Albemarle's fundamentals show a sharp but uneven recovery: gross margin rebounded from -7.7% in Q3 2024 to 35.1% in Q1 2026 before compressing to 19.4% in Q3 2026, and revenue of roughly $1.6B still declined 4.4% year over year.
Price trend, volume and key moving averages
Start with the evidence for owning the stock and the risks that can break the thesis.
Gross margin swung from -7.7% in Q3 2024 to a 35.1% peak in Q1 2026 before compressing to 19.4% in Q3 2026, indicating high sensitivity of operating leverage to realized lithium pricing.
Albemarle operates advanced hard-rock and brine lithium resources, along with state-of-the-art conversion facilities, positioning it as a leader in lithium production.
The company's investment thesis remains strong due to regulatory tailwinds, despite recent market headwinds affecting stock performance.
Albemarle produces critical chemicals for medicines, disinfectants, and food/water safety, showcasing a resilient and diversified business model.
Trailing total returns as of 11/7/2026, which may include dividends or other distributions. Benchmark is S&P 500 (^GSPC).
Check whether operating performance supports the current valuation.
Recent results and news deserve attention only when they alter the forward view.
| Quarter | EPS (Act vs Est) | Revenue (Act vs Est) |
|---|---|---|
Q4 2026Latest Nov 4, 2026 | $2.58+2.0% vs $2.53 | $1.6B+2.3% vs $1.5B |
Q3 2026 Aug 5, 2026 | $3.75+17.2% vs $3.20 | $1.7B+8.5% vs $1.6B |
Q2 2026 May 6, 2026 | $2.95+147.9% vs $1.19 | $1.4B+6.6% vs $1.3B |
Q1 2026 Feb 11, 2026 | -$0.53-26.8% vs -$0.42 | $1.4B+6.0% vs $1.3B |
ALB beats Q3 earnings estimates as strong lithium demand, cost reductions and higher Specialties profits support growth despite volatile lithium prices.
Albemarle NYSE: ALB reported higher third-quarter sales and earnings as stronger lithium prices and demand for bromine products boosted results, while management raised its outlook for the specialties business and cut its capital spending plans.
Albemarle Corporation ( ALB ) Q3 2026 Earnings Call November 5, 2026 8:00 AM EST Company Participants Meredith Bandy - Vice President of Investor Relations & Sustainability Jerry Masters - Chairman, President & CEO Neal Sheorey - CFO & Executive VP Eric Norris - Executive VP & Chief Commercial Officer Conference Call Participants James Cannon - UBS Investment Bank, Research Division John Ezekiel Roberts - Mizuho Securities USA LLC, Research Division Ben Isaacson - Scotiabank Global Banking and Markets, Research Division David Begleiter - Deutsche Bank AG, Research Division Ryan Weis Joel Jackson - BMO Capital Markets Equity Research Arun Viswanathan - RBC Capital Markets, Research Division Vincent Andrews - Morgan Stanley, Research Division Matthew Hettwer - Vertical Research Partners, LLC Presentation Operator Hello, and welcome to Albemarle Corporation's Q3 2026 Earnings Call. I will now hand it over to Meredith Bandy, Vice President of Investor Relations and Sustainability.
Albemarle's Q3 earnings beat estimates as higher lithium pricing drove a sharp profit increase and stronger cash flow.
Benchmark ALB against direct peers instead of judging its metrics in isolation.
Key metrics vs top competitors for Albemarle Corporation (ALB)
| Company | Price | Market Cap | P/E Ratio | Rev Growth (1Y) | Net Margin | ROE | Div Yield |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $99.25 | $11.71B | -17.26 | -4.37% | -9.93% | -5.11% | 1.63% | |
| $57.52 | $16.43B | 27.92 | 0.89% | 20.61% | 18.24% | 0.03% | |
| $1.93 | $430.93M | -3.78 | — | — | -6.16% | — | |
| $300.68 | $84.62B | 41.30 | 2.16% | 11.99% | 20.63% | 0.88% | |
| $76.62 | $3.51B | -4.17 | -13.68% | 0.21% | 0.21% | 2.16% | |
| $5.63 | $705.03M | -0.31 | -18.34% | -148.38% | -302.92% | 41.33% |
Albemarle Corporation (ALB) vs competitors — business, growth, and fundamentals comparison against the closest industry rivals.
Verify the primary filings, follow material updates, and answer the remaining questions.
Albemarle Corporation (ALB) SEC filings — annual & quarterly reports (10-K, 10-Q)
Aug 5, 2026·SEC
Jul 23, 2026·SEC
Jun 5, 2026·SEC
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Albemarle Corporation (ALB) stock FAQ — growth, dividends, profitability & financials explained
Albemarle Corporation (ALB) reported $5.91B in revenue over the trailing twelve months. Revenue was $5.14B in fiscal year 2025. That is 502% more than the $854.5M of fiscal year 1996.
Albemarle Corporation (ALB) revenue fell by 4.4% in fiscal year 2025, compared with the prior fiscal year.
Yes. Albemarle Corporation (ALB) earned $224.2M in net income over the trailing twelve months (a 3.8% net margin).
Yes. Albemarle Corporation (ALB) pays a dividend that yields 1.63% at the current price, a moderate yield.
Albemarle Corporation (ALB) had a return on equity (ROE) of -5.1% in fiscal year 2025. A negative ROE means the company lost money over the period.
Albemarle Corporation (ALB) generated $1.34B in free cash flow over the trailing twelve months.
