OLN
Olin Corporation
Chemicals - Specialty
Market Cap$3.28B
5Y Perf.+139.4%
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Stock Comparison
OLN vs LIN vs APD vs ALB
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
LIN
Linde plc
Chemicals - Specialty
Market Cap$232.56B
5Y Perf.+148.0%
APD
Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
Chemicals - Specialty
Market Cap$66.84B
5Y Perf.+24.2%
ALB
Albemarle Corporation
Chemicals - Specialty
Market Cap$22.70B
5Y Perf.+151.7%
OLN vs LIN vs APD vs ALB — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | OLN | LIN | APD | ALB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Industry | Chemicals - Specialty | Chemicals - Specialty | Chemicals - Specialty | Chemicals - Specialty |
| Market Cap | $3.28B | $232.56B | $66.84B | $22.70B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $6.78B | $34.66B | $12.46B | $5.49B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $-43M | $7.13B | $2.11B | $-275M |
| Gross Margin | 7.4% | 46.0% | 32.0% | 18.5% |
| Operating Margin | 0.2% | 28.8% | 18.4% | 5.6% |
| Forward P/E | — | 28.1x | 22.9x | 21.7x |
| Total Debt | $3.39B | $26.99B | $18.41B | $3.30B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $168M | $5.06B | $1.86B | $1.62B |
OLN vs LIN vs APD vs ALB — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
OLN
LIN
APD
ALB
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Olin Corporation (OLN) | 100 | 239.4 | +139.4% |
| Linde plc (LIN) | 100 | 248.0 | +148.0% |
| Air Products and Ch… (APD) | 100 | 124.2 | +24.2% |
| Albemarle Corporati… (ALB) | 100 | 251.7 | +151.7% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: OLN vs LIN vs APD vs ALB
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: LIN leads in 3 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for profitability and margin quality and capital preservation and lower volatility. Olin Corporation is the stronger pick specifically for growth and revenue expansion and dividend income and shareholder returns. ALB also leads in specific categories worth noting. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
OLN
Olin Corporation
The Growth Leader
OLN is the #2 pick in this set and the best alternative if growth and dividends is your priority.
- 3.7% revenue growth vs ALB's -4.4%
- 2.8% yield, 3-year raise streak, vs APD's 2.4%
Best for: growth and dividends
LIN
Linde plc
The Growth Play
LIN carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for growth exposure and long-term compounding.
- Rev growth 3.0%, EPS growth 7.1%, 3Y rev CAGR 0.6%
- 376.9% 10Y total return vs ALB's 202.4%
- Lower volatility, beta 0.24, Low D/E 67.9%, current ratio 0.88x
- 20.6% margin vs ALB's -5.0%
Best for: growth exposure and long-term compounding
APD
Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
The Income Pick
APD is the clearest fit if your priority is income & stability and defensive.
- Dividend streak 29 yrs, beta 0.45, yield 2.4%
- Beta 0.45, yield 2.4%, current ratio 1.38x
Best for: income & stability and defensive
ALB
Albemarle Corporation
The Value Play
ALB is the clearest fit if your priority is value and momentum.
