ALB vs. X: A Head-to-Head Stock Comparison
UpdatedHere’s a clear look at ALB and X, 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
With ALB at 6.64 billion USD and X at 9.51 billion USD, their market capitalizations sit in the same ballpark.
With betas of 1.71 for ALB and 1.82 for X, both show similar volatility profiles relative to the overall market.
| Symbol | ALB | X |
|---|---|---|
| Company Name | Albemarle Corporation | United States Steel Corporation |
| Country | US | US |
| Sector | Basic Materials | Basic Materials |
| Industry | Chemicals - Specialty | Steel |
| CEO | Mr. Jerry Kent Masters Jr. | Mr. Alan Kestenbaum |
| Price | 56.44 USD | 42.02 USD |
| Market Cap | 6.64 billion USD | 9.51 billion USD |
| Beta | 1.71 | 1.82 |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| IPO Date | February 22, 1994 | April 12, 1991 |
| ADR | No | No |
Performance Comparison
This chart compares the performance of ALB and X 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 X 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 X at 97.75 signals healthy earnings.
- ALB and X both consumed more free cash flow than they generated last year—P/FCF of -47.57 and -6.64, respectively—highlighting persistent liquidity pressure.
| Symbol | ALB | X |
|---|---|---|
| Price-to-Earnings Ratio (P/E, TTM) | -5.82 | 97.75 |
| Forward PEG Ratio (TTM) | 31.25 | 2.35 |
| Price-to-Sales Ratio (P/S, TTM) | 1.30 | 0.63 |
| Price-to-Book Ratio (P/B, TTM) | 0.66 | 0.59 |
| Price-to-Free Cash Flow Ratio (P/FCF, TTM) | -47.57 | -6.64 |
| EV-to-EBITDA (TTM) | -10.79 | 8.59 |
| EV-to-Sales (TTM) | 1.72 | 0.60 |
| EV-to-Free Cash Flow (TTM) | -62.77 | -6.33 |
Dividend Comparison
ALB’s dividend yield of 2.86% is about 501% higher than X’s 0.48%, underscoring its stronger focus on returning cash to shareholders.
| Symbol | ALB | X |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 2.86% | 0.48% |
Financial Strength Metrics Comparison
This section dives into the financial resilience of ALB and X, spotlighting key metrics like liquidity, leverage, and debt coverage. Check out the standout observations below where notable differences or extremes pop up.
- X posts a quick ratio of 0.75, indicating limited coverage of short-term debts from its most liquid assets—while ALB at 1.26 enjoys stronger liquidity resilience.
- Both ALB and X report negative interest coverage ratios (-9.99, -4.86), meaning EBIT itself is negative—neither can cover interest, a critical solvency warning.
| Symbol | ALB | X |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (TTM) | 2.11 | 1.45 |
| Quick Ratio (TTM) | 1.26 | 0.75 |
| Debt-to-Equity Ratio (TTM) | 0.36 | 0.01 |
| Debt-to-Assets Ratio (TTM) | 0.21 | 0.01 |
| Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM) | -9.99 | -4.86 |