ALB vs. WST
ALB (Albemarle Corporation) and WST (West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc.) are both stocks. ALB operates in Specialty Chemicals (Basic Materials), while WST operates in Medical Instruments & Supplies (Healthcare). Over the past 10 years, ALB returned 5.13%/yr vs 16.11%/yr for WST. Their 0.30 correlation means their historical movements had little consistent relationship.
Performance
ALB vs. WST - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, ALB achieves a -15.56% return, which is significantly lower than WST's 27.88% return. Over the past 10 years, ALB has underperformed WST with an annualized return of 5.13%, while WST has yielded a comparatively higher 16.11% annualized return.
ALB
- 1D
- -1.64%
- 1M
- -11.18%
- 6M
- -29.18%
- YTD
- -15.56%
- 1Y
- 76.48%
- 3Y*
- -14.64%
- 5Y*
- -11.07%
- 10Y*
- 5.13%
- ALL TIME*
- 10.66%
WST
- 1D
- 0.65%
- 1M
- -1.79%
- 6M
- 48.29%
- YTD
- 27.88%
- 1Y
- 47.41%
- 3Y*
- -1.91%
- 5Y*
- -3.61%
- 10Y*
- 16.11%
- ALL TIME*
- 11.79%
Liquidity Comparison
| Position | Avg. Volume Value (2W) | Avg. Volume Value (1M) | Avg. Volume Value (3M) |
|---|---|---|---|
| $273.74M | $260.48M | $345.73M | |
| $337.08M | $283.72M | $266.47M |
ALB vs. WST - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ALB Albemarle Corporation | -15.56% | 67.72% | -39.50% | -32.80% | -6.63% | 59.76% | 105.39% | -3.28% | -38.89% | 50.22% |
WST West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. | 27.88% | -15.73% | -6.75% | 49.97% | -49.70% | 65.88% | 89.05% | 54.13% | -0.08% | 17.02% |
Correlation
The correlation between ALB and WST is 0.13, which is low. Their historical price movements had little consistent relationship.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Focuses on recent behavior, but can change the most. | 0.13 |
Correlation (3Y) Balances recent behavior with more history. | 0.22 |
Correlation (5Y) Shows whether the relationship held over a longer period. | 0.29 |
Correlation (10Y) Provides a long-term view across more market conditions. | 0.29 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Feb 22, 1994 | 0.30 |
The correlation between ALB and WST shifts across timeframes, from 0.13 (1 year) to 0.30 (all time), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
Fundamentals
ALB:
$14.02B
WST:
$24.72B
ALB:
$1.49
WST:
$7.82
ALB:
79.81
WST:
44.91
ALB:
2.47
WST:
7.63
ALB:
2.01
WST:
8.37
ALB:
$5.91B
WST:
$3.33B
ALB:
$1.41B
WST:
$1.22B
ALB:
$912.06M
WST:
$824.20M
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Return for Risk
ALB vs. WST — Risk / Return Rank
ALB
WST
ALB vs. WST - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Albemarle Corporation (ALB) and West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. (WST). Risk-adjusted metrics are performance indicators that assess an investment's returns in relation to its risk, enabling a more accurate comparison of different investment options.
Values are calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. Risk-adjusted metrics are more stable over longer periods — use the period switch above to explore them.
| ALB | WST | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.11 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -0.23 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.23 | 1.27 | -0.04 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.62 | 1.93 | -0.31 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 4.28 | 4.16 | +0.11 |
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Drawdowns
ALB vs. WST - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum ALB drawdown since its inception was -83.90%, which is greater than WST's maximum drawdown of -59.29%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for ALB and WST.
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Drawdown Indicators
| ALB | WST | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -83.90% | -59.29% | -24.61% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -47.38% | -24.70% | -22.68% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -74.05% | -53.79% | -20.26% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -83.90% | -59.29% | -24.61% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -83.90% | -59.29% | -24.61% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -61.56% | -24.58% | -36.98% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -20.85% | -16.92% | -3.93% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 17.94% | 11.42% | +6.52% |
Volatility
ALB vs. WST - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Albemarle Corporation (ALB) is 8.69%, while West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. (WST) has a volatility of 9.64%. This indicates that ALB experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than WST based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| ALB | WST | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 8.69% | 9.64% | -0.95% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 40.38% | 24.31% | +16.07% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 59.36% | 33.81% | +25.55% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 54.65% | 40.74% | +13.91% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 48.45% | 34.74% | +13.71% |
Dividends
ALB vs. WST - Dividend Comparison
ALB's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.36%, more than WST's 0.25% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ALB Albemarle Corporation | 1.36% | 1.15% | 1.87% | 1.11% | 0.73% | 0.67% | 1.04% | 2.01% | 1.74% | 1.00% | 1.42% | 2.07% |
WST West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. | 0.25% | 0.31% | 0.25% | 0.22% | 0.31% | 0.15% | 0.23% | 0.41% | 0.58% | 0.54% | 0.58% | 0.75% |
Financials
ALB vs. WST - Financials Comparison
This section allows you to compare key financial metrics between Albemarle Corporation and West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc.. You can select fields from income statements, balance sheets, and cash flow statements to easily visualize and compare the financial health of both companies.
Total Revenue: Total amount of money received from sales and other business activities
ALB vs. WST - Profitability Comparison
ALB - Gross Margin
Gross margin is calculated as gross profit divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Aug 2026, Albemarle Corporation reported a gross profit of 590.30M and revenue of 1.74B. Therefore, the gross margin over that period was 33.9%.
WST - Gross Margin
Gross margin is calculated as gross profit divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Aug 2026, West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. reported a gross profit of 329.20M and revenue of 872.30M. Therefore, the gross margin over that period was 37.7%.
ALB - Operating Margin
Operating margin is calculated as operating income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Aug 2026, Albemarle Corporation reported an operating income of 452.94M and revenue of 1.74B, resulting in an operating margin of 26.0%.
WST - Operating Margin
Operating margin is calculated as operating income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Aug 2026, West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. reported an operating income of 179.10M and revenue of 872.30M, resulting in an operating margin of 20.5%.
ALB - Net Margin
Net margin is calculated as net income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Aug 2026, Albemarle Corporation reported a net income of 438.27M and revenue of 1.74B, resulting in a net margin of 25.1%.
WST - Net Margin
Net margin is calculated as net income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Aug 2026, West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. reported a net income of 154.00M and revenue of 872.30M, resulting in a net margin of 17.7%.
Frequently Asked Questions
ALB and WST have a correlation of 0.13, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
WST has higher volatility (9.64%) compared to ALB (8.69%). In terms of maximum drawdown, ALB dropped -83.90% vs WST's -59.29%.
WST currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.41 vs 1.30), meaning it's delivered slightly more return per unit of risk over the trailing 12 months. However, this ranking shifts over time - use the Risk/Return Score above for a more comprehensive view that combines Sharpe, Sortino, and other measures used by quantitative funds.
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