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ALB vs. NUE: A Head-to-Head Stock Comparison

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Here’s a clear look at ALB and NUE, comparing key factors like historical performance, profitability, financial strength, growth, dividend, and valuation.

Company Profile

SymbolALBNUE
Company NameAlbemarle CorporationNucor Corporation
CountryUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorMaterialsMaterials
GICS IndustryChemicalsMetals & Mining
Market Capitalization9.57 billion USD34.33 billion USD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateFebruary 22, 1994March 17, 1980
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Historical Performance

This chart compares the performance of ALB and NUE by tracking the growth of an initial $10,000 investment in each. Use the tabs to select the desired time period. Data is adjusted for dividends and splits.

ALB vs. NUE: Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past one year.

Historical Performance at a Glance

SymbolALBNUE
5-Day Price Return0.92%2.49%
13-Week Price Return40.30%35.11%
26-Week Price Return-2.84%7.00%
52-Week Price Return-6.43%2.28%
Month-to-Date Return19.81%4.53%
Year-to-Date Return-5.56%28.14%
10-Day Avg. Volume3.56M1.29M
3-Month Avg. Volume4.05M2.07M
3-Month Volatility59.74%34.94%
Beta1.701.83

Profitability

Return on Equity (TTM)

ALB

-9.19%

Chemicals Industry

Max
26.17%
Q3
13.48%
Median
8.13%
Q1
2.52%
Min
-11.86%

ALB has a negative Return on Equity of -9.19%. This indicates the company is generating a loss for its shareholders, which can be a result of unprofitability or negative shareholder equity and is often a sign of financial distress.

NUE

6.38%

Metals & Mining Industry

Max
31.09%
Q3
16.14%
Median
7.01%
Q1
1.15%
Min
-19.85%

NUE’s Return on Equity of 6.38% is on par with the norm for the Metals & Mining industry, indicating its profitability relative to shareholder equity is typical for the sector.

ALB vs. NUE: A comparison of their Return on Equity (TTM) against their respective Chemicals and Metals & Mining industry benchmarks.

Net Profit Margin (TTM)

ALB

-18.61%

Chemicals Industry

Max
21.80%
Q3
9.57%
Median
4.44%
Q1
1.14%
Min
-11.30%

ALB has a negative Net Profit Margin of -18.61%, indicating the company is operating at a net loss as its expenses exceeded its revenues.

NUE

4.21%

Metals & Mining Industry

Max
40.97%
Q3
17.87%
Median
7.03%
Q1
1.82%
Min
-20.01%

NUE’s Net Profit Margin of 4.21% is aligned with the median group of its peers in the Metals & Mining industry. This indicates its ability to convert revenue into profit is typical for the sector.

ALB vs. NUE: A comparison of their Net Profit Margin (TTM) against their respective Chemicals and Metals & Mining industry benchmarks.

Operating Profit Margin (TTM)

ALB

-20.78%

Chemicals Industry

Max
27.33%
Q3
13.97%
Median
8.08%
Q1
4.46%
Min
-8.10%

ALB has a negative Operating Profit Margin of -20.78%. This signifies the company is unprofitable at the operational level, as its core business expenses exceed its revenue.

NUE

6.96%

Metals & Mining Industry

Max
59.48%
Q3
26.06%
Median
10.50%
Q1
2.89%
Min
-21.46%

NUE’s Operating Profit Margin of 6.96% is around the midpoint for the Metals & Mining industry, indicating that its efficiency in managing core business operations is typical for the sector.

ALB vs. NUE: A comparison of their Operating Profit Margin (TTM) against their respective Chemicals and Metals & Mining industry benchmarks.

Profitability at a Glance

SymbolALBNUE
Return on Equity (TTM)-9.19%6.38%
Return on Assets (TTM)-5.44%3.78%
Net Profit Margin (TTM)-18.61%4.21%
Operating Profit Margin (TTM)-20.78%6.96%
Gross Profit Margin (TTM)7.76%10.43%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

ALB

2.31

Chemicals Industry

Max
3.38
Q3
2.23
Median
1.73
Q1
1.39
Min
0.55

ALB’s Current Ratio of 2.31 is in the upper quartile for the Chemicals industry. This signifies a strong liquidity position, suggesting the company is well-equipped to cover its immediate liabilities compared to its peers.

NUE

2.83

Metals & Mining Industry

Max
4.81
Q3
2.86
Median
1.94
Q1
1.45
Min
0.13

NUE’s Current Ratio of 2.83 aligns with the median group of the Metals & Mining industry, indicating that its short-term liquidity is in line with its sector peers.

ALB vs. NUE: A comparison of their Current Ratio (MRQ) against their respective Chemicals and Metals & Mining industry benchmarks.

Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)

ALB

0.35

Chemicals Industry

Max
1.65
Q3
0.94
Median
0.65
Q1
0.41
Min
0.00

Falling into the lower quartile for the Chemicals industry, ALB’s Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 0.35 points to a conservative financing strategy. This results in lower financial risk but potentially limits strategic investments compared to more leveraged competitors.

NUE

0.34

Metals & Mining Industry

Max
1.11
Q3
0.52
Median
0.29
Q1
0.12
Min
0.00

NUE’s Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 0.34 is typical for the Metals & Mining industry, indicating its use of leverage is in line with the sector norm. This suggests a balanced approach to its capital structure.

ALB vs. NUE: A comparison of their Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ) against their respective Chemicals and Metals & Mining industry benchmarks.

Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM)

ALB

-6.46

Chemicals Industry

Max
56.43
Q3
26.33
Median
9.38
Q1
3.10
Min
-9.39

ALB has a negative Interest Coverage Ratio of -6.46. This indicates that its earnings were insufficient to cover even its operational costs, let alone its interest payments, signaling significant financial distress.

NUE

65.23

Metals & Mining Industry

Max
65.47
Q3
29.91
Median
5.88
Q1
0.91
Min
-26.49

NUE’s Interest Coverage Ratio of 65.23 is in the upper quartile for the Metals & Mining industry, signifying a strong and healthy capacity to meet its interest payments from operating profits.

ALB vs. NUE: A comparison of their Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM) against their respective Chemicals and Metals & Mining industry benchmarks.

Financial Strength at a Glance

SymbolALBNUE
Current Ratio (MRQ)2.312.83
Quick Ratio (MRQ)1.471.51
Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)0.350.34
Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM)-6.4665.23

Growth

Revenue Growth

ALB vs. NUE: A side-by-side comparison of their Revenue Growth for the MRQ (YoY), TTM (YoY), 3-Year CAGR, and 5-Year CAGR periods.

EPS Growth

ALB vs. NUE: A side-by-side comparison of their EPS Growth for the MRQ (YoY), TTM (YoY), 3-Year CAGR, and 5-Year CAGR periods.

Dividend

Dividend Yield (TTM)

ALB

3.88%

Chemicals Industry

Max
6.56%
Q3
4.04%
Median
2.47%
Q1
1.45%
Min
0.00%

ALB’s Dividend Yield of 3.88% is consistent with its peers in the Chemicals industry, providing a dividend return that is standard for its sector.

NUE

1.56%

Metals & Mining Industry

Max
9.36%
Q3
3.78%
Median
1.41%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

NUE’s Dividend Yield of 1.56% is consistent with its peers in the Metals & Mining industry, providing a dividend return that is standard for its sector.

ALB vs. NUE: A comparison of their Dividend Yield (TTM) against their respective Chemicals and Metals & Mining industry benchmarks.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

ALB

192.00%

Chemicals Industry

Max
181.25%
Q3
95.01%
Median
53.52%
Q1
26.59%
Min
0.00%

At 192.00%, ALB’s Dividend Payout Ratio is exceptionally high, exceeding the typical range for the Chemicals industry. While this provides a significant return to shareholders, it may limit funds for reinvestment and could be difficult to sustain.

NUE

39.79%

Metals & Mining Industry

Max
138.08%
Q3
63.28%
Median
38.78%
Q1
12.84%
Min
0.00%

NUE’s Dividend Payout Ratio of 39.79% is within the typical range for the Metals & Mining industry, suggesting a balanced approach between shareholder payouts and company reinvestment.

ALB vs. NUE: A comparison of their Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) against their respective Chemicals and Metals & Mining industry benchmarks.

Dividend at a Glance

SymbolALBNUE
Dividend Yield (TTM)3.88%1.56%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)192.00%39.79%

Valuation

Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)

ALB

--

Chemicals Industry

Max
42.94
Q3
29.77
Median
20.37
Q1
14.27
Min
6.19

P/E Ratio data for ALB is currently unavailable.

NUE

25.58

Metals & Mining Industry

Max
57.44
Q3
32.87
Median
18.04
Q1
9.84
Min
0.00

NUE’s P/E Ratio of 25.58 is within the middle range for the Metals & Mining industry. This suggests its valuation is in line with the sector average, representing neither a significant premium nor a discount compared to its peers.

ALB vs. NUE: A comparison of their Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM) against their respective Chemicals and Metals & Mining industry benchmarks.

Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)

ALB

1.84

Chemicals Industry

Max
4.36
Q3
2.23
Median
1.01
Q1
0.55
Min
0.16

ALB’s P/S Ratio of 1.84 aligns with the market consensus for the Chemicals industry. This suggests its valuation, based on sales, is seen as standard and is on par with its competitors.

NUE

1.08

Metals & Mining Industry

Max
6.52
Q3
3.19
Median
1.97
Q1
0.59
Min
0.14

NUE’s P/S Ratio of 1.08 aligns with the market consensus for the Metals & Mining industry. This suggests its valuation, based on sales, is seen as standard and is on par with its competitors.

ALB vs. NUE: A comparison of their Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM) against their respective Chemicals and Metals & Mining industry benchmarks.

Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)

ALB

0.72

Chemicals Industry

Max
4.92
Q3
2.56
Median
1.54
Q1
0.97
Min
0.30

ALB’s P/B Ratio of 0.72 is in the lower quartile for the Chemicals industry. From a value investing perspective, this is favorable, as it suggests the stock is trading at a discount to its net asset value and may offer a greater margin of safety.

NUE

1.55

Metals & Mining Industry

Max
3.92
Q3
2.15
Median
1.40
Q1
0.84
Min
0.25

NUE’s P/B Ratio of 1.55 is within the conventional range for the Metals & Mining industry. This shows a balanced market view, where the stock’s price is neither at a significant premium nor a discount to the book value of its peers.

ALB vs. NUE: A comparison of their Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ) against their respective Chemicals and Metals & Mining industry benchmarks.

Valuation at a Glance

SymbolALBNUE
Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)--25.58
Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)1.841.08
Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)0.721.55
Price-to-Free Cash Flow Ratio (TTM)25.3516.87