IFF vs. RPM: Intl Flavors & Fragrances vs. RPM Stock Comparison
How do Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) and RPM (RPM) 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 RPM (RPM) are both classified in the Specialty Chemicals sub-industry within the broader Chemicals industry, placing them in the closest GICS peer bucket.
| Profile Item | IFF | RPM |
|---|---|---|
| Name | International Flavors & Fragrances, Inc. | RPM International Inc. |
| Country/Region | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Materials | Materials |
| GICS Industry Group | Materials | Materials |
| GICS Industry | Chemicals | Chemicals |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Specialty Chemicals | Specialty Chemicals |
| Market Capitalization | 20.69 billion USD | 13.18 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | December 17, 1974 | March 17, 1980 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | IFF | RPM |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 40.13% | 1.43% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 8.28% | 5.53% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | -8.71% | 5.33% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | IFF | RPM |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 36.26% | 31.14% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.88 | 1.00 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -56.66% | -31.97% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 1.88M | 1.29M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | IFF | RPM |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 0.99 | -0.09 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 1.71 | -0.15 |
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 RPM (RPM) reports 21.15%, 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%
RPM
Materials industry group
21.15%
- Max
- 52.88%
- RPM
- 21.15%
- Q3
- 19.49%
- Median
- 8.76%
- Q1
- -3.41%
- Min
- -32.81%
Net Margin (TTM)
Both Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) at 1.68% and RPM (RPM) at 8.66% 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%
RPM
Materials industry group
8.66%
- Max
- 38.66%
- Q3
- 15.98%
- RPM
- 8.66%
- Median
- 5.28%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- -20.40%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Both Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) at 9.53% and RPM (RPM) at 16.20% 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%
RPM
Materials industry group
16.20%
- Max
- 66.70%
- Q3
- 28.92%
- RPM
- 16.20%
- Median
- 12.56%
- Q1
- 3.28%
- Min
- -14.07%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | IFF | RPM |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | -7.37% | 21.15% |
| ROA (TTM) | 2.18% | 7.88% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 1.68% | 8.66% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 9.53% | 16.20% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 36.27% | 41.17% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
RPM (RPM) at 6.66% 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.
EPS Growth
RPM (RPM) at -3.36% 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 | RPM |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | -5.17% | 6.66% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | -4.34% | 2.71% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | -248.42% | -3.36% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | -- | 11.60% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Both Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) at 1.87 and RPM (RPM) at 1.76 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
RPM
Materials industry group
1.76
- Max
- 5.96
- Q3
- 3.30
- Median
- 2.24
- RPM
- 1.76
- Q1
- 1.45
- Min
- 0.16
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Both Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) at 0.51 and RPM (RPM) at 0.79 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
RPM
Materials industry group
0.79
- Max
- 1.98
- Q3
- 0.89
- RPM
- 0.79
- Median
- 0.47
- Q1
- 0.13
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | IFF | RPM |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 1.87 | 1.76 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 0.51 | 0.79 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 3.51 | 1.97 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Both Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) at 1.85% and RPM (RPM) at 2.05% offer top-quartile dividend income relative to share price within their industries.
IFF
Materials industry group
1.85%
- Max
- 4.52%
- IFF
- 1.85%
- Q3
- 1.85%
- Median
- 0.38%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
RPM
Materials industry group
2.05%
- Max
- 4.52%
- RPM
- 2.05%
- Q3
- 1.85%
- Median
- 0.38%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
RPM (RPM) at 39.93% 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%
RPM
Materials industry group
39.93%
- Max
- 83.62%
- Q3
- 41.37%
- RPM
- 39.93%
- Median
- 9.54%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | IFF | RPM |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 1.85% | 2.05% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 62.26% | 39.93% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
RPM (RPM) at 19.10 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
RPM
Materials industry group
19.10
- Max
- 59.00
- Q3
- 32.93
- RPM
- 19.10
- Median
- 18.82
- Q1
- 11.96
- Min
- 3.93
P/S Ratio (TTM)
On P/S ratio, both Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) at 1.91 and RPM (RPM) at 1.65 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
RPM
Materials industry group
1.65
- Max
- 9.62
- Q3
- 4.34
- Median
- 1.87
- RPM
- 1.65
- Q1
- 0.73
- Min
- 0.00
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) at 1.56 is valued about in line with its industry on P/B ratio, while RPM (RPM) at 3.79 carries an above-peer premium to book — RPM is pricier on assets.
IFF
Materials industry group
1.56
- Max
- 6.59
- Q3
- 3.55
- Median
- 2.08
- IFF
- 1.56
- Q1
- 1.26
- Min
- -0.17
RPM
Materials industry group
3.79
- Max
- 6.59
- RPM
- 3.79
- Q3
- 3.55
- Median
- 2.08
- Q1
- 1.26
- Min
- -0.17
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | IFF | RPM |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 236.06 | 19.10 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 1.91 | 1.65 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 1.56 | 3.79 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | -10.66% | 4.20% |