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Albemarle
(NYSE:ALB)
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Rating:57Neutral
Price Target:
$146.00
▼(-26.17% Downside)
Action:Reiterated
Date:06/26/26
ALB scores in the upper-50s primarily because financial performance is still recovering (net losses despite improving cash flow and a stronger balance sheet) and the technical trend is bearish. These are partially offset by a strong, upbeat earnings call with improving segment performance, cash generation, and debt reduction; valuation remains constrained by negative earnings and only a modest dividend yield.
Positive Factors
Leading lithium market position
Albemarle's scale in lithium production and demonstrated volume growth underpin durable customer relationships across the EV and energy-storage supply chain. Large, diversified lithium output and contract coverage support long-term revenue resilience as global battery demand structurally expands.
Negative Factors
Persistent negative profitability
Despite improving top-line and cash flow, the company remains unprofitable on a TTM basis, indicating structural margin pressure. Negative net margins erode retained earnings, limit surplus for dividends or buybacks, and make sustained shareholder returns reliant on restoring operating profitability.
Read all positive and negative factors
Positive Factors
Negative Factors
Leading lithium market position
Albemarle's scale in lithium production and demonstrated volume growth underpin durable customer relationships across the EV and energy-storage supply chain. Large, diversified lithium output and contract coverage support long-term revenue resilience as global battery demand structurally expands.
Read all positive factors
Albemarle Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
Any
Revenue by Segment
Analyzes revenue from different business segments, highlighting which areas drive growth and profitability, and indicating potential shifts in strategic focus or market demand.
Analyzes revenue from different business segments, highlighting which areas drive growth and profitability, and indicating potential shifts in strategic focus or market demand.
Data provided by:
The Fly
The FlyAlbemarle (ALB) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)
Market Cap
$16.05B
Dividend Yield1.1%
Average Volume (3M)2.22M
Price to Earnings (P/E)―
Beta (1Y)1.72
Revenue Growth7.87%
EPS Growth69.44%
CountryUS
Employees8,300
SectorBasic Materials
Sector Strength58
IndustryChemicals - Specialty
Share Statistics
EPS (TTM)-3.40
Shares Outstanding117,934,654
10 Day Avg. Volume2,617,362
30 Day Avg. Volume2,224,018
Financial Highlights & Ratios
PEG Ratio0.51
Price to Book (P/B)1.75
Price to Sales (P/S)3.24
P/FCF Ratio24.04
Enterprise Value/Market Cap1.27
Enterprise Value/Revenue3.72
Enterprise Value/Gross Profit20.07
Enterprise Value/Ebitda27.35
Forecast
1Y Price Target
$216.17Price Target Upside9.31% Upside
Rating ConsensusModerate Buy
Number of Analyst Covering18
EPS Forecast (FY)12.29
Revenue Forecast (FY)$6.36B
Albemarle Business Overview & Revenue Model
Company Description
Albemarle Corporation stands as a global innovator, producing and distributing a diverse portfolio of engineered specialty chemicals. Its business operations are divided into three principal segments: Lithium, Bromine, and Catalysts. The Lithium d...
How the Company Makes Money
Albemarle makes money primarily by producing and selling specialty chemical products, with revenue dominated by lithium-related sales. (1) Energy Storage (Lithium): Albemarle generates revenue by selling lithium compounds—most notably lithium hydr...
Albemarle Earnings Call Summary
Earnings Call Date:May 06, 2026
(Q1-2026)
| % Change Since: |
Next Earnings Date:Aug 05, 2026
Earnings Call Sentiment Positive
The call conveyed strong operational and financial momentum: robust revenue (+33% YoY), large adjusted EBITDA gains (+148% YoY), significant cash generation ($346M operating cash flow) and decisive balance sheet actions (paid down $1.3B debt). Management raised Specialties guidance and highlighted successful productivity delivery and asset ramp progress (Wodgina, Greenbushes, Salar pilot). Offsetting these positives are tangible near-term headwinds from Middle East-related supply chain costs (~$70–$90M), pricing lag effects that compress realized lithium prices, sequential margin pressure in Energy Storage, JV safety/grade questions at Greenbushes, and limited visibility into the back half of the year. Overall, the positive financial results, cash generation and balance sheet improvements materially outweigh the operational and geopolitical risks discussed.Positive Updates
Strong Top-Line Growth
Reported Q1 net sales of $1.4 billion, up 33% year-over-year, driven by higher prices and volumes across both segments.
