IFF vs. PKX: Intl Flavors & Fragrances vs. POSCO Stock Comparison
How do Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) and POSCO (PKX) 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 POSCO (PKX) both fall under the Materials industry group, but IFF is classified in Chemicals while PKX is classified in Metals & Mining.
Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) trades as ordinary local shares, while POSCO (PKX) trades as an ADR — compare with FX exposure, depositary-program fees, and dividend-withholding-tax differences in mind.
| Profile Item | IFF | PKX |
|---|---|---|
| Name | International Flavors & Fragrances, Inc. | POSCO Holdings Inc. American Depositary Receipt |
| Country/Region | United States | South Korea |
| GICS Sector | Materials | Materials |
| GICS Industry Group | Materials | Materials |
| GICS Industry | Chemicals | Metals & Mining |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Specialty Chemicals | Steel |
| Market Capitalization | 20.69 billion USD | 14.79 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | December 17, 1974 | October 14, 1994 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | ADR |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | IFF | PKX |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 40.13% | -4.84% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 8.28% | -15.65% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | -8.71% | -1.81% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | IFF | PKX |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 36.26% | 46.00% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.88 | 1.71 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -56.66% | -68.71% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 1.88M | 216.95K |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | IFF | PKX |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 0.99 | -0.20 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 1.71 | -0.30 |
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 POSCO (PKX) reports 2.21%, 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%
PKX
Materials industry group
2.21%
- Max
- 52.88%
- Q3
- 19.49%
- Median
- 8.76%
- PKX
- 2.21%
- Q1
- -3.41%
- Min
- -32.81%
Net Margin (TTM)
Both Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) at 1.68% and POSCO (PKX) at 1.89% 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%
PKX
Materials industry group
1.89%
- Max
- 38.66%
- Q3
- 15.98%
- Median
- 5.28%
- PKX
- 1.89%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- -20.40%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Both Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) at 9.53% and POSCO (PKX) at 4.26% 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%
PKX
Materials industry group
4.26%
- Max
- 66.70%
- Q3
- 28.92%
- Median
- 12.56%
- PKX
- 4.26%
- Q1
- 3.28%
- Min
- -14.07%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | IFF | PKX |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | -7.37% | 2.21% |
| ROA (TTM) | 2.18% | 1.31% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 1.68% | 1.89% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 9.53% | 4.26% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 36.27% | 7.87% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Both Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) at -5.17% and POSCO (PKX) at -6.09% post bottom-quartile revenue growth versus peers, pointing to weaker demand or pricing momentum than typical rivals.
EPS Growth
POSCO (PKX) at -29.00% 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.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | IFF | PKX |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | -5.17% | -6.09% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | -4.34% | -6.72% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | -248.42% | -29.00% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | -- | -39.42% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Both Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) at 1.87 and POSCO (PKX) at 1.98 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
PKX
Materials industry group
1.98
- Max
- 5.96
- Q3
- 3.30
- Median
- 2.24
- PKX
- 1.98
- Q1
- 1.45
- Min
- 0.16
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Both Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) at 0.51 and POSCO (PKX) at 0.50 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
PKX
Materials industry group
0.50
- Max
- 1.98
- Q3
- 0.89
- PKX
- 0.50
- Median
- 0.47
- Q1
- 0.13
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | IFF | PKX |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 1.87 | 1.98 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 0.51 | 0.50 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 3.51 | 2.81 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) at 1.85% earns its spot in the top quartile of its industry’s yields; POSCO (PKX) at 18,518.52% is past the top of its own peer range — territory where a dividend-safety check matters more than the headline number.
IFF
Materials industry group
1.85%
- Max
- 4.52%
- IFF
- 1.85%
- Q3
- 1.85%
- Median
- 0.38%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
PKX
Materials industry group
18,518.52%
- PKX
- 18,518.52%
- Max
- 4.52%
- Q3
- 1.85%
- Median
- 0.38%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Both Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) at 62.26% and POSCO (PKX) at 51.60% pay out an above-typical share of earnings for their industries, leaving thinner cover if profits dip.
IFF
Materials industry group
62.26%
- Max
- 83.62%
- IFF
- 62.26%
- Q3
- 41.37%
- Median
- 9.54%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
PKX
Materials industry group
51.60%
- Max
- 83.62%
- PKX
- 51.60%
- Q3
- 41.37%
- Median
- 9.54%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | IFF | PKX |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 1.85% | 18,518.52% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 62.26% | 51.60% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
POSCO (PKX) at 15.57 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
PKX
Materials industry group
15.57
- Max
- 59.00
- Q3
- 32.93
- Median
- 18.82
- PKX
- 15.57
- Q1
- 11.96
- Min
- 3.93
P/S Ratio (TTM)
POSCO (PKX) at 0.00 sits in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile while Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) at 1.91 prices around its industry’s middle — PKX costs less per dollar of sales, though read it alongside growth and margins.
IFF
Materials industry group
1.91
- Max
- 9.62
- Q3
- 4.34
- IFF
- 1.91
- Median
- 1.87
- Q1
- 0.73
- Min
- 0.00
PKX
Materials industry group
0.00
- Max
- 9.62
- Q3
- 4.34
- Median
- 1.87
- Q1
- 0.73
- PKX
- 0.00
- Min
- 0.00
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
On P/B ratio, both Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) at 1.56 and POSCO (PKX) at 1.36 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
PKX
Materials industry group
1.36
- Max
- 6.59
- Q3
- 3.55
- Median
- 2.08
- PKX
- 1.36
- Q1
- 1.26
- Min
- -0.17
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | IFF | PKX |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 236.06 | 15.57 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 1.91 | 0.00 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 1.56 | 1.36 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | -10.66% | -23,410.34% |