ALB vs. VALE: A Head-to-Head Stock Comparison
Updated onHere’s a clear look at ALB and VALE, comparing key factors like historical performance, profitability, financial strength, growth, dividend, and valuation.
Company Overview
VALE’s market capitalization of 43.63 billion USD is significantly greater than ALB’s 7.91 billion USD, highlighting its more substantial market valuation.
ALB’s beta of 1.61 points to significantly higher volatility compared to VALE (beta: 1.05), suggesting ALB has greater potential for both gains and losses relative to market movements.
VALE is an American Depositary Receipt (ADR), allowing U.S. investors direct exposure to its non-U.S. operations. ALB, on the other hand, is a domestic entity.
| Symbol | ALB | VALE |
|---|---|---|
| Company Name | Albemarle Corporation | Vale S.A. |
| Country | US | BR |
| Sector | Basic Materials | Basic Materials |
| Industry | Chemicals - Specialty | Industrial Materials |
| CEO | Jerry Kent Masters Jr. | Gustavo Duarte Pimenta |
| Price | 67.21 USD | 10.22 USD |
| Market Cap | 7.91 billion USD | 43.63 billion USD |
| Beta | 1.61 | 1.05 |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| IPO Date | February 22, 1994 | March 21, 2002 |
| ADR | No | Yes |
Historical Performance
This chart compares the performance of ALB and VALE 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.
Profitability
Return on Equity
ALB
-11.01%
Chemicals - Specialty Industry
- Max
- 34.45%
- Q3
- 15.78%
- Median
- 7.65%
- Q1
- 2.96%
- Min
- -12.04%
ALB has a negative Return on Equity of -11.01%. 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.
VALE
16.21%
Industrial Materials Industry
- Max
- 65.76%
- Q3
- 10.57%
- Median
- -1.72%
- Q1
- -27.14%
- Min
- -46.81%
In the upper quartile for the Industrial Materials industry, VALE’s Return on Equity of 16.21% signals a highly effective use of shareholder capital to drive profitability compared to most of its peers.
Return on Invested Capital
ALB
-8.62%
Chemicals - Specialty Industry
- Max
- 20.22%
- Q3
- 10.99%
- Median
- 5.25%
- Q1
- 3.06%
- Min
- -8.62%
ALB has a negative Return on Invested Capital of -8.62%. This indicates that its operations are failing to generate a profit on the total capital invested, signaling significant inefficiency or value destruction.
VALE
12.57%
Industrial Materials Industry
- Max
- 15.63%
- Q3
- 0.20%
- Median
- -4.84%
- Q1
- -14.55%
- Min
- -25.65%
In the upper quartile for the Industrial Materials industry, VALE’s Return on Invested Capital of 12.57% signifies a highly effective use of its capital to generate profits when compared to its peers.
Net Profit Margin
ALB
-22.39%
Chemicals - Specialty Industry
- Max
- 23.23%
- Q3
- 10.64%
- Median
- 5.14%
- Q1
- 0.64%
- Min
- -8.93%
ALB has a negative Net Profit Margin of -22.39%, indicating the company is operating at a net loss as its expenses exceeded its revenues.
VALE
15.64%
Industrial Materials Industry
- Max
- 21.18%
- Q3
- 9.37%
- Median
- -6.02%
- Q1
- -57.39%
- Min
- -67.38%
A Net Profit Margin of 15.64% places VALE in the upper quartile for the Industrial Materials industry, signifying strong profitability and more effective cost management than most of its peers.
Operating Profit Margin
ALB
-25.05%
Chemicals - Specialty Industry
- Max
- 26.42%
- Q3
- 15.81%
- Median
- 10.07%
- Q1
- 4.82%
- Min
- -7.44%
ALB has a negative Operating Profit Margin of -25.05%. This signifies the company is unprofitable at the operational level, as its core business expenses exceed its revenue.
VALE
27.80%
Industrial Materials Industry
- Max
- 40.67%
- Q3
- 20.05%
- Median
- -2.46%
- Q1
- -56.36%
- Min
- -86.58%
An Operating Profit Margin of 27.80% places VALE in the upper quartile for the Industrial Materials industry. This signals a strong ability to translate revenue into operating profit, outperforming most of its competitors in core business efficiency.
