IFF vs. RS: Intl Flavors & Fragrances vs. Reliance Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

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

Company profile comparison for Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) and Reliance (RS)
Profile Item	IFF	RS
Name	International Flavors & Fragrances, Inc.	Reliance, Inc.
Country/Region	United States	United States
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	21.24 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	NYSE
Listing Date	December 17, 1974	September 16, 1994
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

IFF

GSPC

Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) vs. Reliance (RS), 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

Loading price history…

Trailing total returns for Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) and Reliance (RS). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

Loading price history…

Calendar-year total returns for Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) and Reliance (RS). 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 Reliance (RS)
Metric	IFF	RS
Total Return (1Y)	40.13%	54.53%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	8.28%	18.36%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	-8.71%	22.28%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

IFF

GSPC

Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) vs. Reliance (RS), 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

Loading price history…

Distribution of monthly total returns for Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) and Reliance (RS). 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 Reliance (RS)
Metric	IFF	RS
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	36.26%	25.64%
Beta (5Y)	0.88	0.97
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-56.66%	-22.32%
Avg. Volume (3M)	1.88M	311.43K

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

IFF and RS 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 Reliance (RS)
Metric	IFF	RS
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	0.99	1.96
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	1.71	2.92

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 Reliance (RS) reports 14.75%, 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%

RS

Materials industry group

14.75%

Max: 52.88%
Q3: 19.49%
RS: 14.75%
Median: 8.76%
Q1: -3.41%
Min: -32.81%

Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) vs. Reliance (RS): A comparison of their ROE against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Both Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) at 1.68% and Reliance (RS) at 6.38% 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%

RS

Materials industry group

6.38%

Max: 38.66%
Q3: 15.98%
RS: 6.38%
Median: 5.28%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: -20.40%

Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) vs. Reliance (RS): A comparison of their net margin against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) at 9.53% and Reliance (RS) at 10.63% 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%

RS

Materials industry group

10.63%

Max: 66.70%
Q3: 28.92%
Median: 12.56%
RS: 10.63%
Q1: 3.28%
Min: -14.07%

Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) vs. Reliance (RS): A comparison of their operating margin against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) and Reliance (RS)
Metric	IFF	RS
ROE (TTM)	-7.37%	14.75%
ROA (TTM)	2.18%	8.83%
Net Margin (TTM)	1.68%	6.38%
Operating Margin (TTM)	9.53%	10.63%
Gross Margin (TTM)	36.27%	28.17%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Reliance (RS) at 3.32% 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.

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

EPS Growth

Reliance (RS) at -10.15% 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.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) and Reliance (RS)
Metric	IFF	RS
Revenue Growth (YoY)	-5.17%	3.32%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	-4.34%	-5.66%
EPS Growth (YoY)	-248.42%	-10.15%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	--	-22.40%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) at 1.87 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Reliance (RS) at 4.12 sits above its industry’s typical mid-range — comfortable liquidity, though possibly with more idle current assets 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

RS

Materials industry group

4.12

Max: 5.96
RS: 4.12
Q3: 3.30
Median: 2.24
Q1: 1.45
Min: 0.16

Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) vs. Reliance (RS): A comparison of their current ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) at 0.51 and Reliance (RS) at 0.25 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

RS

Materials industry group

0.25

Max: 1.98
Q3: 0.89
Median: 0.47
RS: 0.25
Q1: 0.13
Min: 0.00

Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) vs. Reliance (RS): 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 Reliance (RS)
Metric	IFF	RS
Current Ratio (MRQ)	1.87	4.12
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	0.51	0.25
Net Debt / EBITDA	3.51	0.93

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) at 1.85% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while Reliance (RS) at 1.20% 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%

RS

Materials industry group

1.20%

Max: 4.52%
Q3: 1.85%
RS: 1.20%
Median: 0.38%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) vs. Reliance (RS): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Reliance (RS) at 23.08% 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%

RS

Materials industry group

23.08%

Max: 83.62%
Q3: 41.37%
RS: 23.08%
Median: 9.54%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) vs. Reliance (RS): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) and Reliance (RS)
Metric	IFF	RS
Dividend Yield (TTM)	1.85%	1.20%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	62.26%	23.08%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Reliance (RS) at 19.44 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

RS

Materials industry group

19.44

Max: 59.00
Q3: 32.93
RS: 19.44
Median: 18.82
Q1: 11.96
Min: 3.93

Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) vs. Reliance (RS): 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 Reliance (RS) at 1.22 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

RS

Materials industry group

1.22

Max: 9.62
Q3: 4.34
Median: 1.87
RS: 1.22
Q1: 0.73
Min: 0.00

Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) vs. Reliance (RS): 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 Reliance (RS) at 2.75 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

RS

Materials industry group

2.75

Max: 6.59
Q3: 3.55
RS: 2.75
Median: 2.08
Q1: 1.26
Min: -0.17

Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) vs. Reliance (RS): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) and Reliance (RS)
Metric	IFF	RS
P/E Ratio (TTM)	236.06	19.44
P/S Ratio (TTM)	1.91	1.22
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	1.56	2.75
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	-10.66%	1.19%