APD vs. VMC: A Head-to-Head Stock Comparison
Updated onHere’s a clear look at APD and VMC, comparing key factors like historical performance, profitability, financial strength, growth, dividend, and valuation.
Company Overview
APD’s market capitalization of 64.95 billion USD is substantially larger than VMC’s 35.17 billion USD, indicating a significant difference in their market valuations.
With betas of 0.87 for APD and 0.84 for VMC, both stocks show similar sensitivity to overall market movements.
| Symbol | APD | VMC |
|---|---|---|
| Company Name | Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. | Vulcan Materials Company |
| Country | US | US |
| Sector | Basic Materials | Basic Materials |
| Industry | Chemicals - Specialty | Construction Materials |
| CEO | Eduardo F. Menezes | James Thomas Hill |
| Price | 291.84 USD | 266.24 USD |
| Market Cap | 64.95 billion USD | 35.17 billion USD |
| Beta | 0.87 | 0.84 |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| IPO Date | March 17, 1980 | January 2, 1957 |
| ADR | No | No |
Historical Performance
This chart compares the performance of APD and VMC 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
APD
9.65%
Chemicals - Specialty Industry
- Max
- 34.45%
- Q3
- 15.78%
- Median
- 7.65%
- Q1
- 2.96%
- Min
- -12.04%
APD’s Return on Equity of 9.65% is on par with the norm for the Chemicals - Specialty industry, indicating its profitability relative to shareholder equity is typical for the sector.
VMC
11.79%
Construction Materials Industry
- Max
- 32.32%
- Q3
- 20.74%
- Median
- 15.42%
- Q1
- 12.55%
- Min
- 11.55%
VMC’s Return on Equity of 11.79% is in the lower quartile for the Construction Materials industry. This indicates a less efficient generation of profit from its equity base when compared to its competitors.
Return on Invested Capital
APD
3.50%
Chemicals - Specialty Industry
- Max
- 20.22%
- Q3
- 10.99%
- Median
- 5.25%
- Q1
- 3.06%
- Min
- -8.62%
APD’s Return on Invested Capital of 3.50% is in line with the norm for the Chemicals - Specialty industry, reflecting a standard level of efficiency in generating profits from its capital base.
VMC
7.04%
Construction Materials Industry
- Max
- 15.45%
- Q3
- 12.02%
- Median
- 9.68%
- Q1
- 7.11%
- Min
- 7.02%
VMC’s Return on Invested Capital of 7.04% is in the lower quartile for the Construction Materials industry. This indicates a less efficient conversion of invested capital into profit compared to most of its competitors.
Net Profit Margin
APD
12.76%
Chemicals - Specialty Industry
- Max
- 23.23%
- Q3
- 10.64%
- Median
- 5.14%
- Q1
- 0.64%
- Min
- -8.93%
A Net Profit Margin of 12.76% places APD in the upper quartile for the Chemicals - Specialty industry, signifying strong profitability and more effective cost management than most of its peers.
VMC
12.50%
Construction Materials Industry
- Max
- 20.50%
- Q3
- 16.08%
- Median
- 10.94%
- Q1
- 9.16%
- Min
- 4.73%
VMC’s Net Profit Margin of 12.50% is aligned with the median group of its peers in the Construction Materials industry. This indicates its ability to convert revenue into profit is typical for the sector.
Operating Profit Margin
APD
12.29%
Chemicals - Specialty Industry
- Max
- 26.42%
- Q3
- 15.81%
- Median
- 10.07%
- Q1
- 4.82%
- Min
- -7.44%
APD’s Operating Profit Margin of 12.29% is around the midpoint for the Chemicals - Specialty industry, indicating that its efficiency in managing core business operations is typical for the sector.
VMC
18.96%
Construction Materials Industry
- Max
- 26.51%
- Q3
- 22.33%
- Median
- 18.96%
- Q1
- 12.92%
- Min
- 6.22%
VMC’s Operating Profit Margin of 18.96% is around the midpoint for the Construction Materials industry, indicating that its efficiency in managing core business operations is typical for the sector.
