Albemarle vs RPM International
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KIRA’s take AI analyst
I put Albemarle and RPM International side by side, using each one’s latest annual report. Here is what stands out:
- RPM International is the larger business, with $7.9B of revenue in fiscal 2026 against $5.1B for Albemarle, about 1.5 times as much.
- RPM International grew revenue faster (6.7%, against −4.4%).
- Albemarle turned more of its sales into free cash flow (13.5% FCF margin, against 8.6%).
- RPM International earned a higher return on the capital invested in it (13.9%, against −2.4%).
Who comes out ahead
Of the 10 measures where higher (or lower) is clearly better, how many each company leads.
Albemarle
ALB
3/10
5-year growthFCF marginPiotroski F-score
RPM International
RPM
7/10
Revenue growthGross marginNet marginReturn on capitalReturn on equityNet debt / EBITDAShare count change
Side by side
Best in the row
| Latest fiscal year | ALB FY25 | RPM FY26 |
|---|---|---|
| Size | ||
| Market cap | $12.7B | $12.5B |
| Revenue | $5.1B | $7.9B |
| Free cash flow | $692M | $675M |
| Net income | −$511M | $661M |
| Growth | ||
| Revenue growth | −4.4% | 6.7% |
| 5-year growth | 10.5% | 5.2% |
| Share count change | 0.1% | −0.5% |
| Profitability | ||
| Gross margin | 13.0% | 41.4% |
| Operating margin | −7.1% | — |
| Net margin | −9.9% | 8.4% |
| FCF margin | 13.5% | 8.6% |
| Return on capital | −2.4% | 13.9% |
| Return on equity | −5.2% | 21.4% |
| Balance sheet | ||
| Net debt | $1.7B | $2.2B |
| Net debt / EBITDA | 5.8x | 1.9x |
| Dividends and buybacks | $191M | $349M |
| Valuation & quality | ||
| P/E | — | 18.1x |
| Piotroski F-score | 7 | 6 |
Ten years
Revenue
Operating margin
Free cash flow
Return on capital
Each company's latest fiscal year; fiscal years end in different months. The best value in each row is highlighted where higher (or lower) is clearly better. Not investment advice.