IFF vs. VALE: Intl Flavors & Fragrances vs. Vale Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

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

Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) trades as ordinary local shares, while Vale (VALE) trades as an ADR — compare with FX exposure, depositary-program fees, and dividend-withholding-tax differences in mind.

Company profile comparison for Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) and Vale (VALE)
Profile Item	IFF	VALE
Name	International Flavors & Fragrances, Inc.	Vale S.A. American Depositary Shares
Country/Region	United States	Brazil
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	49.32 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	NYSE
Listing Date	December 17, 1974	March 21, 2002
Security Type	Common Stock	ADR

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

IFF

VALE

GSPC

Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) vs. Vale (VALE), 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 Vale (VALE). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

Loading price history…

Calendar-year total returns for Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) and Vale (VALE). 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 Vale (VALE)
Metric	IFF	VALE
Total Return (1Y)	40.13%	6.20%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	8.28%	3.12%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	-8.71%	8.31%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

IFF

VALE

GSPC

Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) vs. Vale (VALE), 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 Vale (VALE). 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 Vale (VALE)
Metric	IFF	VALE
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	36.26%	33.88%
Beta (5Y)	0.88	0.48
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-56.66%	-49.81%
Avg. Volume (3M)	1.88M	32.62M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

IFF and VALE 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 Vale (VALE)
Metric	IFF	VALE
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	0.99	0.06
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	1.71	0.08

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 Vale (VALE) reports 0.26%, 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%

VALE

Materials industry group

0.26%

Max: 52.88%
Q3: 19.49%
Median: 8.76%
VALE: 0.26%
Q1: -3.41%
Min: -32.81%

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

Net Margin (TTM)

Both Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) at 1.68% and Vale (VALE) at 1.01% 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%

VALE

Materials industry group

1.01%

Max: 38.66%
Q3: 15.98%
Median: 5.28%
VALE: 1.01%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: -20.40%

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

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) at 9.53% and Vale (VALE) at 19.31% 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%

VALE

Materials industry group

19.31%

Max: 66.70%
Q3: 28.92%
VALE: 19.31%
Median: 12.56%
Q1: 3.28%
Min: -14.07%

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

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) and Vale (VALE)
Metric	IFF	VALE
ROE (TTM)	-7.37%	0.26%
ROA (TTM)	2.18%	6.97%
Net Margin (TTM)	1.68%	1.01%
Operating Margin (TTM)	9.53%	19.31%
Gross Margin (TTM)	36.27%	32.06%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Vale (VALE) at 0.91% 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. Vale (VALE): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Vale (VALE) at -61.81% 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. Vale (VALE): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) and Vale (VALE)
Metric	IFF	VALE
Revenue Growth (YoY)	-5.17%	0.91%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	-4.34%	-4.32%
EPS Growth (YoY)	-248.42%	-61.81%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	--	-48.60%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) at 1.87 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Vale (VALE) at 1.10 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for VALE.

IFF

Materials industry group

1.87

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

VALE

Materials industry group

1.10

Max: 5.96
Q3: 3.30
Median: 2.24
Q1: 1.45
VALE: 1.10
Min: 0.16

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

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) at 0.51 and Vale (VALE) at 0.55 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

VALE

Materials industry group

0.55

Max: 1.98
Q3: 0.89
VALE: 0.55
Median: 0.47
Q1: 0.13
Min: 0.00

Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) vs. Vale (VALE): 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 Vale (VALE)
Metric	IFF	VALE
Current Ratio (MRQ)	1.87	1.10
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	0.51	0.55
Net Debt / EBITDA	3.51	1.20

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) at 1.85% earns its spot in the top quartile of its industry’s yields; Vale (VALE) at 49.02% 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%

VALE

Materials industry group

49.02%

VALE: 49.02%
Max: 4.52%
Q3: 1.85%
Median: 0.38%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

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

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Vale (VALE) reports payout ratio above 100% at 526.96%, meaning dividends exceeded current-period earnings and sustainability needs extra context. Meanwhile Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) reports 62.26%, ranking against industry peers normally.

IFF

Materials industry group

62.26%

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

VALE

Materials industry group

526.96%

VALE: 526.96%
Max: 83.62%
Q3: 41.37%
Median: 9.54%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

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

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) and Vale (VALE)
Metric	IFF	VALE
Dividend Yield (TTM)	1.85%	49.02%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	62.26%	526.96%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) at 236.06 and Vale (VALE) at 72.44 trade above their industries’ P/E ratio peer ranges, pointing to unusually expensive trailing earnings relative to peers.

IFF

Materials industry group

236.06

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

VALE

Materials industry group

72.44

VALE: 72.44
Max: 59.00
Q3: 32.93
Median: 18.82
Q1: 11.96
Min: 3.93

Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) vs. Vale (VALE): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Vale (VALE) at 0.23 sits in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile while Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) at 1.91 prices around its industry’s middle — VALE 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

VALE

Materials industry group

0.23

Max: 9.62
Q3: 4.34
Median: 1.87
Q1: 0.73
VALE: 0.23
Min: 0.00

Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) vs. Vale (VALE): 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 Vale (VALE) at 1.27 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

VALE

Materials industry group

1.27

Max: 6.59
Q3: 3.55
Median: 2.08
VALE: 1.27
Q1: 1.26
Min: -0.17

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

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) and Vale (VALE)
Metric	IFF	VALE
P/E Ratio (TTM)	236.06	72.44
P/S Ratio (TTM)	1.91	0.23
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	1.56	1.27
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	-10.66%	17.51%