Albemarle Corporation (ALB)
Albemarle is a global chemical giant that mines and processes the lithium essential for powering the world's electric vehicle batteries.
Is Albemarle Corporation a good stock for a UK beginner?
The honest version: Albemarle is a global chemical giant that mines and processes the lithium essential for powering the world's electric vehicle batteries.
Over about 2 years to 2026-07-31. This is the share price only - reinvesting the dividends would add to it. And it's the USD return - as a UK investor your actual £ return also moves with the exchange rate. Past performance is not a guide to the future, and it could just as easily have fallen.
Based on beta - how much the price swings versus the whole market. Bumpier isn't bad; it just means a rougher ride, which matters more the sooner you might need the money.
Prices move on results, news and the mood of the whole market - no single headline explains a day, and a quiet week is usually just noise, not a signal.
Lithium becomes the dominant energy storage solution for the entire global grid.
New battery technologies emerge that require little to no lithium.
What does Albemarle Corporation do?
Albemarle sits at the heart of the green energy transition, digging up and refining lithium to supply the massive demand from car manufacturers. Sales of this raw material to battery makers bankroll the business, meaning their success is tied closely to how many electric cars are being built. The number that matters most is the volatile price of lithium, which can swing wildly and heavily affect their ability to turn a profit.
On our factor screen it looks strongest on growth and value, and weakest on momentum.
- ✓Pays a dividend - about 1.4% a year
- ✓Growing - revenue up about 33% over the year
- ✓Low debt - a sturdier balance sheet
- Value screens high (70/100)
- Growth screens high (87/100)
- Essential player in the growing electric vehicle supply chain
- Strong historical revenue growth
- Established global mining infrastructure
- Quality screens low (29/100)
- Momentum screens low (28/100)
- Potential for new battery tech to make lithium obsolete
- Geopolitical risks associated with mining operations in different countries
- Environmental and regulatory hurdles for new mining sites
What do Albemarle Corporation's numbers mean?
How much money does Albemarle Corporation make?
Revenue and profit by quarter, and how much of each sale turns into profit.
Does Albemarle Corporation pay a dividend?
Yes - Albemarle Corporation currently pays a dividend of about 1.4% a year (the yearly payout as a share of the price). A dividend is a slice of profit handed to shareholders; the yield moves as the price moves, and a company can cut or stop it.
When does Albemarle Corporation report earnings, and how did recent quarters go?
Albemarle Corporation is next scheduled to report on about 2026-08-05 - dates can move, and we don't predict results; this just tells you when to look.
Each quarter a company reports its results against what analysts expected. ‘Beating’ or ‘missing’ is about that expectation, not whether the business is doing well in absolute terms.
| Reported | Expected EPS: The earnings per share analysts expected for the quarter - the average of their forecasts. 'Beating' or 'missing' is measured against this number. | Actual EPS | vs expected |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-05-06 | $1.31 | $2.95 | Beat +125% |
| 2026-02-11 | $-0.49 | $-0.53 | Missed -9% |
| 2025-11-05 | $-0.88 | $-0.19 | Beat +78% |
| 2025-07-30 | $-0.81 | $0.11 | Beat +114% |
| 2025-04-30 | $-0.68 | $-0.18 | Beat +74% |
| 2025-02-12 | $-0.67 | $-1.09 | Missed -63% |
Across the last 6 quarters here, Albemarle Corporation came in ahead of what analysts expected 4 times. One quarter is noise, not a trend.
See who else reports over the next two weeks →
Reported vs expected earnings per share (EPS) from published results; the expectation is the analyst consensus, not our view. Report dates are estimates that can move.
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Corteva, Inc.What are the scenarios for Albemarle Corporation?
An illustrative range for the year ahead, with the assumption behind each case — not a prediction or a price target.
What are the pros and cons of Albemarle Corporation?
How many points the write-up makes each way — a balance check, not a score or verdict.
- Essential player in the growing electric vehicle supply chain
- Strong historical revenue growth
- Established global mining infrastructure
- Currently operating at a net loss
- Highly sensitive to volatile commodity prices
- Capital-intensive business model requires constant investment
- Potential for new battery tech to make lithium obsolete
- Geopolitical risks associated with mining operations in different countries
- Environmental and regulatory hurdles for new mining sites
The write-up's own warning lights — if these start happening, the case above changes.
- A permanent shift in battery technology away from lithium
- A total collapse in the global electric vehicle market
Built from public filings & market prices, checked for an education-only tone, and never a price target. How we make these →
This plain-English summary was auto-generated on 2026-08-01 from public data and checked for an education-only, no-advice tone (the figures above carry their own, usually fresher, 'as of' date). It's information, never a recommendation.