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ALB vs. JHX: Albemarle vs. James Hardie Industries Stock Comparison

How do Albemarle (ALB) and James Hardie Industries (JHX) 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 James Hardie Industries (JHX) both fall under the Materials industry group, but ALB is classified in Chemicals while JHX is classified in Construction Materials.

Company profile comparison for Albemarle (ALB) and James Hardie Industries (JHX)
Profile ItemALBJHX
NameAlbemarle CorporationJames Hardie Industries plc
Country/RegionUnited StatesIreland
GICS SectorMaterialsMaterials
GICS Industry GroupMaterialsMaterials
GICS IndustryChemicalsConstruction Materials
GICS Sub-IndustrySpecialty ChemicalsConstruction Materials
Market Capitalization11.71 billion USD16.20 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateFebruary 22, 1994October 22, 2001
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

ALB
JHX
GSPC
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Albemarle (ALB) vs. James Hardie Industries (JHX), 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 James Hardie Industries (JHX). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Albemarle (ALB) and James Hardie Industries (JHX). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Albemarle (ALB) and James Hardie Industries (JHX)
MetricALBJHX
Total Return (1Y)1.28%72.20%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)-3.80%0.38%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)-17.74%-5.23%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

ALB
JHX
GSPC
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Albemarle (ALB) vs. James Hardie Industries (JHX), 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 James Hardie Industries (JHX). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Albemarle (ALB) and James Hardie Industries (JHX)
MetricALBJHX
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)53.59%44.97%
Beta (5Y)1.321.74
Max Drawdown (5Y)-83.90%-60.26%
Avg. Volume (3M)2.40M9.36M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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ALB and JHX 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 James Hardie Industries (JHX)
MetricALBJHX
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)-0.061.51
Sortino Ratio (1Y)-0.082.59

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both Albemarle (ALB) at 7.05% and James Hardie Industries (JHX) at 5.46% 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%

JHX

Materials industry group

5.46%

Max
52.88%
Q3
19.49%
Median
8.76%
JHX
5.46%
Q1
-3.41%
Min
-32.81%
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Albemarle (ALB) vs. James Hardie Industries (JHX): A comparison of their ROE against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Both Albemarle (ALB) at 11.08% and James Hardie Industries (JHX) at 6.22% 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%

JHX

Materials industry group

6.22%

Max
38.66%
Q3
15.98%
JHX
6.22%
Median
5.28%
Q1
0.00%
Min
-20.40%
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Albemarle (ALB) vs. James Hardie Industries (JHX): A comparison of their net margin against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Albemarle (ALB) at 11.74% and James Hardie Industries (JHX) at 19.56% 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%

JHX

Materials industry group

19.56%

Max
66.70%
Q3
28.92%
JHX
19.56%
Median
12.56%
Q1
3.28%
Min
-14.07%
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Albemarle (ALB) vs. James Hardie Industries (JHX): A comparison of their operating margin against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Albemarle (ALB) and James Hardie Industries (JHX)
MetricALBJHX
ROE (TTM)7.05%5.46%
ROA (TTM)3.95%4.42%
Net Margin (TTM)11.08%6.22%
Operating Margin (TTM)11.74%19.56%
Gross Margin (TTM)26.17%38.25%

Growth

Revenue Growth

James Hardie Industries (JHX) at 24.71% 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. James Hardie Industries (JHX): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Only one side can be read here: James Hardie Industries (JHX) reports EPS growth of -80.61%, ranked against its industry; Albemarle (ALB) has no EPS growth figure this period.

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Albemarle (ALB) vs. James Hardie Industries (JHX): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Albemarle (ALB) and James Hardie Industries (JHX)
MetricALBJHX
Revenue Growth (YoY)-4.37%24.71%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)-11.10%8.59%
EPS Growth (YoY)---80.61%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)---45.13%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Albemarle (ALB) at 2.34 and James Hardie Industries (JHX) at 2.12 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

JHX

Materials industry group

2.12

Max
5.96
Q3
3.30
Median
2.24
JHX
2.12
Q1
1.45
Min
0.16
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Albemarle (ALB) vs. James Hardie Industries (JHX): A comparison of their current ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both Albemarle (ALB) at 0.18 and James Hardie Industries (JHX) at 0.63 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

JHX

Materials industry group

0.63

Max
1.98
Q3
0.89
JHX
0.63
Median
0.47
Q1
0.13
Min
0.00
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Albemarle (ALB) vs. James Hardie Industries (JHX): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Albemarle (ALB) and James Hardie Industries (JHX)
MetricALBJHX
Current Ratio (MRQ)2.342.12
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.180.63
Net Debt / EBITDA0.092.43

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

James Hardie Industries (JHX) 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%

JHX

Materials industry group

0.00%

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

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

James Hardie Industries (JHX) pays no dividend (payout 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Albemarle (ALB) reports a payout of 39.16%, ranking against industry peers normally.

ALB

Materials industry group

39.16%

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

JHX

Materials industry group

0.00%

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

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Albemarle (ALB) and James Hardie Industries (JHX)
MetricALBJHX
Dividend Yield (TTM)1.65%0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)39.16%0.00%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Albemarle (ALB) at 23.92 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while James Hardie Industries (JHX) at 48.02 sits in the richer quartile — JHX 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

JHX

Materials industry group

48.02

Max
59.00
JHX
48.02
Q3
32.93
Median
18.82
Q1
11.96
Min
3.93
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Albemarle (ALB) vs. James Hardie Industries (JHX): 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 James Hardie Industries (JHX) at 2.86 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

JHX

Materials industry group

2.86

Max
9.62
Q3
4.34
JHX
2.86
Median
1.87
Q1
0.73
Min
0.00
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Albemarle (ALB) vs. James Hardie Industries (JHX): 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 James Hardie Industries (JHX) at 2.41 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

JHX

Materials industry group

2.41

Max
6.59
Q3
3.55
JHX
2.41
Median
2.08
Q1
1.26
Min
-0.17
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Albemarle (ALB) vs. James Hardie Industries (JHX): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Albemarle (ALB) and James Hardie Industries (JHX)
MetricALBJHX
P/E Ratio (TTM)23.9248.02
P/S Ratio (TTM)1.902.86
P/B Ratio (MRQ)1.412.41
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)10.67%0.98%