ALB vs. LYB: Albemarle vs. LyondellBasell Industries Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

How do Albemarle (ALB) and LyondellBasell Industries (LYB) 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 LyondellBasell Industries (LYB) both belong to the Chemicals industry, though ALB is classified under Specialty Chemicals while LYB falls under Commodity Chemicals.

Company profile comparison for Albemarle (ALB) and LyondellBasell Industries (LYB)
Profile Item	ALB	LYB
Name	Albemarle Corporation	LyondellBasell Industries N.V.
Country/Region	United States	Netherlands
GICS Sector	Materials	Materials
GICS Industry Group	Materials	Materials
GICS Industry	Chemicals	Chemicals
GICS Sub-Industry	Specialty Chemicals	Commodity Chemicals
Market Capitalization	11.71 billion USD	19.63 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	NYSE
Listing Date	February 22, 1994	April 28, 2010
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

ALB

LYB

GSPC

Albemarle (ALB) vs. LyondellBasell Industries (LYB), 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 LyondellBasell Industries (LYB). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Albemarle (ALB) and LyondellBasell Industries (LYB)
Metric	ALB	LYB
Total Return (1Y)	1.28%	49.52%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	-3.80%	-7.11%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	-17.74%	-1.68%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

ALB

LYB

GSPC

Albemarle (ALB) vs. LyondellBasell Industries (LYB), 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 LyondellBasell Industries (LYB). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Albemarle (ALB) has an aggressive beta of 1.32, indicating higher sensitivity to broad-market moves, while LyondellBasell Industries (LYB) is defensive at 0.32 and tends to be less market-sensitive — they sit on opposite ends of the beta spectrum.

Risk profile metrics for Albemarle (ALB) and LyondellBasell Industries (LYB)
Metric	ALB	LYB
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	53.59%	42.84%
Beta (5Y)	1.32	0.32
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-83.90%	-55.35%
Avg. Volume (3M)	2.40M	3.62M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

ALB and LYB 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 LyondellBasell Industries (LYB)
Metric	ALB	LYB
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	-0.06	1.06
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	-0.08	1.63

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both Albemarle (ALB) at 7.05% and LyondellBasell Industries (LYB) at 12.18% 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%

LYB

Materials industry group

12.18%

Max: 52.88%
Q3: 19.49%
LYB: 12.18%
Median: 8.76%
Q1: -3.41%
Min: -32.81%

Albemarle (ALB) vs. LyondellBasell Industries (LYB): A comparison of their ROE against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Both Albemarle (ALB) at 11.08% and LyondellBasell Industries (LYB) at 4.05% 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%

LYB

Materials industry group

4.05%

Max: 38.66%
Q3: 15.98%
Median: 5.28%
LYB: 4.05%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: -20.40%

Albemarle (ALB) vs. LyondellBasell Industries (LYB): A comparison of their net margin against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Albemarle (ALB) at 11.74% and LyondellBasell Industries (LYB) at 13.40% 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%

LYB

Materials industry group

13.40%

Max: 66.70%
Q3: 28.92%
LYB: 13.40%
Median: 12.56%
Q1: 3.28%
Min: -14.07%

Albemarle (ALB) vs. LyondellBasell Industries (LYB): A comparison of their operating margin against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Albemarle (ALB) and LyondellBasell Industries (LYB)
Metric	ALB	LYB
ROE (TTM)	7.05%	12.18%
ROA (TTM)	3.95%	5.36%
Net Margin (TTM)	11.08%	4.05%
Operating Margin (TTM)	11.74%	13.40%
Gross Margin (TTM)	26.17%	14.56%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Albemarle (ALB) at -4.37% and LyondellBasell Industries (LYB) at -9.71% post bottom-quartile revenue growth versus peers, pointing to weaker demand or pricing momentum than typical rivals.

Albemarle (ALB) vs. LyondellBasell Industries (LYB): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Only one side can be read here: LyondellBasell Industries (LYB) reports EPS growth of -156.39%, ranked against its industry; Albemarle (ALB) has no EPS growth figure this period.

