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ALB vs. IFF: Albemarle vs. Intl Flavors & Fragrances Stock Comparison

How do Albemarle (ALB) and Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) 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 Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) are both classified in the Specialty Chemicals sub-industry within the broader Chemicals industry, placing them in the closest GICS peer bucket.

Company profile comparison for Albemarle (ALB) and Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF)
Profile ItemALBIFF
NameAlbemarle CorporationInternational Flavors & Fragrances, Inc.
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorMaterialsMaterials
GICS Industry GroupMaterialsMaterials
GICS IndustryChemicalsChemicals
GICS Sub-IndustrySpecialty ChemicalsSpecialty Chemicals
Market Capitalization11.71 billion USD20.69 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateFebruary 22, 1994December 17, 1974
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

ALB
IFF
GSPC
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Albemarle (ALB) vs. Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF), 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 Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Albemarle (ALB) and Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Albemarle (ALB) and Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF)
MetricALBIFF
Total Return (1Y)1.28%40.13%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)-3.80%8.28%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)-17.74%-8.71%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

ALB
IFF
GSPC
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Albemarle (ALB) vs. Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF), 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 Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Albemarle (ALB) and Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF)
MetricALBIFF
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)53.59%36.26%
Beta (5Y)1.320.88
Max Drawdown (5Y)-83.90%-56.66%
Avg. Volume (3M)2.40M1.88M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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ALB and IFF 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 Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF)
MetricALBIFF
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)-0.060.99
Sortino Ratio (1Y)-0.081.71

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) reports a negative ROE of -7.37%; negative ROE can reflect losses or negative shareholders’ equity, so it is harder to read as capital efficiency. Meanwhile Albemarle (ALB) reports 7.05%, ranking against industry peers normally.

ALB

Materials industry group

7.05%

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

IFF

Materials industry group

-7.37%

Max
52.88%
Q3
19.49%
Median
8.76%
Q1
-3.41%
IFF
-7.37%
Min
-32.81%
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Albemarle (ALB) vs. Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF): A comparison of their ROE against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Both Albemarle (ALB) at 11.08% and Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) at 1.68% 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%

IFF

Materials industry group

1.68%

Max
38.66%
Q3
15.98%
Median
5.28%
IFF
1.68%
Q1
0.00%
Min
-20.40%
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Albemarle (ALB) vs. Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF): A comparison of their net margin against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Albemarle (ALB) at 11.74% and Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) at 9.53% 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%

IFF

Materials industry group

9.53%

Max
66.70%
Q3
28.92%
Median
12.56%
IFF
9.53%
Q1
3.28%
Min
-14.07%
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Albemarle (ALB) vs. Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF): A comparison of their operating margin against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Albemarle (ALB) and Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF)
MetricALBIFF
ROE (TTM)7.05%-7.37%
ROA (TTM)3.95%2.18%
Net Margin (TTM)11.08%1.68%
Operating Margin (TTM)11.74%9.53%
Gross Margin (TTM)26.17%36.27%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Albemarle (ALB) at -4.37% and Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) at -5.17% post bottom-quartile revenue growth versus peers, pointing to weaker demand or pricing momentum than typical rivals.

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Albemarle (ALB) vs. Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Only one side can be read here: Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) reports EPS growth of -248.42%, ranked against its industry; Albemarle (ALB) has no EPS growth figure this period.

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Albemarle (ALB) vs. Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Albemarle (ALB) and Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF)
MetricALBIFF
Revenue Growth (YoY)-4.37%-5.17%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)-11.10%-4.34%
EPS Growth (YoY)---248.42%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)----

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Albemarle (ALB) at 2.34 and Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) at 1.87 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

IFF

Materials industry group

1.87

Max
5.96
Q3
3.30
Median
2.24
IFF
1.87
Q1
1.45
Min
0.16
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Albemarle (ALB) vs. Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF): A comparison of their current ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both Albemarle (ALB) at 0.18 and Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) at 0.51 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

IFF

Materials industry group

0.51

Max
1.98
Q3
0.89
IFF
0.51
Median
0.47
Q1
0.13
Min
0.00
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Albemarle (ALB) vs. Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Albemarle (ALB) and Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF)
MetricALBIFF
Current Ratio (MRQ)2.341.87
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.180.51
Net Debt / EBITDA0.093.51

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) at 1.85% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while Albemarle (ALB) at 1.65% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, IFF 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%

IFF

Materials industry group

1.85%

Max
4.52%
IFF
1.85%
Q3
1.85%
Median
0.38%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Albemarle (ALB) vs. Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF): 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 Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) at 62.26% 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%

IFF

Materials industry group

62.26%

Max
83.62%
IFF
62.26%
Q3
41.37%
Median
9.54%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Albemarle (ALB) vs. Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Albemarle (ALB) and Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF)
MetricALBIFF
Dividend Yield (TTM)1.65%1.85%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)39.16%62.26%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Albemarle (ALB) at 23.92 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) at 236.06 sits above its peer range — an unusually expensive price for IFF’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

IFF

Materials industry group

236.06

IFF
236.06
Max
59.00
Q3
32.93
Median
18.82
Q1
11.96
Min
3.93
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Albemarle (ALB) vs. Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF): 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 Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) at 1.91 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

IFF

Materials industry group

1.91

Max
9.62
Q3
4.34
IFF
1.91
Median
1.87
Q1
0.73
Min
0.00
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Albemarle (ALB) vs. Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF): 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 Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) at 1.56 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

IFF

Materials industry group

1.56

Max
6.59
Q3
3.55
Median
2.08
IFF
1.56
Q1
1.26
Min
-0.17
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Albemarle (ALB) vs. Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Albemarle (ALB) and Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF)
MetricALBIFF
P/E Ratio (TTM)23.92236.06
P/S Ratio (TTM)1.901.91
P/B Ratio (MRQ)1.411.56
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)10.67%-10.66%