Profitability at a Glance
| Symbol | APD | VMC |
|---|---|---|
| Return on Equity (TTM) | 9.65% | 11.79% |
| Return on Assets (TTM) | 3.94% | 5.61% |
| Return on Invested Capital (TTM) | 3.50% | 7.04% |
| Net Profit Margin (TTM) | 12.76% | 12.50% |
| Operating Profit Margin (TTM) | 12.29% | 18.96% |
| Gross Profit Margin (TTM) | 31.94% | 44.35% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio
APD
1.00
Chemicals - Specialty Industry
- Max
- 3.95
- Q3
- 2.60
- Median
- 2.04
- Q1
- 1.60
- Min
- 0.77
APD’s Current Ratio of 1.00 falls into the lower quartile for the Chemicals - Specialty industry. This indicates a tighter liquidity situation and a more constrained capacity to handle short-term debt than many of its competitors.
VMC
2.42
Construction Materials Industry
- Max
- 2.94
- Q3
- 2.73
- Median
- 2.25
- Q1
- 1.63
- Min
- 0.87
VMC’s Current Ratio of 2.42 aligns with the median group of the Construction Materials industry, indicating that its short-term liquidity is in line with its sector peers.
Debt-to-Equity Ratio
APD
1.12
Chemicals - Specialty Industry
- Max
- 1.65
- Q3
- 1.10
- Median
- 0.73
- Q1
- 0.55
- Min
- 0.01
APD’s leverage is in the upper quartile of the Chemicals - Specialty industry, with a Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 1.12. While this approach can boost equity growth, it also exposes the company to greater financial vulnerability.
VMC
0.67
Construction Materials Industry
- Max
- 0.88
- Q3
- 0.71
- Median
- 0.53
- Q1
- 0.21
- Min
- 0.01
VMC’s Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 0.67 is typical for the Construction 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
APD
7.77
Chemicals - Specialty Industry
- Max
- 13.69
- Q3
- 9.06
- Median
- 5.24
- Q1
- 1.68
- Min
- -3.09
APD’s Interest Coverage Ratio of 7.77 is positioned comfortably within the norm for the Chemicals - Specialty industry, indicating a standard and healthy capacity to cover its interest payments.
VMC
6.72
Construction Materials Industry
- Max
- 32.44
- Q3
- 18.11
- Median
- 7.75
- Q1
- 5.31
- Min
- 3.30
VMC’s Interest Coverage Ratio of 6.72 is positioned comfortably within the norm for the Construction Materials industry, indicating a standard and healthy capacity to cover its interest payments.
Financial Strength at a Glance
| Symbol | APD | VMC |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (TTM) | 1.00 | 2.42 |
| Quick Ratio (TTM) | 0.85 | 1.51 |
| Debt-to-Equity Ratio (TTM) | 1.12 | 0.67 |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio (TTM) | 0.42 | 0.33 |
| Net Debt-to-EBITDA Ratio (TTM) | 4.19 | 2.55 |
| Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM) | 7.77 | 6.72 |
Growth
The following charts compare key year-over-year (YoY) growth metrics for APD and VMC. These metrics are based on the companies’ annual financial reports.
Revenue Growth
Earnings Per Share (EPS) Growth
Free Cash Flow Growth
Dividend
Dividend Yield
APD
2.44%
Chemicals - Specialty Industry
- Max
- 9.19%
- Q3
- 2.44%
- Median
- 1.46%
- Q1
- 0.25%
- Min
- 0.00%
With a Dividend Yield of 2.44%, APD offers a more attractive income stream than most of its peers in the Chemicals - Specialty industry, signaling a strong commitment to shareholder returns.
VMC
0.71%
Construction Materials Industry
- Max
- 8.35%
- Q3
- 1.57%
- Median
- 0.61%
- Q1
- 0.22%
- Min
- 0.00%
VMC’s Dividend Yield of 0.71% is consistent with its peers in the Construction Materials industry, providing a dividend return that is standard for its sector.
Dividend Payout Ratio
APD
102.68%
Chemicals - Specialty Industry
- Max
- 163.70%
- Q3
- 57.04%
- Median
- 30.02%
- Q1
- 12.51%
- Min
- 0.00%
APD’s Dividend Payout Ratio of 102.68% is above 100%. This means the company is paying out more in dividends than it earned, a practice that is often unsustainable and could indicate a risk to future dividend stability.