Profitability at a Glance
| Symbol | ALB | VALE |
|---|---|---|
| Return on Equity (TTM) | -11.01% | 16.21% |
| Return on Assets (TTM) | -6.71% | 6.99% |
| Return on Invested Capital (TTM) | -8.62% | 12.57% |
| Net Profit Margin (TTM) | -22.39% | 15.64% |
| Operating Profit Margin (TTM) | -25.05% | 27.80% |
| Gross Profit Margin (TTM) | 3.53% | 35.41% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio
ALB
2.11
Chemicals - Specialty Industry
- Max
- 3.95
- Q3
- 2.60
- Median
- 2.04
- Q1
- 1.60
- Min
- 0.77
ALB’s Current Ratio of 2.11 aligns with the median group of the Chemicals - Specialty industry, indicating that its short-term liquidity is in line with its sector peers.
VALE
1.11
Industrial Materials Industry
- Max
- 6.52
- Q3
- 3.10
- Median
- 1.63
- Q1
- 0.70
- Min
- 0.01
VALE’s Current Ratio of 1.11 aligns with the median group of the Industrial Materials industry, indicating that its short-term liquidity is in line with its sector peers.
Debt-to-Equity Ratio
ALB
0.36
Chemicals - Specialty Industry
- Max
- 1.65
- Q3
- 1.10
- Median
- 0.73
- Q1
- 0.55
- Min
- 0.01
Falling into the lower quartile for the Chemicals - Specialty industry, ALB’s Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 0.36 points to a conservative financing strategy. This results in lower financial risk but potentially limits strategic investments compared to more leveraged competitors.
VALE
0.46
Industrial Materials Industry
- Max
- 0.60
- Q3
- 0.48
- Median
- 0.25
- Q1
- 0.07
- Min
- 0.00
VALE’s Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 0.46 is typical for the Industrial Materials industry, indicating its use of leverage is in line with the sector norm. This suggests a balanced approach to its capital structure.
Interest Coverage Ratio
ALB
-9.99
Chemicals - Specialty Industry
- Max
- 13.69
- Q3
- 9.06
- Median
- 5.24
- Q1
- 1.68
- Min
- -3.09
ALB has a negative Interest Coverage Ratio of -9.99. This indicates that its earnings were insufficient to cover even its operational costs, let alone its interest payments, signaling significant financial distress.
VALE
6.50
Industrial Materials Industry
- Max
- 6.50
- Q3
- 1.51
- Median
- -2.20
- Q1
- -13.60
- Min
- -32.99
VALE’s Interest Coverage Ratio of 6.50 is in the upper quartile for the Industrial Materials industry, signifying a strong and healthy capacity to meet its interest payments from operating profits.
Financial Strength at a Glance
| Symbol | ALB | VALE |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (TTM) | 2.11 | 1.11 |
| Quick Ratio (TTM) | 1.26 | 0.74 |
| Debt-to-Equity Ratio (TTM) | 0.36 | 0.46 |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio (TTM) | 0.21 | 0.19 |
| Net Debt-to-EBITDA Ratio (TTM) | -2.61 | 0.90 |
| Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM) | -9.99 | 6.50 |
Growth
The following charts compare key year-over-year (YoY) growth metrics for ALB and VALE. These metrics are based on the companies’ annual financial reports.
Revenue Growth
Earnings Per Share (EPS) Growth
Free Cash Flow Growth
Dividend
Dividend Yield
ALB
2.41%
Chemicals - Specialty Industry
- Max
- 9.19%
- Q3
- 2.44%
- Median
- 1.46%
- Q1
- 0.25%
- Min
- 0.00%
ALB’s Dividend Yield of 2.41% is consistent with its peers in the Chemicals - Specialty industry, providing a dividend return that is standard for its sector.
VALE
8.62%
Industrial Materials Industry
- Max
- 8.97%
- Q3
- 1.63%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
With a Dividend Yield of 8.62%, VALE offers a more attractive income stream than most of its peers in the Industrial Materials industry, signaling a strong commitment to shareholder returns.
