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ALB vs. RIO: Albemarle vs. Rio Tinto Stock Comparison

How do Albemarle (ALB) and Rio Tinto (RIO) 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 Rio Tinto (RIO) both fall under the Materials industry group, but ALB is classified in Chemicals while RIO is classified in Metals & Mining.

Albemarle (ALB) trades as ordinary local shares, while Rio Tinto (RIO) trades as an ADR — compare with FX exposure, depositary-program fees, and dividend-withholding-tax differences in mind.

Company profile comparison for Albemarle (ALB) and Rio Tinto (RIO)
Profile ItemALBRIO
NameAlbemarle CorporationRio Tinto plc ADR
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited Kingdom
GICS SectorMaterialsMaterials
GICS Industry GroupMaterialsMaterials
GICS IndustryChemicalsMetals & Mining
GICS Sub-IndustrySpecialty ChemicalsDiversified Metals & Mining
Market Capitalization11.71 billion USD136.19 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateFebruary 22, 1994June 28, 1990
Security TypeCommon StockADR

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

ALB
RIO
GSPC
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Albemarle (ALB) vs. Rio Tinto (RIO), 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 Rio Tinto (RIO). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Albemarle (ALB) and Rio Tinto (RIO). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Albemarle (ALB) and Rio Tinto (RIO)
MetricALBRIO
Total Return (1Y)1.28%30.54%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)-3.80%16.90%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)-17.74%14.68%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

ALB
RIO
GSPC
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Albemarle (ALB) vs. Rio Tinto (RIO), 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 Rio Tinto (RIO). 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 Rio Tinto (RIO) is defensive at 0.63 and tends to be less market-sensitive — they sit on opposite ends of the beta spectrum.

Risk profile metrics for Albemarle (ALB) and Rio Tinto (RIO)
MetricALBRIO
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)53.59%30.72%
Beta (5Y)1.320.63
Max Drawdown (5Y)-83.90%-35.25%
Avg. Volume (3M)2.40M2.35M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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ALB and RIO 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 Rio Tinto (RIO)
MetricALBRIO
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)-0.060.85
Sortino Ratio (1Y)-0.081.26

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both Albemarle (ALB) at 7.05% and Rio Tinto (RIO) at 19.31% 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%

RIO

Materials industry group

19.31%

Max
52.88%
Q3
19.49%
RIO
19.31%
Median
8.76%
Q1
-3.41%
Min
-32.81%
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Albemarle (ALB) vs. Rio Tinto (RIO): A comparison of their ROE against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Rio Tinto (RIO) at 19.59% 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%

RIO

Materials industry group

19.59%

Max
38.66%
RIO
19.59%
Q3
15.98%
Median
5.28%
Q1
0.00%
Min
-20.40%
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Albemarle (ALB) vs. Rio Tinto (RIO): A comparison of their net margin against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Albemarle (ALB) at 11.74% and Rio Tinto (RIO) at 28.05% 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%

RIO

Materials industry group

28.05%

Max
66.70%
Q3
28.92%
RIO
28.05%
Median
12.56%
Q1
3.28%
Min
-14.07%
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Albemarle (ALB) vs. Rio Tinto (RIO): A comparison of their operating margin against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Albemarle (ALB) and Rio Tinto (RIO)
MetricALBRIO
ROE (TTM)7.05%19.31%
ROA (TTM)3.95%8.11%
Net Margin (TTM)11.08%19.59%
Operating Margin (TTM)11.74%28.05%
Gross Margin (TTM)26.17%29.75%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Rio Tinto (RIO) at 7.42% 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. Rio Tinto (RIO): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Only one side can be read here: Rio Tinto (RIO) reports EPS growth of -13.97%, ranked against its industry; Albemarle (ALB) has no EPS growth figure this period.

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Albemarle (ALB) vs. Rio Tinto (RIO): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Albemarle (ALB) and Rio Tinto (RIO)
MetricALBRIO
Revenue Growth (YoY)-4.37%7.42%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)-11.10%1.24%
EPS Growth (YoY)---13.97%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)---7.23%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Albemarle (ALB) at 2.34 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Rio Tinto (RIO) at 1.42 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for RIO.

ALB

Materials industry group

2.34

Max
5.96
Q3
3.30
ALB
2.34
Median
2.24
Q1
1.45
Min
0.16

RIO

Materials industry group

1.42

Max
5.96
Q3
3.30
Median
2.24
Q1
1.45
RIO
1.42
Min
0.16
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Albemarle (ALB) vs. Rio Tinto (RIO): A comparison of their current ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both Albemarle (ALB) at 0.18 and Rio Tinto (RIO) at 0.32 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

RIO

Materials industry group

0.32

Max
1.98
Q3
0.89
Median
0.47
RIO
0.32
Q1
0.13
Min
0.00
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Albemarle (ALB) vs. Rio Tinto (RIO): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Albemarle (ALB) and Rio Tinto (RIO)
MetricALBRIO
Current Ratio (MRQ)2.341.42
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.180.32
Net Debt / EBITDA0.090.58

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Albemarle (ALB) at 1.65% pays an industry-typical yield; Rio Tinto (RIO) at 5.59% 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%

RIO

Materials industry group

5.59%

RIO
5.59%
Max
4.52%
Q3
1.85%
Median
0.38%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Albemarle (ALB) vs. Rio Tinto (RIO): 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 Rio Tinto (RIO) at 54.46% 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%

RIO

Materials industry group

54.46%

Max
83.62%
RIO
54.46%
Q3
41.37%
Median
9.54%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Albemarle (ALB) vs. Rio Tinto (RIO): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Albemarle (ALB) and Rio Tinto (RIO)
MetricALBRIO
Dividend Yield (TTM)1.65%5.59%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)39.16%54.46%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Rio Tinto (RIO) at 11.35 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while Albemarle (ALB) at 23.92 is closer to its industry’s usual earnings multiple — a discount for RIO, though growth and earnings durability still matter.

ALB

Materials industry group

23.92

Max
59.00
Q3
32.93
ALB
23.92
Median
18.82
Q1
11.96
Min
3.93

RIO

Materials industry group

11.35

Max
59.00
Q3
32.93
Median
18.82
Q1
11.96
RIO
11.35
Min
3.93
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Albemarle (ALB) vs. Rio Tinto (RIO): 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 Rio Tinto (RIO) at 2.20 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

RIO

Materials industry group

2.20

Max
9.62
Q3
4.34
RIO
2.20
Median
1.87
Q1
0.73
Min
0.00
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Albemarle (ALB) vs. Rio Tinto (RIO): 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 Rio Tinto (RIO) at 2.08 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

RIO

Materials industry group

2.08

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

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Albemarle (ALB) and Rio Tinto (RIO)
MetricALBRIO
P/E Ratio (TTM)23.9211.35
P/S Ratio (TTM)1.902.20
P/B Ratio (MRQ)1.412.08
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)10.67%2.64%