AU vs. JHX: AngloGold Ashanti vs. James Hardie Industries Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

How do AngloGold Ashanti (AU) 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

AngloGold Ashanti (AU) and James Hardie Industries (JHX) both fall under the Materials industry group, but AU is classified in Metals & Mining while JHX is classified in Construction Materials.

Company profile comparison for AngloGold Ashanti (AU) and James Hardie Industries (JHX)
Profile Item	AU	JHX
Name	AngloGold Ashanti plc	James Hardie Industries plc
Country/Region	United States	Ireland
GICS Sector	Materials	Materials
GICS Industry Group	Materials	Materials
GICS Industry	Metals & Mining	Construction Materials
GICS Sub-Industry	Gold	Construction Materials
Market Capitalization	47.04 billion USD	16.20 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	NYSE
Listing Date	August 5, 1998	October 22, 2001
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

JHX

GSPC

AngloGold Ashanti (AU) vs. James Hardie Industries (JHX), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Trailing Returns

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Trailing total returns for AngloGold Ashanti (AU) and James Hardie Industries (JHX). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for AngloGold Ashanti (AU) and James Hardie Industries (JHX). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for AngloGold Ashanti (AU) and James Hardie Industries (JHX)
Metric	AU	JHX
Total Return (1Y)	47.97%	72.20%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	87.34%	0.38%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	42.76%	-5.23%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

JHX

GSPC

AngloGold Ashanti (AU) vs. James Hardie Industries (JHX), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Return Distribution

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Distribution of monthly total returns for AngloGold Ashanti (AU) and James Hardie Industries (JHX). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

James Hardie Industries (JHX) has an aggressive beta of 1.74, indicating higher sensitivity to broad-market moves, while AngloGold Ashanti (AU) is defensive at 0.67 and tends to be less market-sensitive — they sit on opposite ends of the beta spectrum.

Risk profile metrics for AngloGold Ashanti (AU) and James Hardie Industries (JHX)
Metric	AU	JHX
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	60.11%	44.97%
Beta (5Y)	0.67	1.74
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-51.75%	-60.26%
Avg. Volume (3M)	2.54M	9.36M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

AU and JHX are plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. The dashed Capital Allocation Line runs from the risk-free rate through the shared industry median.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for AngloGold Ashanti (AU) and James Hardie Industries (JHX)
Metric	AU	JHX
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	0.73	1.51
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	1.07	2.59

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

AngloGold Ashanti (AU) at 44.33% sits in the top ROE quartile, while James Hardie Industries (JHX) at 5.46% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for AU.

AU

Materials industry group

44.33%

Max: 52.88%
AU: 44.33%
Q3: 19.49%
Median: 8.76%
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%

AngloGold Ashanti (AU) vs. James Hardie Industries (JHX): A comparison of their ROE against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

AngloGold Ashanti (AU) at 32.64% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of James Hardie Industries (JHX) at 6.22%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.

AU

Materials industry group

32.64%

Max: 38.66%
AU: 32.64%
Q3: 15.98%
Median: 5.28%
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%

AngloGold Ashanti (AU) vs. James Hardie Industries (JHX): A comparison of their net margin against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

AngloGold Ashanti (AU) at 45.36% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of James Hardie Industries (JHX) at 19.56%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

AU

Materials industry group

45.36%

Max: 66.70%
AU: 45.36%
Q3: 28.92%
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%

AngloGold Ashanti (AU) vs. James Hardie Industries (JHX): A comparison of their operating margin against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for AngloGold Ashanti (AU) and James Hardie Industries (JHX)
Metric	AU	JHX
ROE (TTM)	44.33%	5.46%
ROA (TTM)	24.39%	4.42%
Net Margin (TTM)	32.64%	6.22%
Operating Margin (TTM)	45.36%	19.56%
Gross Margin (TTM)	54.84%	38.25%

Growth

Revenue Growth

AngloGold Ashanti (AU) at 70.78% sits in the top revenue growth quartile, while James Hardie Industries (JHX) at 24.71% is closer to the peer norm — faster top-line expansion for AU.

AngloGold Ashanti (AU) vs. James Hardie Industries (JHX): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

AngloGold Ashanti (AU) at 122.32% sits in the top EPS growth quartile, while James Hardie Industries (JHX) at -80.61% is in the bottom quartile, showing a clear gap in earnings momentum.

AngloGold Ashanti (AU) vs. James Hardie Industries (JHX): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for AngloGold Ashanti (AU) and James Hardie Industries (JHX)
Metric	AU	JHX
Revenue Growth (YoY)	70.78%	24.71%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	30.02%	8.59%
EPS Growth (YoY)	122.32%	-80.61%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	93.95%	-45.13%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both AngloGold Ashanti (AU) at 2.55 and James Hardie Industries (JHX) at 2.12 carry current ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges, suggesting balanced short-term liquidity relative to peers.

AU

Materials industry group

2.55

Max: 5.96
Q3: 3.30
AU: 2.55
Median: 2.24
Q1: 1.45
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

AngloGold Ashanti (AU) vs. James Hardie Industries (JHX): A comparison of their current ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both AngloGold Ashanti (AU) at 0.16 and James Hardie Industries (JHX) at 0.63 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.

AU

Materials industry group

0.16

Max: 1.98
Q3: 0.89
Median: 0.47
AU: 0.16
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

AngloGold Ashanti (AU) vs. James Hardie Industries (JHX): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for AngloGold Ashanti (AU) and James Hardie Industries (JHX)
Metric	AU	JHX
Current Ratio (MRQ)	2.55	2.12
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	0.16	0.63
Net Debt / EBITDA	-0.17	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 AngloGold Ashanti (AU) reports a yield of 4.88%, ranking against industry peers normally.

AU

Materials industry group

4.88%

AU: 4.88%
Max: 4.52%
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%

AngloGold Ashanti (AU) vs. James Hardie Industries (JHX): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Materials industry group benchmark.

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 AngloGold Ashanti (AU) reports a payout of 58.78%, ranking against industry peers normally.

AU

Materials industry group

58.78%

Max: 83.62%
AU: 58.78%
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%

AngloGold Ashanti (AU) vs. James Hardie Industries (JHX): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for AngloGold Ashanti (AU) and James Hardie Industries (JHX)
Metric	AU	JHX
Dividend Yield (TTM)	4.88%	0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	58.78%	0.00%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

AngloGold Ashanti (AU) at 12.09 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while James Hardie Industries (JHX) at 48.02 sits in the richer quartile — JHX needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.

AU

Materials industry group

12.09

Max: 59.00
Q3: 32.93
Median: 18.82
AU: 12.09
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

AngloGold Ashanti (AU) vs. James Hardie Industries (JHX): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

On P/S ratio, both AngloGold Ashanti (AU) at 3.91 and James Hardie Industries (JHX) at 2.86 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.

AU

Materials industry group

3.91

Max: 9.62
Q3: 4.34
AU: 3.91
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

AngloGold Ashanti (AU) vs. James Hardie Industries (JHX): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

James Hardie Industries (JHX) at 2.41 is valued about in line with its industry on P/B ratio, while AngloGold Ashanti (AU) at 5.01 carries an above-peer premium to book — AU is pricier on assets.

AU

Materials industry group

5.01

Max: 6.59
AU: 5.01
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

AngloGold Ashanti (AU) vs. James Hardie Industries (JHX): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for AngloGold Ashanti (AU) and James Hardie Industries (JHX)
Metric	AU	JHX
P/E Ratio (TTM)	12.09	48.02
P/S Ratio (TTM)	3.91	2.86
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	5.01	2.41
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	7.61%	0.98%