Negative Updates
Supply Chain and Geopolitical Cost Headwinds
Company estimates unmitigated full-year cost impact from Middle East supply chain disruptions of ~$70–$90 million; expecting some margin and cost pressure in coming quarters as a result.
Read all updates
Q1-2026 Updates
Positive
Negative
Strong Top-Line Growth
Reported Q1 net sales of $1.4 billion, up 33% year-over-year, driven by higher prices and volumes across both segments.
Read all positive updates
Company Guidance
Albemarle maintained its 2026 total‑company outlook across three lithium price scenarios while raising full‑year Specialties guidance to net sales of $1.3–$1.5 billion and adjusted EBITDA of $225–$275 million (EBITDA margin now expected in the high‑teens); in Q1 the company reported net sales of $1.4 billion (+33% YoY), adjusted EBITDA of $664 million (up $397M YoY; adjusted EBITDA growth ~148% YoY overall, Energy Storage EBITDA +196%, Specialties EBITDA +30%), diluted EPS $2.34, Energy Storage sales volumes of 53,000 t LCE at an average realized price of ~$17/kg (Energy Storage pricing +51%, Energy Storage volumes +14%, Specialties volumes +7%, Specialties net sales +12% YoY), generated operating cash flow $346M and free cash flow $248M with Q1 CapEx $99M (FY CapEx guidance $550–$600M), repaid $1.3B of debt in Q1 (weighted average interest rate down to ~3.1%, annual interest expense reduced by ~$60M) and finished the quarter at ~1x net debt/EBITDA; the company is year‑to‑date $40M into its $100–$150M FY cost/productivity target, expects Q2 net sales and EBITDA to be up sequentially (though Energy Storage margin to moderate due to spodumene timing and higher supply‑chain costs), is holding Energy Storage volume guidance steady, estimates an unmitigated FY supply‑chain cost impact of $70–$90M to be offset by debt reduction and stronger Specialties pricing/volumes, and models that at a $20/kg lithium price scenario full‑year operating cash conversion should be in its 60%–70% long‑term target range.Albemarle Financial Statement Overview
Summary
Income Statement
44
Neutral
Balance Sheet
72
Positive
Cash Flow
61
Positive
| Breakdown | TTM | Dec 2025 | Dec 2024 | Dec 2023 | Dec 2022 | Dec 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Income Statement | ||||||
| Total Revenue | 5.49B | 5.14B | 5.38B | 9.62B | 7.32B | 3.33B |
| Gross Profit | 1.02B | 671.62M | 60.24M | 1.20B | 3.09B | 1.01B |
| EBITDA | 747.07M | 559.90M | -291.83M | 2.65B | 3.63B | 544.86M |
| Net Income | -232.88M | -510.63M | -1.18B | 1.57B | 2.69B | 123.67M |
Balance Sheet | ||||||
| Total Assets | 15.14B | 16.37B | 16.61B | 18.27B | 15.46B | 10.97B |
| Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments | 1.09B | 1.62B | 1.19B | 889.90M | 1.50B | 439.27M |
| Total Debt | 1.88B | 3.30B | 3.62B | 4.28B | 3.32B | 2.52B |
| Total Liabilities | 5.03B | 6.59B | 6.41B | 8.61B | 7.27B | 5.17B |
| Stockholders Equity | 9.85B | 9.53B | 9.96B | 9.41B | 7.98B | 5.63B |
Cash Flow | ||||||
| Free Cash Flow | 577.27M | 692.47M | -992.65M | -827.96M | 646.20M | -609.41M |
| Operating Cash Flow | 1.08B | 1.28B | 687.88M | 1.33B | 1.91B | 344.26M |
| Investing Cash Flow | 574.26M | -146.01M | -1.58B | -2.56B | -1.42B | -666.59M |
| Financing Cash Flow | -2.13B | -834.19M | 1.24B | 623.91M | 611.89M | 50.21M |
Albemarle Technical Analysis
Negative
197.75
Price Trends
173.16
Negative
173.35
Negative
148.04
Negative
Market Momentum
-10.39
Positive
33.35
Neutral
14.37
Positive
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For ALB, the sentiment is Negative. The current price of 197.75 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 152.90, above the 50-day MA of 173.16, and above the 200-day MA of 148.04, indicating a bearish trend. The MACD of -10.39 indicates Positive momentum. The RSI at 33.35 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 14.37 is Positive, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Negative sentiment for ALB.