VMC
26.48%
Construction Materials Industry
- Max
- 86.74%
- Q3
- 26.48%
- Median
- 13.85%
- Q1
- 4.99%
- Min
- 0.00%
VMC’s Dividend Payout Ratio of 26.48% is within the typical range for the Construction Materials industry, suggesting a balanced approach between shareholder payouts and company reinvestment.
Dividend at a Glance
| Symbol | APD | VMC |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 2.44% | 0.71% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 102.68% | 26.48% |
Valuation
Price-to-Earnings Ratio
APD
42.39
Chemicals - Specialty Industry
- Max
- 56.68
- Q3
- 33.75
- Median
- 23.45
- Q1
- 16.09
- Min
- 7.50
A P/E Ratio of 42.39 places APD in the upper quartile for the Chemicals - Specialty industry. This high valuation relative to peers suggests the market holds elevated expectations for the company’s future growth.
VMC
37.57
Construction Materials Industry
- Max
- 37.00
- Q3
- 25.95
- Median
- 18.83
- Q1
- 14.75
- Min
- 6.99
At 37.57, VMC’s P/E Ratio is exceptionally high, exceeding the typical maximum for the Construction Materials industry. This suggests the stock may be significantly overvalued compared to its peers and implies high market expectations that could be difficult to meet.
Forward P/E to Growth Ratio
APD
6.80
Chemicals - Specialty Industry
- Max
- 6.58
- Q3
- 3.23
- Median
- 1.64
- Q1
- 0.96
- Min
- 0.16
APD’s Forward PEG Ratio of 6.80 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.
VMC
2.42
Construction Materials Industry
- Max
- 2.56
- Q3
- 2.21
- Median
- 1.91
- Q1
- 1.46
- Min
- 0.48
The Forward PEG Ratio is often not a primary valuation metric in the Construction Materials industry.
Price-to-Sales Ratio
APD
5.40
Chemicals - Specialty Industry
- Max
- 3.76
- Q3
- 2.31
- Median
- 1.38
- Q1
- 0.89
- Min
- 0.16
With a P/S Ratio of 5.40, APD trades at a valuation that eclipses even the highest in the Chemicals - Specialty industry. This implies the market has priced in exceptionally optimistic scenarios for future revenue growth, posing considerable valuation risk.
VMC
4.69
Construction Materials Industry
- Max
- 5.00
- Q3
- 3.98
- Median
- 2.34
- Q1
- 1.52
- Min
- 0.50
VMC’s P/S Ratio of 4.69 is in the upper echelon for the Construction Materials industry. This means the company is valued richly on its revenue stream compared to its peers, suggesting the stock is priced for a high level of future performance.
Price-to-Book Ratio
APD
4.42
Chemicals - Specialty Industry
- Max
- 6.73
- Q3
- 3.78
- Median
- 1.56
- Q1
- 1.27
- Min
- 0.35
APD’s P/B Ratio of 4.42 is in the upper tier for the Chemicals - Specialty industry. This indicates that investors are paying a premium relative to the company’s net assets, a valuation that hinges on its ability to generate superior profits.
VMC
4.33
Construction Materials Industry
- Max
- 5.60
- Q3
- 4.69
- Median
- 3.33
- Q1
- 1.80
- Min
- 0.76
VMC’s P/B Ratio of 4.33 is within the conventional range for the Construction 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 | APD | VMC |
|---|---|---|
| Price-to-Earnings Ratio (P/E, TTM) | 42.39 | 37.57 |
| Forward PEG Ratio (TTM) | 6.80 | 2.42 |
| Price-to-Sales Ratio (P/S, TTM) | 5.40 | 4.69 |
| Price-to-Book Ratio (P/B, TTM) | 4.42 | 4.33 |
| Price-to-Free Cash Flow Ratio (P/FCF, TTM) | -14.99 | 40.47 |
| EV-to-EBITDA (TTM) | 22.33 | 19.56 |
| EV-to-Sales (TTM) | 6.65 | 5.39 |