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ALB vs. RPM: Albemarle vs. RPM Stock Comparison

How do Albemarle (ALB) and RPM (RPM) 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 RPM (RPM) are both classified in the Specialty Chemicals sub-industry within the broader Chemicals industry, placing them in the closest GICS peer bucket.

Company profile comparison for Albemarle (ALB) and RPM (RPM)
Profile ItemALBRPM
NameAlbemarle CorporationRPM International Inc.
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorMaterialsMaterials
GICS Industry GroupMaterialsMaterials
GICS IndustryChemicalsChemicals
GICS Sub-IndustrySpecialty ChemicalsSpecialty Chemicals
Market Capitalization11.71 billion USD13.18 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateFebruary 22, 1994March 17, 1980
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

ALB
RPM
GSPC
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Albemarle (ALB) vs. RPM (RPM), 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 RPM (RPM). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Albemarle (ALB) and RPM (RPM)
MetricALBRPM
Total Return (1Y)1.28%1.43%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)-3.80%5.53%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)-17.74%5.33%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

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

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Albemarle (ALB) and RPM (RPM)
MetricALBRPM
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)53.59%31.14%
Beta (5Y)1.321.00
Max Drawdown (5Y)-83.90%-31.97%
Avg. Volume (3M)2.40M1.29M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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ALB and RPM 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 RPM (RPM)
MetricALBRPM
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)-0.06-0.09
Sortino Ratio (1Y)-0.08-0.15

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

RPM (RPM) at 21.15% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Albemarle (ALB) at 7.05% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for RPM.

ALB

Materials industry group

7.05%

Max
52.88%
Q3
19.49%
Median
8.76%
ALB
7.05%
Q1
-3.41%
Min
-32.81%

RPM

Materials industry group

21.15%

Max
52.88%
RPM
21.15%
Q3
19.49%
Median
8.76%
Q1
-3.41%
Min
-32.81%
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Albemarle (ALB) vs. RPM (RPM): A comparison of their ROE against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Both Albemarle (ALB) at 11.08% and RPM (RPM) at 8.66% 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%

RPM

Materials industry group

8.66%

Max
38.66%
Q3
15.98%
RPM
8.66%
Median
5.28%
Q1
0.00%
Min
-20.40%
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Albemarle (ALB) vs. RPM (RPM): A comparison of their net margin against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Albemarle (ALB) at 11.74% and RPM (RPM) at 16.20% 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%

RPM

Materials industry group

16.20%

Max
66.70%
Q3
28.92%
RPM
16.20%
Median
12.56%
Q1
3.28%
Min
-14.07%
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Albemarle (ALB) vs. RPM (RPM): A comparison of their operating margin against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Albemarle (ALB) and RPM (RPM)
MetricALBRPM
ROE (TTM)7.05%21.15%
ROA (TTM)3.95%7.88%
Net Margin (TTM)11.08%8.66%
Operating Margin (TTM)11.74%16.20%
Gross Margin (TTM)26.17%41.17%

Growth

Revenue Growth

RPM (RPM) at 6.66% 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. RPM (RPM): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Only one side can be read here: RPM (RPM) reports EPS growth of -3.36%, ranked against its industry; Albemarle (ALB) has no EPS growth figure this period.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Albemarle (ALB) and RPM (RPM)
MetricALBRPM
Revenue Growth (YoY)-4.37%6.66%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)-11.10%2.71%
EPS Growth (YoY)---3.36%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)--11.60%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Albemarle (ALB) at 2.34 and RPM (RPM) at 1.76 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

RPM

Materials industry group

1.76

Max
5.96
Q3
3.30
Median
2.24
RPM
1.76
Q1
1.45
Min
0.16
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Albemarle (ALB) vs. RPM (RPM): A comparison of their current ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both Albemarle (ALB) at 0.18 and RPM (RPM) at 0.79 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

RPM

Materials industry group

0.79

Max
1.98
Q3
0.89
RPM
0.79
Median
0.47
Q1
0.13
Min
0.00
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Albemarle (ALB) vs. RPM (RPM): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Albemarle (ALB) and RPM (RPM)
MetricALBRPM
Current Ratio (MRQ)2.341.76
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.180.79
Net Debt / EBITDA0.091.97

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

RPM (RPM) at 2.05% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while Albemarle (ALB) at 1.65% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, RPM the richer one.

ALB

Materials industry group

1.65%

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

RPM

Materials industry group

2.05%

Max
4.52%
RPM
2.05%
Q3
1.85%
Median
0.38%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Albemarle (ALB) vs. RPM (RPM): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both Albemarle (ALB) at 39.16% and RPM (RPM) at 39.93% 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%

RPM

Materials industry group

39.93%

Max
83.62%
Q3
41.37%
RPM
39.93%
Median
9.54%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Albemarle (ALB) vs. RPM (RPM): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Albemarle (ALB) and RPM (RPM)
MetricALBRPM
Dividend Yield (TTM)1.65%2.05%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)39.16%39.93%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Albemarle (ALB) at 23.92 and RPM (RPM) at 19.10 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

RPM

Materials industry group

19.10

Max
59.00
Q3
32.93
RPM
19.10
Median
18.82
Q1
11.96
Min
3.93
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Albemarle (ALB) vs. RPM (RPM): 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 RPM (RPM) at 1.65 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

RPM

Materials industry group

1.65

Max
9.62
Q3
4.34
Median
1.87
RPM
1.65
Q1
0.73
Min
0.00
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Albemarle (ALB) vs. RPM (RPM): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Albemarle (ALB) at 1.41 is valued about in line with its industry on P/B ratio, while RPM (RPM) at 3.79 carries an above-peer premium to book — RPM is pricier on assets.

ALB

Materials industry group

1.41

Max
6.59
Q3
3.55
Median
2.08
ALB
1.41
Q1
1.26
Min
-0.17

RPM

Materials industry group

3.79

Max
6.59
RPM
3.79
Q3
3.55
Median
2.08
Q1
1.26
Min
-0.17
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Albemarle (ALB) vs. RPM (RPM): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Albemarle (ALB) and RPM (RPM)
MetricALBRPM
P/E Ratio (TTM)23.9219.10
P/S Ratio (TTM)1.901.65
P/B Ratio (MRQ)1.413.79
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)10.67%4.20%