| Factor | Score | Distribution | Value | Avg | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Valuation | 64 | 49.2x | 17.3x | Around median | |
Growth | 55 | 18.3% | 7.1% | Around median | |
Quality | 48 | 0.1% | 4.5% | Around median | |
Safety | 76 | 0.3x | 2.6x | Top tier | |
Capital Return | 75 | 1.73% | 0.06% | Top tier | |
Momentum | 23 | 16.7% | -1.6% | Bottom tier | |
Sentiment | 83 | 12 | 3 | Top tier |
The floor: what the company is worth if growth stopped today
88% of today's price is what a buyer pays for growth that has not happened yet.
10-year US Treasury yield 4.96% as of 2026-10-22. Estimates computed from company data and analyst targets, not investment advice.
Ten ratios that matter, each compared against its sector median and average — so you can see whether a number is rich or cheap relative to peers in the same sector.
Albemarle Corporation is a producer of lithium materials and specialty chemicals, deriving revenue from its Energy Storage and Specialties segments. The Energy Storage business serves electric vehicle and stationary storage battery markets, while the Specialties segment sells products related to electronics, semiconductors, construction, oil and gas, and pharmaceuticals. Electric vehicles and stationary storage together accounted for approximately 50% to 60% of the company's net sales in fiscal 2025, making lithium prices and battery demand volumes key drivers of results.
In Q2 fiscal 2026, net sales increased 31% year over year to $1.7 billion, and gross profit reached $590.3 million, equivalent to a gross margin of approximately 34.7%. Net income attributable to Albemarle reached $480 million and diluted earnings per share reached $3.52, while adjusted EBITDA more than doubled to $858 million, with a 49% margin. This compares with a net loss of $510.6 million in fiscal 2025 and a loss of $232.9 million during the twelve months ended in fiscal 2026, highlighting the strength of the quarterly recovery while trailing profitability remained volatile.
Energy Storage led the improvement, with sales increasing 78% and adjusted EBITDA rising 229% year over year, supported by a 73% increase in prices, while sales volume reached 65 thousand metric tons of lithium carbonate equivalent. Specialties recorded sales of $424 million, up 20%, and adjusted EBITDA of $118 million, up 61%, with margin expanding 700 basis points to 28%. The company generated $710 million in operating cash flow and $638 million in free cash flow during the quarter.
Analyst consensus on ALB is Neutral, with an average price target of $202.63 and a wide range between $161 and $250, while the average is approximately 8% below the 52-week high of $221. No positive price-to-earnings ratio is available because of the approximately $1.96 per-share loss during the twelve months ended in fiscal 2026, so the valuation depends heavily on the sustainability of the lithium price recovery and the conversion of quarterly improvement into annual earnings. The wide 52-week range between $71.25 and $221 and the broad range of analyst targets reflect the sensitivity of value estimates to the lithium cycle and margins more than to stable profitability.
Figures in the text are as of 2026-08-29; the live price is shown at the top of the page.
Net sales increased 31% year over year to $1.7 billion, driven by a 73% increase in Energy Storage prices and increases of 11% and 8% in Specialties prices and volumes, respectively. Adjusted EBITDA jumped 155% to $858 million, with a 49% margin. The company recorded net income of $480 million and diluted earnings per share of $3.52, alongside free cash flow of $638 million.
The sensitivity of results was clearly evident in Q2 fiscal 2026, when a 73% increase in Energy Storage prices helped increase the segment's sales by 78% and adjusted EBITDA by 229%. The average realized price was approximately $20 per kilogram of lithium carbonate equivalent, approximately 15% below the market price because of the spodumene sales mix and a three-month lag in long-term contract pricing. The company expects a sequential decline in the segment's sales, earnings, and margins in Q3 fiscal 2026 if assumptions of lower prices and volumes persist.
Automated analysis for informational purposes only — not investment advice.
The fire occurred at the Greenbushes project's CGP3 plant on June 9, 2026, and the plant restarted on August 1, 2026, at reduced rates during the gradual capacity ramp-up. The incident led to a reduction in the fiscal 2026 Energy Storage sales volume forecast to 225–235 thousand metric tons of lithium carbonate equivalent, representing a range from flat to a 4% year-over-year decline. Improved ore availability and recovery rates at Wodgina helped offset most of the impact, but CGP3 is expected to reach its full operating rate in Q1 fiscal 2027.
Albemarle submitted an environmental assessment in March 2026 for a project allowing up to six lines, but it plans to begin with one line to demonstrate the technology commercially. The integrated pilot plant operated for more than 3,000 hours and achieved recovery exceeding 90%, compared with approximately 30%–40% in the conventional pond system and 50%–60% using the company's current yield-improvement technology. The pilot system recycles approximately 85% of process water, but implementation remains subject to regulatory approvals, community consultation, and technology validation.
The Energy Storage sales volume range of 225–235 thousand metric tons of lithium carbonate equivalent and CGP3's progress toward full capacity in Q1 fiscal 2027 should be monitored. In Specialties, the company raised its sales forecast to $1.4–1.6 billion and adjusted EBITDA forecast to $275–325 million. Albemarle is also targeting the high end of its $100–150 million cost and productivity savings range, compared with a potential impact of $70–90 million from supply chain disruptions related to the Middle East.