APD vs. IFF: Air Products and Chemicals vs. Intl Flavors & Fragrances Stock Comparison
How do Air Products and Chemicals (APD) and Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) 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
Air Products and Chemicals (APD) and Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) both belong to the Chemicals industry, though APD is classified under Industrial Gases while IFF falls under Specialty Chemicals.
| Profile Item | APD | IFF |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Air Products and Chemicals Inc. | International Flavors & Fragrances, Inc. |
| Country/Region | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Materials | Materials |
| GICS Industry Group | Materials | Materials |
| GICS Industry | Chemicals | Chemicals |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Industrial Gases | Specialty Chemicals |
| Market Capitalization | 67.88 billion USD | 20.69 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | March 17, 1980 | December 17, 1974 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | APD | IFF |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 23.26% | 40.13% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 8.49% | 8.28% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 2.43% | -8.71% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | APD | IFF |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 25.21% | 36.26% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.67 | 0.88 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -31.77% | -56.66% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 1.06M | 1.88M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | APD | IFF |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 0.75 | 0.99 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 1.14 | 1.71 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) reports a negative ROE of -7.37%; negative ROE can reflect losses or negative shareholders’ equity, so it is harder to read as capital efficiency. Meanwhile Air Products and Chemicals (APD) reports 3.19%, ranking against industry peers normally.
APD
Materials industry group
3.19%
- Max
- 52.88%
- Q3
- 19.49%
- Median
- 8.76%
- APD
- 3.19%
- Q1
- -3.41%
- Min
- -32.81%
IFF
Materials industry group
-7.37%
- Max
- 52.88%
- Q3
- 19.49%
- Median
- 8.76%
- Q1
- -3.41%
- IFF
- -7.37%
- Min
- -32.81%
Net Margin (TTM)
Both Air Products and Chemicals (APD) at 4.10% and Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) at 1.68% keep about the typical share of revenue as profit for their industries — neither bottom line stands out from peers.
APD
Materials industry group
4.10%
- Max
- 38.66%
- Q3
- 15.98%
- Median
- 5.28%
- APD
- 4.10%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- -20.40%
IFF
Materials industry group
1.68%
- Max
- 38.66%
- Q3
- 15.98%
- Median
- 5.28%
- IFF
- 1.68%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- -20.40%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Both Air Products and Chemicals (APD) at 17.68% and Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) at 9.53% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.
APD
Materials industry group
17.68%
- Max
- 66.70%
- Q3
- 28.92%
- APD
- 17.68%
- Median
- 12.56%
- Q1
- 3.28%
- Min
- -14.07%
IFF
Materials industry group
9.53%
- Max
- 66.70%
- Q3
- 28.92%
- Median
- 12.56%
- IFF
- 9.53%
- Q1
- 3.28%
- Min
- -14.07%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | APD | IFF |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 3.19% | -7.37% |
| ROA (TTM) | 4.80% | 2.18% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 4.10% | 1.68% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 17.68% | 9.53% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 31.58% | 36.27% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Both Air Products and Chemicals (APD) at -0.52% and Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) at -5.17% post bottom-quartile revenue growth versus peers, pointing to weaker demand or pricing momentum than typical rivals.
EPS Growth
Both Air Products and Chemicals (APD) at -110.30% and Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) at -248.42% post bottom-quartile EPS growth versus peers, pointing to weaker earnings momentum than typical rivals.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | APD | IFF |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | -0.52% | -5.17% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | -1.77% | -4.34% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | -110.30% | -248.42% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | -- | -- |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) at 1.87 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Air Products and Chemicals (APD) at 1.07 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for APD.
APD
Materials industry group
1.07
- Max
- 5.96
- Q3
- 3.30
- Median
- 2.24
- Q1
- 1.45
- APD
- 1.07
- Min
- 0.16
IFF
Materials industry group
1.87
- Max
- 5.96
- Q3
- 3.30
- Median
- 2.24
- IFF
- 1.87
- Q1
- 1.45
- Min
- 0.16
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) at 0.51 carries an industry-typical debt-to-equity mix, while Air Products and Chemicals (APD) at 1.06 uses more debt funding than most peers.
APD
Materials industry group
1.06
- Max
- 1.98
- APD
- 1.06
- Q3
- 0.89
- Median
- 0.47
- Q1
- 0.13
- Min
- 0.00
IFF
Materials industry group
0.51
- Max
- 1.98
- Q3
- 0.89
- IFF
- 0.51
- Median
- 0.47
- Q1
- 0.13
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | APD | IFF |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 1.07 | 1.87 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 1.06 | 0.51 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 3.61 | 3.51 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Both Air Products and Chemicals (APD) at 2.33% and Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) at 1.85% offer top-quartile dividend income relative to share price within their industries.
APD
Materials industry group
2.33%
- Max
- 4.52%
- APD
- 2.33%
- Q3
- 1.85%
- Median
- 0.38%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
IFF
Materials industry group
1.85%
- Max
- 4.52%
- IFF
- 1.85%
- Q3
- 1.85%
- Median
- 0.38%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Both Air Products and Chemicals (APD) at 75.66% and Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) at 62.26% pay out an above-typical share of earnings for their industries, leaving thinner cover if profits dip.
APD
Materials industry group
75.66%
- Max
- 83.62%
- APD
- 75.66%
- Q3
- 41.37%
- Median
- 9.54%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
IFF
Materials industry group
62.26%
- Max
- 83.62%
- IFF
- 62.26%
- Q3
- 41.37%
- Median
- 9.54%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | APD | IFF |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 2.33% | 1.85% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 75.66% | 62.26% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Both Air Products and Chemicals (APD) at 127.55 and Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) at 236.06 trade above their industries’ P/E ratio peer ranges, pointing to unusually expensive trailing earnings relative to peers.
APD
Materials industry group
127.55
- APD
- 127.55
- Max
- 59.00
- Q3
- 32.93
- Median
- 18.82
- Q1
- 11.96
- Min
- 3.93
IFF
Materials industry group
236.06
- IFF
- 236.06
- Max
- 59.00
- Q3
- 32.93
- Median
- 18.82
- Q1
- 11.96
- Min
- 3.93
P/S Ratio (TTM)
Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) at 1.91 is priced about in line with its industry on P/S ratio, while Air Products and Chemicals (APD) at 5.23 sits in the pricier quartile — APD costs more per dollar of sales.
APD
Materials industry group
5.23
- Max
- 9.62
- APD
- 5.23
- Q3
- 4.34
- Median
- 1.87
- Q1
- 0.73
- Min
- 0.00
IFF
Materials industry group
1.91
- Max
- 9.62
- Q3
- 4.34
- IFF
- 1.91
- Median
- 1.87
- Q1
- 0.73
- Min
- 0.00
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) at 1.56 is valued about in line with its industry on P/B ratio, while Air Products and Chemicals (APD) at 4.76 carries an above-peer premium to book — APD is pricier on assets.
APD
Materials industry group
4.76
- Max
- 6.59
- APD
- 4.76
- Q3
- 3.55
- Median
- 2.08
- Q1
- 1.26
- Min
- -0.17
IFF
Materials industry group
1.56
- Max
- 6.59
- Q3
- 3.55
- Median
- 2.08
- IFF
- 1.56
- Q1
- 1.26
- Min
- -0.17
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | APD | IFF |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 127.55 | 236.06 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 5.23 | 1.91 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 4.76 | 1.56 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | -0.28% | -10.66% |