ALB vs. SCCO: Albemarle vs. Southern Copper Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

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

Company profile comparison for Albemarle (ALB) and Southern Copper (SCCO)
Profile Item	ALB	SCCO
Name	Albemarle Corporation	Southern Copper Corporation
Country/Region	United States	United States
GICS Sector	Materials	Materials
GICS Industry Group	Materials	Materials
GICS Industry	Chemicals	Metals & Mining
GICS Sub-Industry	Specialty Chemicals	Copper
Market Capitalization	11.71 billion USD	142.73 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	NYSE
Listing Date	February 22, 1994	January 5, 1996
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

ALB

SCCO

GSPC

Albemarle (ALB) vs. Southern Copper (SCCO), 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 Southern Copper (SCCO). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Albemarle (ALB) and Southern Copper (SCCO)
Metric	ALB	SCCO
Total Return (1Y)	1.28%	38.53%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	-3.80%	42.97%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	-17.74%	30.79%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

ALB

SCCO

GSPC

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

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Albemarle (ALB) and Southern Copper (SCCO)
Metric	ALB	SCCO
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	53.59%	52.64%
Beta (5Y)	1.32	1.15
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-83.90%	-43.07%
Avg. Volume (3M)	2.40M	1.14M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

ALB and SCCO 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 Southern Copper (SCCO)
Metric	ALB	SCCO
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	-0.06	0.65
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	-0.08	0.95

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Southern Copper (SCCO) at 52.88% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Albemarle (ALB) at 7.05% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for SCCO.

ALB

Materials industry group

7.05%

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

SCCO

Materials industry group

52.88%

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

Albemarle (ALB) vs. Southern Copper (SCCO): A comparison of their ROE against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Southern Copper (SCCO) at 37.16% 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%

SCCO

Materials industry group

37.16%

Max: 38.66%
SCCO: 37.16%
Q3: 15.98%
Median: 5.28%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: -20.40%

Albemarle (ALB) vs. Southern Copper (SCCO): A comparison of their net margin against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Southern Copper (SCCO) at 59.94% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of Albemarle (ALB) at 11.74%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

ALB

Materials industry group

11.74%

Max: 66.70%
Q3: 28.92%
Median: 12.56%
ALB: 11.74%
Q1: 3.28%
Min: -14.07%

SCCO

Materials industry group

59.94%

Max: 66.70%
SCCO: 59.94%
Q3: 28.92%
Median: 12.56%
Q1: 3.28%
Min: -14.07%

Albemarle (ALB) vs. Southern Copper (SCCO): A comparison of their operating margin against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Albemarle (ALB) and Southern Copper (SCCO)
Metric	ALB	SCCO
ROE (TTM)	7.05%	52.88%
ROA (TTM)	3.95%	27.29%
Net Margin (TTM)	11.08%	37.16%
Operating Margin (TTM)	11.74%	59.94%
Gross Margin (TTM)	26.17%	65.84%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Southern Copper (SCCO) at 17.38% 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.

Albemarle (ALB) vs. Southern Copper (SCCO): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Only one side can be read here: Southern Copper (SCCO) reports EPS growth of 25.41%, ranked against its industry; Albemarle (ALB) has no EPS growth figure this period.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Albemarle (ALB) and Southern Copper (SCCO)
Metric	ALB	SCCO
Revenue Growth (YoY)	-4.37%	17.38%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	-11.10%	10.13%
EPS Growth (YoY)	--	25.41%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	--	17.64%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Albemarle (ALB) at 2.34 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Southern Copper (SCCO) at 4.31 sits above its industry’s typical mid-range — comfortable liquidity, though possibly with more idle current assets 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

SCCO

Materials industry group

4.31

Max: 5.96
SCCO: 4.31
Q3: 3.30
Median: 2.24
Q1: 1.45
Min: 0.16

Albemarle (ALB) vs. Southern Copper (SCCO): A comparison of their current ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both Albemarle (ALB) at 0.18 and Southern Copper (SCCO) at 0.63 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

SCCO

Materials industry group

0.63

Max: 1.98
Q3: 0.89
SCCO: 0.63
Median: 0.47
Q1: 0.13
Min: 0.00

Albemarle (ALB) vs. Southern Copper (SCCO): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Albemarle (ALB) and Southern Copper (SCCO)
Metric	ALB	SCCO
Current Ratio (MRQ)	2.34	4.31
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	0.18	0.63
Net Debt / EBITDA	0.09	0.05

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Southern Copper (SCCO) at 2.30% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while Albemarle (ALB) at 1.65% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, SCCO 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%

SCCO

Materials industry group

2.30%

Max: 4.52%
SCCO: 2.30%
Q3: 1.85%
Median: 0.38%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Albemarle (ALB) vs. Southern Copper (SCCO): 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 Southern Copper (SCCO) at 52.43% 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%

SCCO

Materials industry group

52.43%

Max: 83.62%
SCCO: 52.43%
Q3: 41.37%
Median: 9.54%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Albemarle (ALB) vs. Southern Copper (SCCO): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Albemarle (ALB) and Southern Copper (SCCO)
Metric	ALB	SCCO
Dividend Yield (TTM)	1.65%	2.30%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	39.16%	52.43%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Albemarle (ALB) at 23.92 and Southern Copper (SCCO) at 22.27 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

SCCO

Materials industry group

22.27

Max: 59.00
Q3: 32.93
SCCO: 22.27
Median: 18.82
Q1: 11.96
Min: 3.93

Albemarle (ALB) vs. Southern Copper (SCCO): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Albemarle (ALB) at 1.90 is priced about in line with its industry on P/S ratio, while Southern Copper (SCCO) at 8.34 sits in the pricier quartile — SCCO 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

SCCO

Materials industry group

8.34

Max: 9.62
SCCO: 8.34
Q3: 4.34
Median: 1.87
Q1: 0.73
Min: 0.00

Albemarle (ALB) vs. Southern Copper (SCCO): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Albemarle (ALB) at 1.41 sits near its industry’s typical P/B ratio, while Southern Copper (SCCO) at 10.89 prices above its benchmark range — SCCO looks rich relative to book.

ALB

Materials industry group

1.41

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

SCCO

Materials industry group

10.89

SCCO: 10.89
Max: 6.59
Q3: 3.55
Median: 2.08
Q1: 1.26
Min: -0.17

Albemarle (ALB) vs. Southern Copper (SCCO): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Albemarle (ALB) and Southern Copper (SCCO)
Metric	ALB	SCCO
P/E Ratio (TTM)	23.92	22.27
P/S Ratio (TTM)	1.90	8.34
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	1.41	10.89
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	10.67%	3.91%