Albemarle (ALB) vs Air Products and Chemicals (APD)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 7, 2026.
Summary
Albemarle (ALB) has outperformed Air Products and Chemicals (APD) over the past year, gaining 13.5% versus a gain of 2.7%. Over five years, APD leads with a -5.0% price change compared with -55.1% for ALB. Air Products and Chemicals is the larger company by market cap ($61.93 billion vs $12.13 billion), about 5.1 times the size.
On valuation, Albemarle trades at a lower forward P/E (9.1x vs 19.3x for Air Products and Chemicals). Air Products and Chemicals offers the higher dividend yield (2.59% vs 1.58%). Air Products and Chemicals converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of -3.3% versus -9.9%.
Summary generated from market data by MetaCap's automated system. Methodology
Relative performance
Percent change in share price from the first common trading day shown; excludes dividends.
Head-to-head
| Metric | ALB | APD |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $102.75 | $278.12 |
| Market cap | $12.13B | $61.93B |
| 1-day change | -3.39% | -1.02% |
| YTD return | -27.35% | +12.59% |
| 1-year return | +13.50% | +2.67% |
| 5-year return | -55.09% | -4.98% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 380.56 | — |
| Forward P/E | 9.10 | 19.26 |
| EPS (TTM) | $0.27 | $-0.21 |
| Dividend yield | 1.58% | 2.59% |
| Annual dividend | $1.62 | $7.20 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $5.14B | $12.04B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | -4.37% | -0.52% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $-510.63M | $-394.50M |
| Gross margin | 13.00% | 31.41% |
| Operating margin | -7.14% | -7.29% |
| Net margin | -9.93% | -3.28% |
| 52-week high | $221.00 | $314.87 |
| 52-week low | $88.01 | $229.11 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -53.51% | -11.67% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +64.05% | +23.50% |
| Average volume | 2.27M | 1.09M |
| Shares outstanding | 118.01M | 222.69M |
| Employees | 7,800 | 21,087 |
| Sector | Industrials | Basic Materials |
| Industry | Major Chemicals | Major Chemicals |
Highlighted cells mark the higher value for growth, returns, margins and yield, and the lower value for P/E ratios. Highlighting is a mechanical comparison, not a recommendation.
Key differences
- Air Products and Chemicals is about 5.1 times larger than Albemarle by market value ($61.93B vs $12.13B).
- ALB has outperformed APD by 10.8 percentage points over the past year.
- Air Products and Chemicals offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (2.59% vs 1.58%).
- Air Products and Chemicals is more profitable, keeping -3.3 cents of every revenue dollar as net income versus -9.9 cents for Albemarle.
- The two companies sit in different sectors: Albemarle in Industrials and Air Products and Chemicals in Basic Materials.
About Albemarle
ALB stock →Albemarle Corporation provides energy storage solutions worldwide. It operates through three segments: Energy Storage, Specialties, and Ketjen.
Industrials · Major Chemicals · 7,800 employees
About Air Products and Chemicals
APD stock →Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. provides atmospheric gases, process and specialty gases, equipment, and related services in the Americas, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, India, and internationally.
Basic Materials · Major Chemicals · 21,087 employees
ALB vs APD FAQ
Which is bigger, Albemarle or Air Products and Chemicals?
Air Products and Chemicals (APD) is larger, with a market capitalization of $61.93B compared with $12.13B for Albemarle (ALB).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, ALB or APD?
ALB returned +13.50% over the past 12 months, compared with +2.67% for APD (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which pays a higher dividend, Albemarle or Air Products and Chemicals?
Air Products and Chemicals has the higher yield at 2.59%, compared with 1.58% for Albemarle.
Are Albemarle and Air Products and Chemicals in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Major Chemicals industry within the Industrials sector.