Albemarle (ALB) vs Eastman Chemical (EMN)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 8, 2026.
Summary
Albemarle (ALB) has outperformed Eastman Chemical (EMN) over the past year, gaining 13.5% versus a gain of 1.4%. Over five years, EMN leads with a -41.1% price change compared with -55.1% for ALB. Albemarle is the larger company by market cap ($12.05 billion vs $7.29 billion), about 1.7 times the size.
On valuation, Albemarle trades at a lower forward P/E (9.0x vs 9.4x for Eastman Chemical). Eastman Chemical offers the higher dividend yield (5.25% vs 1.59%). Eastman Chemical converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 5.4% 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 | EMN |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $102.10 | $63.76 |
| Market cap | $12.05B | $7.29B |
| 1-day change | -0.63% | +0.81% |
| YTD return | -27.35% | -0.91% |
| 1-year return | +13.50% | +1.44% |
| 5-year return | -55.09% | -41.09% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 378.15 | 16.65 |
| Forward P/E | 9.04 | 9.39 |
| EPS (TTM) | $0.27 | $3.83 |
| Dividend yield | 1.59% | 5.25% |
| Annual dividend | $1.62 | $3.35 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $5.14B | $8.75B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | -4.37% | -6.71% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $-510.63M | $474.00M |
| Gross margin | 13.00% | 21.07% |
| Operating margin | -7.14% | — |
| Net margin | -9.93% | 5.42% |
| 52-week high | $221.00 | $83.47 |
| 52-week low | $88.01 | $56.11 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -53.80% | -23.61% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +65.09% | +25.36% |
| Average volume | 2.27M | 1.14M |
| Shares outstanding | 118.01M | 114.33M |
| Employees | 7,800 | 13,000 |
| Sector | Industrials | Basic Materials |
| Industry | Major Chemicals | Specialty 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
- ALB has outperformed EMN by 12.1 percentage points over the past year.
- Albemarle trades at a higher earnings multiple (378.1x vs 16.6x trailing P/E).
- Eastman Chemical offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (5.25% vs 1.59%).
- Eastman Chemical is more profitable, keeping 5.4 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 Eastman Chemical 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 Eastman Chemical
EMN stock →Eastman Chemical Company operates as a specialty materials company in the United States, China, and internationally. The company's Additives & Functional Products segment offers amine derivative-based building blocks, intermediates for surfactants, metam-based soil fumigants, and organic acid-based solutions; specialty coalescent and solvents, paint additives, and specialty polymers; and heat transfer and aviation fluids.
Basic Materials · Specialty Chemicals · 13,000 employees
ALB vs EMN FAQ
Which is bigger, Albemarle or Eastman Chemical?
Albemarle (ALB) is larger, with a market capitalization of $12.05B compared with $7.29B for Eastman Chemical (EMN).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, ALB or EMN?
ALB returned +13.50% over the past 12 months, compared with +1.44% for EMN (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, ALB or EMN?
EMN has the lower trailing P/E at 16.6, versus 378.1 for ALB. A lower P/E is not by itself a sign of a better investment; it can reflect slower expected growth or higher risk.
Which pays a higher dividend, Albemarle or Eastman Chemical?
Eastman Chemical has the higher yield at 5.25%, compared with 1.59% for Albemarle.
Are Albemarle and Eastman Chemical in the same industry?
No. Albemarle is in the Industrials sector, while Eastman Chemical is in Basic Materials.