ALBEMARLE CORP (ALB) Stock Analysis — April 2026 Rating, Price, and Forecast
Company Overview — What Does ALBEMARLE CORP Do?
Albemarle Corporation develops, manufactures, and markets engineered specialty chemicals worldwide. It operates through three segments: Lithium, Bromine, and Catalysts. The Lithium segment offers lithium compounds, including lithium carbonate, lithium hydroxide, lithium chloride, and lithium specialties; and reagents, such as butyllithium and lithium aluminum hydride for use in lithium batteries for consumer electronics and electric vehicles, high performance greases, thermoplastic elastomers for car tires, rubber soles, plastic bottles, catalysts for chemical reactions, organic synthesis processes in the areas of steroid chemistry and vitamins, life sciences, pharmaceutical industry, and other markets. It also provides cesium products for the chemical and pharmaceutical industries; zirconium, barium, and titanium products for pyrotechnical applications that include airbag initiators; technical services for the handling and use of reactive lithium products; and lithium-containing by-products recycling services. The Bromine segment offers bromine and bromine-based fire safety solutions; specialty chemicals, including elemental bromine, alkyl and inorganic bromides, brominated powdered activated carbon, and other bromine fine chemicals for use in chemical synthesis, oil and gas well drilling and completion fluids, mercury control, water purification, beef and poultry processing, and other industrial applications; and other specialty chemicals, such as tertiary amines for surfactants, biocides, and disinfectants and sanitizers. The Catalysts segment provides hydroprocessing, isomerization, and akylation catalysts; fluidized catalytic cracking catalysts and additives; and organometallics and curatives. The company serves the energy storage, petroleum refining, consumer electronics, construction, automotive, lubricants, pharmaceuticals, and crop protection markets. Albemarle Corporation was founded in 1887 and is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina. ALBEMARLE CORP (ALB) is classified as a large-cap stock in the Materials sector, specifically within the Chemicals industry. The company is led by CEO Jerry K. Masters and employs approximately 7,400 people, headquartered in CHARLOTTE, North Carolina. With a market capitalization of $21.0B, ALB is one of the prominent companies in the Materials sector.
ALBEMARLE CORP (ALB) Stock Rating — Hold (April 2026)
As of April 2026, ALBEMARLE CORP receives a Hold rating with a composite score of 43.9/100 and 3 out of 5 stars from the Blank Capital Research quantitative model.ALB ranks #1,168 out of 4,446 stocks in our coverage universe. Within the Materials sector, ALBEMARLE CORP ranks #74 of 284 stocks, placing it in the upper half of its Materials peers. The rating is generated by a multi-factor model that weighs quality (30%), momentum (25%), value (15%), investment (10%), stability (10%), and short interest (10%).
ALB Stock Price and 52-Week Range
ALBEMARLE CORP (ALB) currently trades at $174.00. The stock gained $1.65 (1.0%) in the most recent trading session. The 52-week high for ALB is $206.00, which means the stock is currently trading -15.5% from its annual peak. The 52-week low is $49.43, putting the stock 252.0% above its annual trough. Recent trading volume was 1.2M shares, reflecting moderate market activity.
Is ALB Overvalued or Undervalued? — Valuation Analysis
ALBEMARLE CORP (ALB) carries a value factor score of 33/100 in the Blank Capital model, signaling premium valuation that prices in significant future growth. The price-to-book ratio stands at 2.14x, versus the sector average of 2.83x. The price-to-sales ratio is 4.13x, compared to 0.74x for the average Materials stock.
At current multiples, ALBEMARLE CORP trades at a premium to most Materials peers. This elevated valuation may be justified if the company can sustain above-average growth rates and profitability, but it also creates downside risk if earnings disappoint expectations.
ALBEMARLE CORP Profitability — ROE, Margins, and Quality Score
ALBEMARLE CORP (ALB) earns a quality factor score of 40/100, signaling below-average profitability metrics relative to the broader market. The return on equity (ROE) is -11.5%, compared to the Materials sector average of 3.3%, which is below typical expectations for high-quality companies. Return on assets (ROA) comes in at -6.9% versus the sector average of 0.6%.
On a margin basis, ALBEMARLE CORP reports gross margins of 7.7%, compared to 29.8% for the sector. The operating margin is -23.3% (sector: 6.0%). Net profit margin stands at -20.6%, versus 3.0% for the average Materials stock. Revenue growth is running at -8.6% on a trailing basis, compared to 1.8% for the sector. Profitability is below benchmark levels, which may reflect industry headwinds, elevated reinvestment, or structural challenges.