Dividend Payout Ratio
ALB
-31.01%
Chemicals - Specialty Industry
- Max
- 163.70%
- Q3
- 57.04%
- Median
- 30.02%
- Q1
- 12.51%
- Min
- 0.00%
ALB has a negative Dividend Payout Ratio of -31.01%. This typically means the company paid a dividend despite reporting a net loss, a situation that may signal financial instability.
VALE
61.27%
Industrial Materials Industry
- Max
- 194.54%
- Q3
- 62.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
VALE’s Dividend Payout Ratio of 61.27% is within the typical range for the Industrial Materials industry, suggesting a balanced approach between shareholder payouts and company reinvestment.
Dividend at a Glance
| Symbol | ALB | VALE |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 2.41% | 8.62% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | -31.01% | 61.27% |
Valuation
Price-to-Earnings Ratio
ALB
-6.93
Chemicals - Specialty Industry
- Max
- 56.68
- Q3
- 33.75
- Median
- 23.45
- Q1
- 16.09
- Min
- 7.50
ALB has a negative P/E Ratio of -6.93. This occurs when a company has negative earnings (a net loss), making the ratio unsuitable for valuation analysis.
VALE
7.47
Industrial Materials Industry
- Max
- 164.90
- Q3
- 74.63
- Median
- 12.91
- Q1
- 8.46
- Min
- 2.25
In the lower quartile for the Industrial Materials industry, VALE’s P/E Ratio of 7.47 suggests the stock may be undervalued compared to its peers, potentially presenting an attractive entry point for investors.
Forward P/E to Growth Ratio
ALB
37.21
Chemicals - Specialty Industry
- Max
- 6.58
- Q3
- 3.23
- Median
- 1.64
- Q1
- 0.96
- Min
- 0.16
ALB’s Forward PEG Ratio of 37.21 is exceptionally high for the Chemicals - Specialty industry. This suggests its stock price is very high relative to its expected earnings growth, signaling significant overvaluation risk.
VALE
0.82
Industrial Materials Industry
- Max
- 5.44
- Q3
- 5.44
- Median
- 1.31
- Q1
- 0.46
- Min
- 0.31
The Forward PEG Ratio is often not a primary valuation metric in the Industrial Materials industry.
Price-to-Sales Ratio
ALB
1.55
Chemicals - Specialty Industry
- Max
- 3.76
- Q3
- 2.31
- Median
- 1.38
- Q1
- 0.89
- Min
- 0.16
ALB’s P/S Ratio of 1.55 aligns with the market consensus for the Chemicals - Specialty industry. This suggests its valuation, based on sales, is seen as standard and is on par with its competitors.
VALE
1.17
Industrial Materials Industry
- Max
- 34.66
- Q3
- 19.76
- Median
- 2.28
- Q1
- 1.04
- Min
- 0.23
VALE’s P/S Ratio of 1.17 aligns with the market consensus for the Industrial Materials industry. This suggests its valuation, based on sales, is seen as standard and is on par with its competitors.
Price-to-Book Ratio
ALB
0.79
Chemicals - Specialty Industry
- Max
- 6.73
- Q3
- 3.78
- Median
- 1.56
- Q1
- 1.27
- Min
- 0.35
ALB’s P/B Ratio of 0.79 is in the lower quartile for the Chemicals - Specialty 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.
VALE
1.24
Industrial Materials Industry
- Max
- 11.64
- Q3
- 5.46
- Median
- 1.94
- Q1
- 1.04
- Min
- 0.01
VALE’s P/B Ratio of 1.24 is within the conventional range for the Industrial Materials 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.
Valuation at a Glance
| Symbol | ALB | VALE |
|---|---|---|
| Price-to-Earnings Ratio (P/E, TTM) | -6.93 | 7.47 |
| Forward PEG Ratio (TTM) | 37.21 | 0.82 |
| Price-to-Sales Ratio (P/S, TTM) | 1.55 | 1.17 |
| Price-to-Book Ratio (P/B, TTM) | 0.79 | 1.24 |
| Price-to-Free Cash Flow Ratio (P/FCF, TTM) | -56.65 | 37.73 |
| EV-to-EBITDA (TTM) | -12.35 | 4.13 |
| EV-to-Sales (TTM) | 1.97 | 1.50 |