APD vs. JHX: Air Products and Chemicals vs. James Hardie Industries Stock Comparison
How do Air Products and Chemicals (APD) and James Hardie Industries (JHX) 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 James Hardie Industries (JHX) both fall under the Materials industry group, but APD is classified in Chemicals while JHX is classified in Construction Materials.
| Profile Item | APD | JHX |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Air Products and Chemicals Inc. | James Hardie Industries plc |
| Country/Region | United States | Ireland |
| GICS Sector | Materials | Materials |
| GICS Industry Group | Materials | Materials |
| GICS Industry | Chemicals | Construction Materials |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Industrial Gases | Construction Materials |
| Market Capitalization | 67.88 billion USD | 16.20 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | March 17, 1980 | October 22, 2001 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | APD | JHX |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 23.26% | 72.20% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 8.49% | 0.38% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 2.43% | -5.23% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
James Hardie Industries (JHX) has an aggressive beta of 1.74, indicating higher sensitivity to broad-market moves, while Air Products and Chemicals (APD) is defensive at 0.67 and tends to be less market-sensitive — they sit on opposite ends of the beta spectrum.
| Metric | APD | JHX |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 25.21% | 44.97% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.67 | 1.74 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -31.77% | -60.26% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 1.06M | 9.36M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | APD | JHX |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 0.75 | 1.51 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 1.14 | 2.59 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Both Air Products and Chemicals (APD) at 3.19% and James Hardie Industries (JHX) at 5.46% land near their industries’ usual ROE ranges, so capital efficiency looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
APD
Materials industry group
3.19%
- Max
- 52.88%
- Q3
- 19.49%
- Median
- 8.76%
- APD
- 3.19%
- Q1
- -3.41%
- Min
- -32.81%
JHX
Materials industry group
5.46%
- Max
- 52.88%
- Q3
- 19.49%
- Median
- 8.76%
- JHX
- 5.46%
- Q1
- -3.41%
- Min
- -32.81%
Net Margin (TTM)
Both Air Products and Chemicals (APD) at 4.10% and James Hardie Industries (JHX) at 6.22% 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%
JHX
Materials industry group
6.22%
- Max
- 38.66%
- Q3
- 15.98%
- JHX
- 6.22%
- Median
- 5.28%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- -20.40%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Both Air Products and Chemicals (APD) at 17.68% and James Hardie Industries (JHX) at 19.56% 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%
JHX
Materials industry group
19.56%
- Max
- 66.70%
- Q3
- 28.92%
- JHX
- 19.56%
- Median
- 12.56%
- Q1
- 3.28%
- Min
- -14.07%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | APD | JHX |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 3.19% | 5.46% |
| ROA (TTM) | 4.80% | 4.42% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 4.10% | 6.22% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 17.68% | 19.56% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 31.58% | 38.25% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
James Hardie Industries (JHX) at 24.71% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while Air Products and Chemicals (APD) at -0.52% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.
EPS Growth
Both Air Products and Chemicals (APD) at -110.30% and James Hardie Industries (JHX) at -80.61% post bottom-quartile EPS growth versus peers, pointing to weaker earnings momentum than typical rivals.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | APD | JHX |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | -0.52% | 24.71% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | -1.77% | 8.59% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | -110.30% | -80.61% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | -- | -45.13% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
James Hardie Industries (JHX) at 2.12 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
JHX
Materials industry group
2.12
- Max
- 5.96
- Q3
- 3.30
- Median
- 2.24
- JHX
- 2.12
- Q1
- 1.45
- Min
- 0.16
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
James Hardie Industries (JHX) at 0.63 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
JHX
Materials industry group
0.63
- Max
- 1.98
- Q3
- 0.89
- JHX
- 0.63
- Median
- 0.47
- Q1
- 0.13
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | APD | JHX |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 1.07 | 2.12 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 1.06 | 0.63 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 3.61 | 2.43 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
James Hardie Industries (JHX) pays no dividend (yield 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Air Products and Chemicals (APD) reports a yield of 2.33%, ranking against industry peers normally.
APD
Materials industry group
2.33%
- Max
- 4.52%
- APD
- 2.33%
- Q3
- 1.85%
- Median
- 0.38%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
JHX
Materials industry group
0.00%
- Max
- 4.52%
- Q3
- 1.85%
- Median
- 0.38%
- JHX
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
James Hardie Industries (JHX) pays no dividend (payout 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Air Products and Chemicals (APD) reports a payout of 75.66%, ranking against industry peers normally.
APD
Materials industry group
75.66%
- Max
- 83.62%
- APD
- 75.66%
- Q3
- 41.37%
- Median
- 9.54%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
JHX
Materials industry group
0.00%
- Max
- 83.62%
- Q3
- 41.37%
- Median
- 9.54%
- JHX
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | APD | JHX |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 2.33% | 0.00% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 75.66% | 0.00% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Both look expensive on trailing earnings: James Hardie Industries (JHX) at 48.02 sits in the richer P/E ratio quartile, and Air Products and Chemicals (APD) at 127.55 is richer still, above its industry range.
APD
Materials industry group
127.55
- APD
- 127.55
- Max
- 59.00
- Q3
- 32.93
- Median
- 18.82
- Q1
- 11.96
- Min
- 3.93
JHX
Materials industry group
48.02
- Max
- 59.00
- JHX
- 48.02
- Q3
- 32.93
- Median
- 18.82
- Q1
- 11.96
- Min
- 3.93
P/S Ratio (TTM)
James Hardie Industries (JHX) at 2.86 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
JHX
Materials industry group
2.86
- Max
- 9.62
- Q3
- 4.34
- JHX
- 2.86
- Median
- 1.87
- Q1
- 0.73
- Min
- 0.00
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
James Hardie Industries (JHX) at 2.41 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
JHX
Materials industry group
2.41
- Max
- 6.59
- Q3
- 3.55
- JHX
- 2.41
- Median
- 2.08
- Q1
- 1.26
- Min
- -0.17
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | APD | JHX |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 127.55 | 48.02 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 5.23 | 2.86 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 4.76 | 2.41 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | -0.28% | 0.98% |