ALB vs. VALE: A Head-to-Head Stock Comparison
UpdatedHere’s a clear look at ALB and VALE, comparing key factors like performance, valuation metrics, dividends, and financial strength. It’s built for investors or anyone curious to see how these two stocks match up.
Company Overview
VALE stands out with 41.19 billion USD in market value—about 6.20× ALB’s market cap of 6.64 billion USD.
ALB’s beta of 1.71 points to much larger expected swings compared to VALE’s calmer 1.06, suggesting both higher upside and downside potential.
VALE is an ADR, letting U.S. buyers tap its non-U.S. business directly, unlike ALB, which is purely domestic.
| Symbol | ALB | VALE |
|---|---|---|
| Company Name | Albemarle Corporation | Vale S.A. |
| Country | US | BR |
| Sector | Basic Materials | Basic Materials |
| Industry | Chemicals - Specialty | Industrial Materials |
| CEO | Mr. Jerry Kent Masters Jr. | Mr. Gustavo Duarte Pimenta |
| Price | 56.44 USD | 9.65 USD |
| Market Cap | 6.64 billion USD | 41.19 billion USD |
| Beta | 1.71 | 1.06 |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| IPO Date | February 22, 1994 | March 21, 2002 |
| ADR | No | Yes |
Performance Comparison
This chart compares the performance of ALB and VALE over the past year by tracking the growth of an initial $10,000 investment in each (starting one year ago).
Hover over the lines to see the investment’s value and total return (%) at specific dates.
Data is adjusted for dividends and splits.
Valuation Metrics Comparison
The section examines key financial ratios to assess the valuation of ALB and VALE based on earnings, cash flow, sales, and book value. Pay attention to the following notable points where extreme values stand out.
- ALB posts a negative P/E of -5.82, reflecting last year’s net loss, while VALE at 6.99 signals healthy earnings.
- ALB has a negative Price-to-Free Cash Flow ratio of -47.57, signaling it consumed more cash than it produced over the last year—an important liquidity warning. In contrast, VALE (P/FCF 36.70) indicates positive free cash flow generation.
| Symbol | ALB | VALE |
|---|---|---|
| Price-to-Earnings Ratio (P/E, TTM) | -5.82 | 6.99 |
| Forward PEG Ratio (TTM) | 31.25 | 0.74 |
| Price-to-Sales Ratio (P/S, TTM) | 1.30 | 1.11 |
| Price-to-Book Ratio (P/B, TTM) | 0.66 | 1.17 |
| Price-to-Free Cash Flow Ratio (P/FCF, TTM) | -47.57 | 36.70 |
| EV-to-EBITDA (TTM) | -10.79 | 5.30 |
| EV-to-Sales (TTM) | 1.72 | 1.50 |
| EV-to-Free Cash Flow (TTM) | -62.77 | 49.73 |
Dividend Comparison
VALE stands out with a 8.70% dividend yield—around 204% above ALB’s 2.86%—highlighting its emphasis on generous payouts.
| Symbol | ALB | VALE |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 2.86% | 8.70% |
Financial Strength Metrics Comparison
This section dives into the financial resilience of ALB and VALE, spotlighting key metrics like liquidity, leverage, and debt coverage. Check out the standout observations below where notable differences or extremes pop up.
- VALE posts a quick ratio of 0.74, indicating limited coverage of short-term debts from its most liquid assets—while ALB at 1.26 enjoys stronger liquidity resilience.
- With negative EBIT (-9.99), ALB cannot cover its interest payments. VALE, with an interest coverage of 6.68, meets its interest obligations.
| Symbol | ALB | VALE |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (TTM) | 2.11 | 1.11 |
| Quick Ratio (TTM) | 1.26 | 0.74 |
| Debt-to-Equity Ratio (TTM) | 0.36 | 0.53 |
| Debt-to-Assets Ratio (TTM) | 0.21 | 0.22 |
| Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM) | -9.99 | 6.68 |