Albemarle Corporation (ALB) vs LyondellBasell Industries N.V. (LYB)

Albemarle Corporation and LyondellBasell Industries N.V. are both Specialty Chemicals companies. LyondellBasell Industries N.V. is the larger, with a market value of $19.6B against $12.9B — 1.5× the size. LyondellBasell Industries N.V. has negative trailing earnings, so its P/E is not meaningful; Albemarle Corporation trades at 229×. Albemarle Corporation grew revenue faster over the last twelve months: 18.3% against −1.75%. Albemarle Corporation has the higher net margin (0.97% vs −1.13%) and the lower return on invested capital (1.46% vs 2.87%). Both pay a dividend; LyondellBasell Industries N.V. yields more (5.35% vs 1.41%). Across the 21 metrics below, Albemarle Corporation leads on 16 and LyondellBasell Industries N.V. on 5.

Valuation

Metric ALB LYB Specialty Chemicals median
P/E 228.60 n/m 24.83
P/S 2.19 0.60 1.46
P/B 1.56 1.76 1.76
Price to free cash flow 9.58 10.99 19.84
EV/EBITDA 12.27 12.11 13.18
EV/Sales 2.23 0.93 1.84
Earnings yield 0.44% (1.94%) 2.11%
Free cash flow yield 10.44% 9.10% 2.29%

Profitability

Metric ALB LYB Specialty Chemicals median
Gross margin 23.81% 12.76% 29.23%
Operating margin 4.27% 3.09% 3.63%
Net margin 0.97% (1.13%) 2.89%
Free cash flow margin 22.87% 5.48% 3.78%
Return on equity 0.69% (3.12%) 3.62%
Return on assets 0.35% (1.01%) 0.35%
Return on invested capital 1.46% 2.87% 2.75%

Growth

Metric ALB LYB Specialty Chemicals median
Revenue growth (TTM) 18.32% (1.75%) 4.51%
EPS growth (last fiscal year) 48.57% (156.39%) —
Revenue growth, 5-year CAGR 10.45% 1.67% 6.30%
Net income growth, 5-year CAGR 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%

Health

Metric ALB LYB Specialty Chemicals median
Debt to equity 0.18 1.21 0.54
Current ratio 2.09 1.64 1.94
Net debt to EBITDA 3.33 9.67 2.03

Dividend

Metric ALB LYB Specialty Chemicals median
Dividend yield 1.41% 5.35% 1.69%
Payout ratio 0.05 0.75 0.25

Size

Metric ALB LYB Specialty Chemicals median
Market cap 12.90b 19.60b 2.43b

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