ALB Debt, Balance Sheet, and Financial Health
ALBEMARLE CORP has a debt-to-equity ratio of 33.0%, compared to the Materials sector average of 41.0%. The low leverage indicates a conservative balance sheet with significant financial flexibility. The current ratio is 2.23x, indicating strong short-term liquidity. Total debt on the balance sheet is $3.19B. Cash and equivalents stand at $1.93B.
ALB has a beta of 1.66, meaning it is more volatile than the broader market — a $10,000 investment in ALB would be expected to move 66.0% more than the S&P 500 on any given day. The stability factor score for ALBEMARLE CORP is 37/100, suggesting elevated price swings that may be unsuitable for conservative portfolios.
ALBEMARLE CORP Revenue and Earnings History — Quarterly Trend
In TTM 2026, ALBEMARLE CORP reported revenue of $5.07B and earnings per share (EPS) of $-5.76. Net income for the quarter was $-1.12B. Gross margin was 7.7%. Operating income came in at $-1.26B.
In FY 2025, ALBEMARLE CORP reported revenue of $5.14B and earnings per share (EPS) of $-5.76. Net income for the quarter was $-465M. Gross margin was 13.0%. Revenue grew -4.4% year-over-year compared to FY 2024. Operating income came in at $-367M.
In Q3 2025, ALBEMARLE CORP reported revenue of $1.31B and earnings per share (EPS) of $-1.72. Net income for the quarter was $-148M. Gross margin was 9.0%. Revenue grew -3.5% year-over-year compared to Q3 2024. Operating income came in at $-217M.
In Q2 2025, ALBEMARLE CORP reported revenue of $1.33B and earnings per share (EPS) of $-0.16. Net income for the quarter was $35M. Gross margin was 14.8%. Revenue grew -7.0% year-over-year compared to Q2 2024. Operating income came in at $48M.
Over the past 8 quarters, ALBEMARLE CORP has demonstrated a growth trajectory, with revenue expanding from $1.43B to $5.07B. Investors analyzing ALB stock should weigh these quarterly trends alongside the valuation and quality metrics discussed above.
ALB Dividend Yield and Income Analysis
ALBEMARLE CORP (ALB) currently pays a dividend yield of 2.0%. At this yield, a $10,000 investment in ALB stock would generate approximately $$200.00 in annual dividend income. This compares to the Materials sector average dividend yield of 0.5%, meaning ALB offers above-average income for its sector.
ALB Momentum and Technical Analysis Profile
ALBEMARLE CORP (ALB) has a momentum factor score of 73/100, indicating strong price momentum with the stock outperforming the majority of the market over recent periods. Stocks with high momentum scores have historically tended to continue their outperformance in the near term. The investment factor score is 36/100, which measures capital allocation efficiency and asset growth patterns. The short interest score of 14/100 signals elevated short interest, which can indicate bearish sentiment among institutional investors.
ALB vs Competitors — Materials Sector Ranking and Peer Comparison
Within the Materials sector, ALBEMARLE CORP (ALB) ranks #74 out of 284 stocks based on the Blank Capital composite score. This places ALB in the upper half of all Materials stocks in our coverage universe. Key competitors and sector peers include CF Industries Holdings, Inc. (CF) with a score of 56.6/100, Nutrien Ltd. (NTR) with a score of 56.6/100, CVR PARTNERS, LP (UAN) with a score of 55.6/100, LSB INDUSTRIES, INC. (LXU) with a score of 53.6/100, and ACME UNITED CORP (ACU) with a score of 51.2/100.
Comparing ALB against the S&P 500 benchmark is also instructive for understanding relative performance. Investors can view the full ALB vs S&P 500 (SPY) comparison to assess how ALBEMARLE CORP stacks up against the broader market across all factor dimensions.
ALB Next Earnings Date
No upcoming earnings date has been announced for ALBEMARLE CORP (ALB) at this time. Check the earnings calendar for the latest scheduling updates across all stocks in our coverage universe.
Should You Buy ALB? — Investment Thesis Summary
ALBEMARLE CORP presents a balanced picture with arguments on both sides. The value score of 33/100 indicates premium valuation. Price momentum is positive at 73/100, suggesting the trend favors buyers. High volatility (stability score 37/100) increases portfolio risk.
In summary, ALBEMARLE CORP (ALB) earns a Hold rating with a composite score of 43.9/100 as of April 2026. The rating is derived from the Blank Capital Research methodology, which combines six factor dimensions into a single quantitative ranking. Investors should consider these quantitative signals alongside their own fundamental research, risk tolerance, and investment time horizon before making buy or sell decisions on ALB stock.
Related Resources for ALB Investors
Explore more research and tools: ALB vs S&P 500 comparison, top Materials stocks, stock screener, our methodology, quality factor explained, value factor explained, momentum factor explained. Compare ALB head-to-head with peers: ALB vs CF, ALB vs NTR, ALB vs UAN.