VMC vs. PLUG

Last updated Jun 6, 2026

VMC (Vulcan Materials Company) and PLUG (Plug Power Inc.) are both stocks. VMC operates in Building Materials (Basic Materials), while PLUG operates in Electrical Equipment & Parts (Industrials). Over the past 10 years, VMC returned 10.11%/yr vs 5.29%/yr for PLUG. At a 0.25 correlation, their price movements are largely independent.

Performance

VMC vs. PLUG - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in Vulcan Materials Company (VMC) and Plug Power Inc. (PLUG). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, VMC achieves a -0.96% return, which is significantly lower than PLUG's 63.20% return. Over the past 10 years, VMC has outperformed PLUG with an annualized return of 10.11%, while PLUG has yielded a comparatively lower 5.29% annualized return.

VMC

• 1D: -0.59%
• 1M: -4.66%
• YTD: -0.96%
• 6M: -4.20%
• 1Y: 6.68%
• 3Y*: 12.31%
• 5Y*: 10.27%
• 10Y*: 10.11%

PLUG

• 1D: -10.69%
• 1M: -2.87%
• YTD: 63.20%
• 6M: 46.14%
• 1Y: 268.90%
• 3Y*: -29.15%
• 5Y*: -36.27%
• 10Y*: 5.29%

*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

VMC vs. PLUG - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017
VMC Vulcan Materials Company	-0.96%	11.70%	14.12%	30.75%	-14.87%	41.09%	4.15%	47.13%	-22.28%	3.42%
PLUG Plug Power Inc.	63.20%	-7.51%	-52.67%	-63.62%	-56.18%	-16.75%	973.10%	154.84%	-47.46%	96.67%

Correlation

The correlation between VMC and PLUG is 0.17, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.

	Correlation
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.17
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period	0.22
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.30
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	0.26
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Nov 1, 1999	0.25

The correlation between VMC and PLUG shifts across timeframes, from 0.17 (1 year) to 0.30 (5 years), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.

Fundamentals

EPS VMC : $11.24 PLUG : -$1.39
PS Ratio VMC : 3.47 PLUG : 5.25
Total Revenue (TTM) VMC : $8.05B PLUG : $739.76M
Gross Profit (TTM) VMC : $2.22B PLUG : -$189.79M
EBITDA (TTM) VMC : $2.59B PLUG : -$745.89M

Return for Risk

VMC vs. PLUG — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.

VMC

VMC Risk / Return Rank: 47
VMC Sharpe Ratio Rank: 51
VMC Sortino Ratio Rank: 43
VMC Omega Ratio Rank: 42
VMC Calmar Ratio Rank: 49
VMC Martin Ratio Rank: 50

PLUG

PLUG Risk / Return Rank: 89
PLUG Sharpe Ratio Rank: 92
PLUG Sortino Ratio Rank: 91
PLUG Omega Ratio Rank: 86
PLUG Calmar Ratio Rank: 91
PLUG Martin Ratio Rank: 84

The rank (0–100) shows how this investment's returns compare to the risk taken. Higher = better. Based on the past 12 months of data, combining Sharpe, Sortino, and other metrics used by quantitative funds and institutional investors.

VMC vs. PLUG - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vulcan Materials Company (VMC) and Plug Power Inc. (PLUG). 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.

	VMC	PLUG	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	0.27	2.43	-2.16
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	0.52	3.35	-2.83
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.07	1.36	-0.30
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	0.30	4.78	-4.48
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	0.76	8.14	-7.38
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

VMC vs. PLUG - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current VMC Sharpe Ratio is 0.27, which is lower than the PLUG Sharpe Ratio of 2.43. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of VMC and PLUG, calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months. A higher Sharpe Ratio indicates better risk-adjusted performance relative to the risk-free rate.

Sharpe Ratios by Period

	VMC	PLUG	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.27	2.43	-2.16
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.40	-0.38	+0.78
Sharpe Ratio (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	0.33	0.06	+0.28
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	0.36	-0.14	+0.50

Drawdowns

VMC vs. PLUG - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum VMC drawdown since its inception was -76.02%, smaller than the maximum PLUG drawdown of -99.99%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VMC and PLUG.

Drawdown Indicators

	VMC	PLUG	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-76.02%	-99.99%	+23.97%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-22.05%	-56.66%	+34.61%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-24.43%	-94.69%	+70.26%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-32.50%	-98.43%	+65.93%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	-49.23%	-99.04%	+49.81%
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-14.50%	-99.79%	+85.29%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-18.72%	-96.23%	+77.51%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	8.76%	33.20%	-24.44%

Volatility

VMC vs. PLUG - Volatility Comparison

The current volatility for Vulcan Materials Company (VMC) is 7.43%, while Plug Power Inc. (PLUG) has a volatility of 31.05%. This indicates that VMC experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than PLUG based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	VMC	PLUG	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	7.43%	31.05%	-23.62%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	20.82%	63.41%	-42.59%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	24.91%	111.54%	-86.63%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	26.03%	94.53%	-68.50%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	30.32%	89.44%	-59.12%

Dividends

VMC vs. PLUG - Dividend Comparison

VMC's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.72%, while PLUG has not paid dividends to shareholders.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
PLUG Plug Power Inc.	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%
VMC Vulcan Materials Company	0.72%	0.69%	0.72%	0.76%	0.91%	0.71%	0.92%	0.86%	1.13%	0.78%	0.64%	0.42%

Financials

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both VMC and PLUG in my portfolio?

VMC and PLUG have a correlation of 0.17, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which is riskier, VMC or PLUG?

PLUG has higher volatility (31.05%) compared to VMC (7.43%). In terms of maximum drawdown, VMC dropped -76.02% vs PLUG's -99.99%.

Which has better risk-adjusted returns?

PLUG currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.43 vs 0.27), 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.