Albemarle (ALB) vs. LyondellBasell Industries (LYB): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Albemarle (ALB) and LyondellBasell Industries (LYB)
Metric	ALB	LYB
Revenue Growth (YoY)	-4.37%	-9.71%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	-11.10%	-15.77%
EPS Growth (YoY)	--	-156.39%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	--	--

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Albemarle (ALB) at 2.34 and LyondellBasell Industries (LYB) at 1.78 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

LYB

Materials industry group

1.78

Max: 5.96
Q3: 3.30
Median: 2.24
LYB: 1.78
Q1: 1.45
Min: 0.16

Albemarle (ALB) vs. LyondellBasell Industries (LYB): A comparison of their current ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Albemarle (ALB) at 0.18 carries an industry-typical debt-to-equity mix, while LyondellBasell Industries (LYB) at 1.21 uses more debt funding than most peers.

ALB

Materials industry group

0.18

Max: 1.98
Q3: 0.89
Median: 0.47
ALB: 0.18
Q1: 0.13
Min: 0.00

LYB

Materials industry group

1.21

Max: 1.98
LYB: 1.21
Q3: 0.89
Median: 0.47
Q1: 0.13
Min: 0.00

Albemarle (ALB) vs. LyondellBasell Industries (LYB): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Albemarle (ALB) and LyondellBasell Industries (LYB)
Metric	ALB	LYB
Current Ratio (MRQ)	2.34	1.78
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	0.18	1.21
Net Debt / EBITDA	0.09	2.47

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Albemarle (ALB) at 1.65% pays an industry-typical yield; LyondellBasell Industries (LYB) at 5.58% is above its entire peer range — the higher number, but one that calls for a look at payout sustainability before treating it as an advantage.

ALB

Materials industry group

1.65%

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

LYB

Materials industry group

5.58%

LYB: 5.58%
Max: 4.52%
Q3: 1.85%
Median: 0.38%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Albemarle (ALB) vs. LyondellBasell Industries (LYB): 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 LyondellBasell Industries (LYB) at 83.29% 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%

LYB

Materials industry group

83.29%

Max: 83.62%
LYB: 83.29%
Q3: 41.37%
Median: 9.54%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Albemarle (ALB) vs. LyondellBasell Industries (LYB): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Albemarle (ALB) and LyondellBasell Industries (LYB)
Metric	ALB	LYB
Dividend Yield (TTM)	1.65%	5.58%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	39.16%	83.29%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Albemarle (ALB) at 23.92 and LyondellBasell Industries (LYB) at 14.70 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

LYB

Materials industry group

14.70

Max: 59.00
Q3: 32.93
Median: 18.82
LYB: 14.70
Q1: 11.96
Min: 3.93

Albemarle (ALB) vs. LyondellBasell Industries (LYB): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

LyondellBasell Industries (LYB) at 0.61 sits in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile while Albemarle (ALB) at 1.90 prices around its industry’s middle — LYB costs less per dollar of sales, though read it alongside growth and margins.

ALB

Materials industry group

1.90

Max: 9.62
Q3: 4.34
ALB: 1.90
Median: 1.87
Q1: 0.73
Min: 0.00

LYB

Materials industry group

0.61

Max: 9.62
Q3: 4.34
Median: 1.87
Q1: 0.73
LYB: 0.61
Min: 0.00

Albemarle (ALB) vs. LyondellBasell Industries (LYB): 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 LyondellBasell Industries (LYB) at 1.74 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

LYB

Materials industry group

1.74

Max: 6.59
Q3: 3.55
Median: 2.08
LYB: 1.74
Q1: 1.26
Min: -0.17

Albemarle (ALB) vs. LyondellBasell Industries (LYB): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Albemarle (ALB) and LyondellBasell Industries (LYB)
Metric	ALB	LYB
P/E Ratio (TTM)	23.92	14.70
P/S Ratio (TTM)	1.90	0.61
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	1.41	1.74
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	10.67%	9.06%