationCemex S.A.B. de C.V. Sponsored ADR
Country/RegionUnited StatesMexico
GICS SectorMaterialsMaterials
GICS Industry GroupMaterialsMaterials
GICS IndustryChemicalsConstruction Materials
GICS Sub-IndustrySpecialty ChemicalsConstruction Materials
Market Capitalization11.71 billion USD15.47 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateFebruary 22, 1994September 15, 1999
Security TypeCommon StockADR

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

ALB
CX
GSPC
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Albemarle (ALB) vs. CEMEX (CX), 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 CEMEX (CX). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Albemarle (ALB) and CEMEX (CX)
MetricALBCX
Total Return (1Y)1.28%7.57%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)-3.80%17.84%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)-17.74%10.81%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

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

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Albemarle (ALB) and CEMEX (CX)
MetricALBCX
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)53.59%36.82%
Beta (5Y)1.321.57
Max Drawdown (5Y)-83.90%-53.08%
Avg. Volume (3M)2.40M7.01M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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ALB and CX 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 CEMEX (CX)
MetricALBCX
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)-0.060.09
Sortino Ratio (1Y)-0.080.14

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both Albemarle (ALB) at 7.05% and CEMEX (CX) at 5.17% 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%

CX

Materials industry group

5.17%

Max
52.88%
Q3
19.49%
Median
8.76%
CX
5.17%
Q1
-3.41%
Min
-32.81%
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Albemarle (ALB) vs. CEMEX (CX): A comparison of their ROE against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Both Albemarle (ALB) at 11.08% and CEMEX (CX) at 3.60% 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%

CX

Materials industry group

3.60%

Max
38.66%
Q3
15.98%
Median
5.28%
CX
3.60%
Q1
0.00%
Min
-20.40%
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Albemarle (ALB) vs. CEMEX (CX): A comparison of their net margin against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Albemarle (ALB) at 11.74% and CEMEX (CX) at 14.77% 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%

CX

Materials industry group

14.77%

Max
66.70%
Q3
28.92%
CX
14.77%
Median
12.56%
Q1
3.28%
Min
-14.07%
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Albemarle (ALB) vs. CEMEX (CX): A comparison of their operating margin against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Albemarle (ALB) and CEMEX (CX)
MetricALBCX
ROE (TTM)7.05%5.17%
ROA (TTM)3.95%5.07%
Net Margin (TTM)11.08%3.60%
Operating Margin (TTM)11.74%14.77%
Gross Margin (TTM)26.17%33.48%

Growth

Revenue Growth

CEMEX (CX) at 0.43% 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. CEMEX (CX): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Only one side can be read here: CEMEX (CX) reports EPS growth of 2.35%, ranked against its industry; Albemarle (ALB) has no EPS growth figure this period.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Albemarle (ALB) and CEMEX (CX)
MetricALBCX
Revenue Growth (YoY)-4.37%0.43%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)-11.10%3.13%
EPS Growth (YoY)--2.35%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)--4.14%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Albemarle (ALB) at 2.34 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while CEMEX (CX) at 0.95 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for CX.

ALB

Materials industry group

2.34

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

CX

Materials industry group

0.95

Max
5.96
Q3
3.30
Median
2.24
Q1
1.45
CX
0.95
Min
0.16
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Albemarle (ALB) vs. CEMEX (CX): A comparison of their current ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both Albemarle (ALB) at 0.18 and CEMEX (CX) at 0.46 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

CX

Materials industry group

0.46

Max
1.98
Q3
0.89
Median
0.47
CX
0.46
Q1
0.13
Min
0.00
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Albemarle (ALB) vs. CEMEX (CX): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Albemarle (ALB) and CEMEX (CX)
MetricALBCX
Current Ratio (MRQ)2.340.95
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.180.46
Net Debt / EBITDA0.091.60

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

CEMEX (CX) pays no dividend (yield 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Albemarle (ALB) reports a yield of 1.65%, ranking against industry peers normally.

ALB

Materials industry group

1.65%

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

CX

Materials industry group

0.00%

Max
4.52%
Q3
1.85%
Median
0.38%
CX
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Albemarle (ALB) vs. CEMEX (CX): 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 CEMEX (CX) at 67.86% 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%

CX

Materials industry group

67.86%

Max
83.62%
CX
67.86%
Q3
41.37%
Median
9.54%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Albemarle (ALB) vs. CEMEX (CX): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Albemarle (ALB) and CEMEX (CX)
MetricALBCX
Dividend Yield (TTM)1.65%0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)39.16%67.86%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Albemarle (ALB) at 23.92 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while CEMEX (CX) at 67.00 sits above its peer range — an unusually expensive price for CX’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

CX

Materials industry group

67.00

CX
67.00
Max
59.00
Q3
32.93
Median
18.82
Q1
11.96
Min
3.93
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Albemarle (ALB) vs. CEMEX (CX): 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 CEMEX (CX) at 0.89 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

CX

Materials industry group

0.89

Max
9.62
Q3
4.34
Median
1.87
CX
0.89
Q1
0.73
Min
0.00
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Albemarle (ALB) vs. CEMEX (CX): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

CEMEX (CX) at 1.20 sits in the lower P/B ratio quartile against book while Albemarle (ALB) at 1.41 is valued near its industry’s middle — CX is cheaper on assets, though weigh it against ROE and asset quality.

ALB

Materials industry group

1.41

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

CX

Materials industry group

1.20

Max
6.59
Q3
3.55
Median
2.08
Q1
1.26
CX
1.20
Min
-0.17
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Albemarle (ALB) vs. CEMEX (CX): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Albemarle (ALB) and CEMEX (CX)
MetricALBCX
P/E Ratio (TTM)23.9267.00
P/S Ratio (TTM)1.900.89
P/B Ratio (MRQ)1.411.20
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)10.67%8.86%