ALB vs. MLM: Albemarle vs. Martin Marietta Materials Stock Comparison
How do Albemarle (ALB) and Martin Marietta Materials (MLM) 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 Martin Marietta Materials (MLM) both fall under the Materials industry group, but ALB is classified in Chemicals while MLM is classified in Construction Materials.
| Profile Item | ALB | MLM |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Albemarle Corporation | Martin Marietta Materials, Inc. |
| Country/Region | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Materials | Materials |
| GICS Industry Group | Materials | Materials |
| GICS Industry | Chemicals | Construction Materials |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Specialty Chemicals | Construction Materials |
| Market Capitalization | 11.71 billion USD | 36.85 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | February 22, 1994 | February 17, 1994 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | ALB | MLM |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 1.28% | -12.23% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | -3.80% | 6.32% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | -17.74% | 5.43% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | ALB | MLM |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 53.59% | 29.72% |
| Beta (5Y) | 1.32 | 1.02 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -83.90% | -33.19% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 2.40M | 805.11K |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | ALB | MLM |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | -0.06 | -0.56 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | -0.08 | -0.75 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Both Albemarle (ALB) at 7.05% and Martin Marietta Materials (MLM) at 6.02% 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%
MLM
Materials industry group
6.02%
- Max
- 52.88%
- Q3
- 19.49%
- Median
- 8.76%
- MLM
- 6.02%
- Q1
- -3.41%
- Min
- -32.81%
Net Margin (TTM)
Martin Marietta Materials (MLM) at 31.88% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of Albemarle (ALB) at 11.08%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.
ALB
Materials industry group
11.08%
- Max
- 38.66%
- Q3
- 15.98%
- ALB
- 11.08%
- Median
- 5.28%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- -20.40%
MLM
Materials industry group
31.88%
- Max
- 38.66%
- MLM
- 31.88%
- Q3
- 15.98%
- Median
- 5.28%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- -20.40%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Both Albemarle (ALB) at 11.74% and Martin Marietta Materials (MLM) at 22.29% 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%
MLM
Materials industry group
22.29%
- Max
- 66.70%
- Q3
- 28.92%
- MLM
- 22.29%
- Median
- 12.56%
- Q1
- 3.28%
- Min
- -14.07%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | ALB | MLM |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 7.05% | 6.02% |
| ROA (TTM) | 3.95% | 3.27% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 11.08% | 31.88% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 11.74% | 22.29% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 26.17% | 26.74% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Martin Marietta Materials (MLM) at 8.62% 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.
EPS Growth
Only one side can be read here: Martin Marietta Materials (MLM) reports EPS growth of -42.09%, ranked against its industry; Albemarle (ALB) has no EPS growth figure this period.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | ALB | MLM |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | -4.37% | 8.62% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | -11.10% | -0.06% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | -- | -42.09% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | -- | 10.61% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Both Albemarle (ALB) at 2.34 and Martin Marietta Materials (MLM) at 1.63 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
MLM
Materials industry group
1.63
- Max
- 5.96
- Q3
- 3.30
- Median
- 2.24
- MLM
- 1.63
- Q1
- 1.45
- Min
- 0.16
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Both Albemarle (ALB) at 0.18 and Martin Marietta Materials (MLM) at 0.75 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
MLM
Materials industry group
0.75
- Max
- 1.98
- Q3
- 0.89
- MLM
- 0.75
- Median
- 0.47
- Q1
- 0.13
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | ALB | MLM |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 2.34 | 1.63 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 0.18 | 0.75 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 0.09 | 5.88 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Both Albemarle (ALB) at 1.65% and Martin Marietta Materials (MLM) at 0.63% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.
ALB
Materials industry group
1.65%
- Max
- 4.52%
- Q3
- 1.85%
- ALB
- 1.65%
- Median
- 0.38%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
MLM
Materials industry group
0.63%
- Max
- 4.52%
- Q3
- 1.85%
- MLM
- 0.63%
- Median
- 0.38%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Both Albemarle (ALB) at 39.16% and Martin Marietta Materials (MLM) at 24.85% keep payout ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges — dividend policies that share earnings without consuming too much of them.
ALB
Materials industry group
39.16%
- Max
- 83.62%
- Q3
- 41.37%
- ALB
- 39.16%
- Median
- 9.54%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
MLM
Materials industry group
24.85%
- Max
- 83.62%
- Q3
- 41.37%
- MLM
- 24.85%
- Median
- 9.54%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | ALB | MLM |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 1.65% | 0.63% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 39.16% | 24.85% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Albemarle (ALB) at 23.92 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Martin Marietta Materials (MLM) at 38.67 sits in the richer quartile — MLM 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
MLM
Materials industry group
38.67
- Max
- 59.00
- MLM
- 38.67
- Q3
- 32.93
- Median
- 18.82
- Q1
- 11.96
- Min
- 3.93
P/S Ratio (TTM)
Albemarle (ALB) at 1.90 is priced about in line with its industry on P/S ratio, while Martin Marietta Materials (MLM) at 5.11 sits in the pricier quartile — MLM costs more per dollar of sales.
ALB
Materials industry group
1.90
- Max
- 9.62
- Q3
- 4.34
- ALB
- 1.90
- Median
- 1.87
- Q1
- 0.73
- Min
- 0.00
MLM
Materials industry group
5.11
- Max
- 9.62
- MLM
- 5.11
- Q3
- 4.34
- Median
- 1.87
- Q1
- 0.73
- Min
- 0.00
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
On P/B ratio, both Albemarle (ALB) at 1.41 and Martin Marietta Materials (MLM) at 2.09 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
MLM
Materials industry group
2.09
- Max
- 6.59
- Q3
- 3.55
- MLM
- 2.09
- Median
- 2.08
- Q1
- 1.26
- Min
- -0.17
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | ALB | MLM |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 23.92 | 38.67 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 1.90 | 5.11 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 1.41 | 2.09 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 10.67% | 4.54% |