- Lower P/E (21.7x vs 22.9x)
- +237.9% vs LIN's +13.6%
Best for: value and momentum
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | OLN | 3.7% revenue growth vs ALB's -4.4% |
| Value | ALB | Lower P/E (21.7x vs 22.9x) |
| Quality / Margins | LIN | 20.6% margin vs ALB's -5.0% |
| Stability / Safety | LIN | Beta 0.24 vs ALB's 1.60 |
| Dividends | OLN | 2.8% yield, 3-year raise streak, vs APD's 2.4% |
| Momentum (1Y) | ALB | +237.9% vs LIN's +13.6% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | LIN | 8.3% ROA vs ALB's -1.7%, ROIC 11.3% vs 0.6% |
OLN vs LIN vs APD vs ALB — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2025
FY 2025
FY 2025
FY 2025
OLN vs LIN vs APD vs ALB — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 4 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLLINLAGGINGALB
Who Leads Where
LIN leads in 3 of 6 categories
OLN leads 1 • APD leads 0 • ALB leads 0 • 2 tied
Explore the data ↓ALBAlbemarle Corporation
0leads
APDAir Products and Chem…
0leads
OLNOlin Corporation
1leads
LINLinde plc
3leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs OLNvs APDMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
LIN4/6
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
OLN4/6
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
LIN6/9
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
LIN4/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
Tied
—
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
Tied
—
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
LIN leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
LIN is the larger business by revenue, generating $34.7B annually — 6.3x ALB's $5.5B. LIN is the more profitable business, keeping 20.6% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to ALB's -5.0%. On growth, ALB holds the edge at +32.7% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | OLNOlin Corporation | LINLinde plc | APDAir Products and … | ALBAlbemarle Corpora… |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $6.8B | $34.7B | $12.5B | $5.5B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $538M | $12.1B | $3.9B | $802M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | -$43M | $7.1B | $2.1B | -$275M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $248M | $5.1B | $1.1B | $577M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +7.4% | +46.0% | +32.0% | +18.5% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +0.2% | +28.8% | +18.4% | +5.6% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | -0.6% | +20.6% | +16.9% | -5.0% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +3.7% | +14.7% | +8.9% | +10.5% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -0.4% | +8.2% | +8.8% | +32.7% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -9.2% | +13.4% | +141.1% | — |
LIN leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
OLN leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
On an enterprise value basis, OLN's 10.2x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than APD's 121.4x.
| Metric | OLNOlin Corporation | LINLinde plc | APDAir Products and … | ALBAlbemarle Corpora… |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $3.3B | $232.6B | $66.8B | $22.7B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $6.5B | $254.5B | $83.4B | $24.4B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | -77.84x | 34.40x | -169.61x | -33.50x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | — | 28.12x | 22.86x | 21.72x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 1.36x | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 10.24x | 20.04x | 121.35x | 32.31x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 0.48x | 6.84x | 5.55x | 4.41x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 1.71x | 5.92x | 3.86x | 2.32x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 13.23x | 45.70x | — | 32.78x |
OLN leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
LIN leads this category, winning 6 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
LIN delivers a 17.8% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $18 in annual profit, vs $-3 for ALB. ALB carries lower financial leverage with a 0.34x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to OLN's 1.76x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), LIN scores 6/9 vs APD's 2/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | OLNOlin Corporation | LINLinde plc | APDAir Products and … | ALBAlbemarle Corpora… |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | -2.1% | +17.8% | +11.9% | -2.7% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | -0.6% | +8.3% | +5.1% | -1.7% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +1.7% | +11.3% | -2.0% | +0.6% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +1.9% | +13.0% | -2.4% | +0.6% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 5 | 6 | 2 | 6 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 1.76x | 0.68x | 1.06x | 0.34x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $3.2B | $21.9B | $16.6B | $1.7B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $168M | $5.1B | $1.9B | $1.6B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $3.4B | $27.0B | $18.4B | $3.3B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 0.62x | 34.52x | 12.00x | 0.57x |
LIN leads this category, winning 6 of 9 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
LIN leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in LIN five years ago would be worth $17,813 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $7,064 for OLN. Over the past 12 months, ALB leads with a +237.9% total return vs LIN's +13.6%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors LIN at 12.4% vs OLN's -17.1% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | OLNOlin Corporation | LINLinde plc | APDAir Products and … | ALBAlbemarle Corpora… |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +34.6% | +17.3% | +21.3% | +34.1% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +44.6% | +13.6% | +14.9% | +237.9% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -43.0% | +41.9% | +8.8% | +6.2% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -29.4% | +78.1% | +13.8% | +31.2% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +67.4% | +376.9% | +166.7% | +202.4% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -17.1% | +12.4% | +2.8% | +2.0% |
LIN leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — LIN and APD each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
LIN is the less volatile stock with a 0.24 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than ALB's 1.60 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. APD currently trades 97.7% from its 52-week high vs ALB's 89.3% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | OLNOlin Corporation | LINLinde plc | APDAir Products and … | ALBAlbemarle Corpora… |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.47x | 0.24x | 0.45x | 1.60x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $30.46 | $521.28 | $307.29 | $215.69 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $18.08 | $387.78 | $229.11 | $53.70 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +94.5% | +96.3% | +97.7% | +89.3% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 58.1 | 50.6 | 61.2 | 54.6 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 2.7M | 2.3M | 1.2M | 2.0M |
Evenly matched — LIN and APD each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Evenly matched — OLN and APD each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Analyst consensus: OLN as "Hold", LIN as "Buy", APD as "Buy", ALB as "Hold". Consensus price targets imply 7.5% upside for LIN (target: $540) vs -15.5% for OLN (target: $24). For income investors, OLN offers the higher dividend yield at 2.78% vs ALB's 0.84%.
