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IFF vs. NUE: Intl Flavors & Fragrances vs. Nucor Stock Comparison

How do Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) and Nucor (NUE) 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

Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) and Nucor (NUE) both fall under the Materials industry group, but IFF is classified in Chemicals while NUE is classified in Metals & Mining.

Company profile comparison for Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) and Nucor (NUE)
Profile ItemIFFNUE
NameInternational Flavors & Fragrances, Inc.Nucor Corporation
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorMaterialsMaterials
GICS Industry GroupMaterialsMaterials
GICS IndustryChemicalsMetals & Mining
GICS Sub-IndustrySpecialty ChemicalsSteel
Market Capitalization20.69 billion USD55.58 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateDecember 17, 1974March 17, 1980
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

IFF
NUE
GSPC
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Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) vs. Nucor (NUE), 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 Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) and Nucor (NUE). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) and Nucor (NUE). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) and Nucor (NUE)
MetricIFFNUE
Total Return (1Y)40.13%74.82%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)8.28%19.83%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)-8.71%18.79%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

IFF
NUE
GSPC
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Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) vs. Nucor (NUE), 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 Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) and Nucor (NUE). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) and Nucor (NUE)
MetricIFFNUE
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)36.26%32.37%
Beta (5Y)0.881.82
Max Drawdown (5Y)-56.66%-47.79%
Avg. Volume (3M)1.88M1.37M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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IFF and NUE 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 Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) and Nucor (NUE)
MetricIFFNUE
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.992.18
Sortino Ratio (1Y)1.713.28

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 Nucor (NUE) reports 17.58%, ranking against industry peers normally.

IFF

Materials industry group

-7.37%

Max
52.88%
Q3
19.49%
Median
8.76%
Q1
-3.41%
IFF
-7.37%
Min
-32.81%

NUE

Materials industry group

17.58%

Max
52.88%
Q3
19.49%
NUE
17.58%
Median
8.76%
Q1
-3.41%
Min
-32.81%
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Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) vs. Nucor (NUE): A comparison of their ROE against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Both Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) at 1.68% and Nucor (NUE) at 9.26% keep about the typical share of revenue as profit for their industries — neither bottom line stands out from peers.

IFF

Materials industry group

1.68%

Max
38.66%
Q3
15.98%
Median
5.28%
IFF
1.68%
Q1
0.00%
Min
-20.40%

NUE

Materials industry group

9.26%

Max
38.66%
Q3
15.98%
NUE
9.26%
Median
5.28%
Q1
0.00%
Min
-20.40%
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Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) vs. Nucor (NUE): A comparison of their net margin against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) at 9.53% and Nucor (NUE) at 16.73% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.

IFF

Materials industry group

9.53%

Max
66.70%
Q3
28.92%
Median
12.56%
IFF
9.53%
Q1
3.28%
Min
-14.07%

NUE

Materials industry group

16.73%

Max
66.70%
Q3
28.92%
NUE
16.73%
Median
12.56%
Q1
3.28%
Min
-14.07%
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Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) vs. Nucor (NUE): A comparison of their operating margin against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) and Nucor (NUE)
MetricIFFNUE
ROE (TTM)-7.37%17.58%
ROA (TTM)2.18%8.82%
Net Margin (TTM)1.68%9.26%
Operating Margin (TTM)9.53%16.73%
Gross Margin (TTM)36.27%17.39%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Nucor (NUE) at 5.73% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) at -5.17% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.

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Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) vs. Nucor (NUE): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Nucor (NUE) at -11.11% is around its peer norm for EPS growth, while Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) at -248.42% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker earnings momentum.

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Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) vs. Nucor (NUE): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) and Nucor (NUE)
MetricIFFNUE
Revenue Growth (YoY)-5.17%5.73%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)-4.34%-7.84%
EPS Growth (YoY)-248.42%-11.11%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)---36.08%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) at 1.87 and Nucor (NUE) at 2.46 carry current ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges, suggesting balanced short-term liquidity relative to peers.

IFF

Materials industry group

1.87

Max
5.96
Q3
3.30
Median
2.24
IFF
1.87
Q1
1.45
Min
0.16

NUE

Materials industry group

2.46

Max
5.96
Q3
3.30
NUE
2.46
Median
2.24
Q1
1.45
Min
0.16
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Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) vs. Nucor (NUE): A comparison of their current ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) at 0.51 and Nucor (NUE) at 0.29 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.

IFF

Materials industry group

0.51

Max
1.98
Q3
0.89
IFF
0.51
Median
0.47
Q1
0.13
Min
0.00

NUE

Materials industry group

0.29

Max
1.98
Q3
0.89
Median
0.47
NUE
0.29
Q1
0.13
Min
0.00
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Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) vs. Nucor (NUE): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) and Nucor (NUE)
MetricIFFNUE
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.872.46
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.510.29
Net Debt / EBITDA3.510.52

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) at 1.85% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while Nucor (NUE) at 0.91% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, IFF the richer one.

IFF

Materials industry group

1.85%

Max
4.52%
IFF
1.85%
Q3
1.85%
Median
0.38%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

NUE

Materials industry group

0.91%

Max
4.52%
Q3
1.85%
NUE
0.91%
Median
0.38%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) vs. Nucor (NUE): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Nucor (NUE) at 17.78% pays out a band-typical share of earnings, while Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) at 62.26% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.

IFF

Materials industry group

62.26%

Max
83.62%
IFF
62.26%
Q3
41.37%
Median
9.54%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

NUE

Materials industry group

17.78%

Max
83.62%
Q3
41.37%
NUE
17.78%
Median
9.54%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) vs. Nucor (NUE): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) and Nucor (NUE)
MetricIFFNUE
Dividend Yield (TTM)1.85%0.91%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)62.26%17.78%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Nucor (NUE) at 15.60 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) at 236.06 sits above its peer range — an unusually expensive price for IFF’s trailing earnings.

IFF

Materials industry group

236.06

IFF
236.06
Max
59.00
Q3
32.93
Median
18.82
Q1
11.96
Min
3.93

NUE

Materials industry group

15.60

Max
59.00
Q3
32.93
Median
18.82
NUE
15.60
Q1
11.96
Min
3.93
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Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) vs. Nucor (NUE): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

On P/S ratio, both Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) at 1.91 and Nucor (NUE) at 1.43 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.

IFF

Materials industry group

1.91

Max
9.62
Q3
4.34
IFF
1.91
Median
1.87
Q1
0.73
Min
0.00

NUE

Materials industry group

1.43

Max
9.62
Q3
4.34
Median
1.87
NUE
1.43
Q1
0.73
Min
0.00
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Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) vs. Nucor (NUE): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

On P/B ratio, both Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) at 1.56 and Nucor (NUE) at 2.43 are valued close to their industries’ norm against book — neither stands out from peers.

IFF

Materials industry group

1.56

Max
6.59
Q3
3.55
Median
2.08
IFF
1.56
Q1
1.26
Min
-0.17

NUE

Materials industry group

2.43

Max
6.59
Q3
3.55
NUE
2.43
Median
2.08
Q1
1.26
Min
-0.17
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Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) vs. Nucor (NUE): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) and Nucor (NUE)
MetricIFFNUE
P/E Ratio (TTM)236.0615.60
P/S Ratio (TTM)1.911.43
P/B Ratio (MRQ)1.562.43
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)-10.66%2.77%