Albemarle Risk Analysis
Albemarle disclosed 48 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. Albemarle reported the most risks in the "Production" category.
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy
Latest Risks Added 0 New Risks
Albemarle Peers Comparison
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (61)
Name | Overall Rating | Market Cap | P/E Ratio | ROE | Dividend Yield | Revenue Growth | EPS Growth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
65 Neutral | $7.67B | 19.22 | 6.77% | 5.33% | -7.41% | -56.10% | |
61 Neutral | $10.43B | 7.12 | -0.05% | 2.87% | 2.86% | -36.73% | |
57 Neutral | $16.05B | -40.02 | -2.35% | 1.10% | 7.87% | 69.44% | |
56 Neutral | $19.98B | 25.91 | 14.69% | ― | 18.36% | 35.24% | |
54 Neutral | $6.83B | -12.45 | -9.59% | ― | -1.99% | -176.82% | |
52 Neutral | $16.97B | -21.03 | -7.44% | 12.78% | -21.87% | -176.90% | |
49 Neutral | $9.33B | -5.72 | -17.68% | 2.88% | -8.63% | -524.43% |
* Basic Materials Sector Average
ALB
Albemarle
136.08
69.77
105.21%
EMN
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67.09
-8.70
-11.48%
LYB
LyondellBasell
52.58
-4.98
-8.66%
SQM
Sociedad Quimica Y Minera SA
74.22
37.34
101.26%
WLK
Westlake Corporation
72.82
-6.20
-7.84%
AVTR
Avantor
10.01
-3.87
-27.88%
Albemarle Corporate Events
Executive/Board Changes
Albemarle Names CFO Interim Principal Accounting Officer
Neutral
Jun 5, 2026
Albemarle Corporation reported that former Chief Accounting Officer Donald J. LaBauve Jr. retired on June 1, 2026, triggering an interim leadership change in its finance organization. Effective June 2, 2026, Executive Vice President and Chief Fina...
Business Operations and StrategyExecutive/Board ChangesShareholder Meetings
Albemarle Shareholders Approve Board, Pay and Incentive Plan
Positive
May 8, 2026
At its annual meeting on May 5, 2026, Albemarle shareholders elected the full slate of board nominees to serve until the 2027 meeting and approved, on an advisory basis, the company’s executive compensation program. Investors also ratified P...
Executive/Board Changes
Albemarle Announces Upcoming Retirement of Chief Accounting Officer
Neutral
Apr 17, 2026
On April 13, 2026, Albemarle Corporation announced that Donald J. LaBauve Jr. plans to retire as Chief Accounting Officer, effective June 1, 2026, after more than 36 years with the company. The company emphasized that his retirement stems from per...
Glossary
BuyA stock rated as a "Buy" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
HoldA stock rated as a "Hold" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly compelling nor unfavorable for investment. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
SellA stock rated as a "Sell" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock may deliver lower returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
Disclaimer
This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.