| Metric | OLNOlin Corporation | LINLinde plc | APDAir Products and … | ALBAlbemarle Corpora… |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Buy | Buy | Hold |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $24.33 | $539.71 | $312.78 | $190.80 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 35 | 28 | 42 | 45 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +2.8% | +1.2% | +2.4% | +0.8% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 3 | 6 | 29 | 15 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $0.80 | $6.00 | $7.11 | $1.62 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +1.5% | +2.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
Evenly matched — OLN and APD each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Key Takeaway
LIN leads in 3 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Profitability & Efficiency). OLN leads in 1 (Valuation Metrics). 2 tied.
Best OverallLinde plc (LIN)Leads 3 of 6 categories
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OLN vs LIN vs APD vs ALB: Key Questions Answered
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is OLN or LIN or APD or ALB a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Olin Corporation (OLN) is the stronger pick with 3.
7% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -4. 4% for Albemarle Corporation (ALB). Linde plc (LIN) offers the better valuation at 34. 4x trailing P/E (28. 1x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Linde plc (LIN) a "Buy" — based on 28 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.
02Which has the better valuation — OLN or LIN or APD or ALB?
On forward P/E, Albemarle Corporation is actually cheaper at 21.
7x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.
03Which is the better long-term investment — OLN or LIN or APD or ALB?
Over the past 5 years, Linde plc (LIN) delivered a total return of +78.
1%, compared to -29. 4% for Olin Corporation (OLN). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: LIN returned +376. 9% versus OLN's +67. 4%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
04Which is safer — OLN or LIN or APD or ALB?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Linde plc (LIN) is the lower-risk stock at 0.
24β versus Albemarle Corporation's 1. 60β — meaning ALB is approximately 565% more volatile than LIN relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Albemarle Corporation (ALB) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 34% versus 176% for Olin Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — OLN or LIN or APD or ALB?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Olin Corporation (OLN) is pulling ahead at 3.
7% versus -4. 4% for Albemarle Corporation (ALB). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Albemarle Corporation grew EPS 48. 7% year-over-year, compared to -140. 7% for Olin Corporation. Over a 3-year CAGR, LIN leads at 0. 6% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.
06Which has better profit margins — OLN or LIN or APD or ALB?
Linde plc (LIN) is the more profitable company, earning 20.
3% net margin versus -9. 9% for Albemarle Corporation — meaning it keeps 20. 3% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: LIN leads at 26. 3% versus -7. 3% for APD. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — LIN leads at 43. 3%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.
07Is OLN or LIN or APD or ALB more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Albemarle Corporation (ALB) trades at 21.
7x forward P/E versus 28. 1x for Linde plc — 6. 4x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for LIN: 7. 5% to $539. 71.
08Which pays a better dividend — OLN or LIN or APD or ALB?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
Olin Corporation (OLN) offers the highest yield at 2. 8%, versus 0. 8% for Albemarle Corporation (ALB).
09Is OLN or LIN or APD or ALB better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Linde plc (LIN) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.
24), 1. 2% yield, +376. 9% 10Y return). Albemarle Corporation (ALB) carries a higher beta of 1. 60 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (LIN: +376. 9%, ALB: +202. 4%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.
10What are the main differences between OLN and LIN and APD and ALB?
Both stocks operate in the Basic Materials sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.
These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.
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