Latest Ratios: P/E Ratio 17.3x · EV/EBITDA 8.8x · ROE -5.1%. (1996–2025 historical series)
Price-based multiples — how expensive the stock is relative to earnings, sales, book value, and cash flow
| Metric | TTM | FY 2025 | FY 2024 | FY 2023 | FY 2022 | FY 2021 | FY 2020 | FY 2019 | FY 2018 | FY 2017 | FY 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Market Cap | $11.7B | $16.6B | $10.1B | $17.0B | $25.5B | $27.2B | $15.8B | $7.8B | $8.4B | $14.4B | $9.7B |
| Enterprise Value | $13.4B | $18.3B | $12.5B | $20.4B | $27.4B | $29.3B | $18.7B | $10.3B | $9.6B | $15.1B | $9.8B |
| P/E Ratio → | 17.26 | — | — | 10.81 | 9.49 | 220.54 | 41.91 | 14.55 | 12.16 | 261.00 | 15.15 |
| P/S Ratio | 1.90 | 3.24 | 1.88 | 1.77 | 3.49 | 8.19 | 5.04 | 2.16 | 2.50 | 4.68 | 3.64 |
| P/B Ratio | 1.19 | 1.70 | 0.99 | 1.76 | 3.12 | 4.69 | 3.53 | 1.90 | 2.24 | 3.76 | 2.47 |
| P/FCF | 8.10 | 24.04 | — | — | 39.53 | — | — | — | — | — | 18.16 |
| P/OCF | 9.13 | 12.98 | 14.71 | 12.83 | 13.39 | 79.13 | 19.72 | 10.80 | 15.45 | 47.28 | 13.29 |
P/E links to full P/E history page with 30-year chart
Enterprise-value multiples — capital-structure-neutral measures of total business value
| Metric | TTM | FY 2025 | FY 2024 | FY 2023 | FY 2022 | FY 2021 | FY 2020 | FY 2019 | FY 2018 | FY 2017 | FY 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EV / Revenue | — | 3.56 | 2.33 | 2.12 | 3.74 | 8.81 | 5.98 | 2.88 | 2.84 | 4.91 | 3.68 |
| EV / EBITDA | 8.76 | 24.35 | — | 30.41 | 9.76 | 37.28 | 24.68 | 11.50 | 10.36 | 18.39 | 13.38 |
| EV / EBIT | 142.70 | — | — | 9.20 | 8.22 | 100.82 | 35.57 | 15.09 | 13.23 | 24.21 | 19.32 |
| EV / FCF | — | 26.47 | — | — | 42.34 | — | — | — | — | — | 18.35 |
Margins and return-on-capital ratios measuring operating efficiency
Full margin charts and quarterly trend are on the Earnings History page
| Metric | TTM | FY 2025 | FY 2024 | FY 2023 | FY 2022 | FY 2021 | FY 2020 | FY 2019 | FY 2018 | FY 2017 | FY 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Margin | 13.1% | 13.1% | 1.1% | 12.5% | 42.2% | 30.3% | 31.8% | 35.1% | 36.2% | 36.6% | 36.3% |
| Operating Margin | 1.8% | 1.8% | -11.8% | 2.5% | 34.2% | 16.0% | 16.8% | 19.1% | 21.5% | 20.3% | 19.0% |
| Net Profit Margin | -9.9% | -9.9% | -21.9% | 16.4% | 36.7% | 3.7% | 12.0% | 14.9% | 20.6% | 1.8% | 24.0% |
| Metric | TTM | FY 2025 | FY 2024 | FY 2023 | FY 2022 | FY 2021 | FY 2020 | FY 2019 | FY 2018 | FY 2017 | FY 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ROE | -5.1% | -5.1% | -11.9% | 17.6% | 38.4% | 2.4% | 8.8% | 13.6% | 18.3% | 1.4% | 17.5% |
| ROA | -3.1% | -3.1% | -6.8% | 9.3% | 20.4% | 1.2% | 3.7% | 6.1% | 9.0% | 0.7% | 7.2% |
| ROIC | 0.6% | 0.6% | -3.7% | 1.6% | 21.0% | 5.2% | 5.6% | 8.9% | 11.5% | 10.9% | 6.9% |
| ROCE | 0.6% | 0.6% | -4.3% | 1.8% | 22.9% | 6.0% | 6.1% | 9.2% | 11.2% | 9.2% | 6.8% |
Solvency and debt-coverage ratios — lower is generally safer
| Metric | TTM | FY 2025 | FY 2024 | FY 2023 | FY 2022 | FY 2021 | FY 2020 | FY 2019 | FY 2018 | FY 2017 | FY 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Debt / Equity | 0.34 | 0.34 | 0.35 | 0.44 | 0.40 | 0.43 | 0.83 | 0.78 | 0.45 | 0.48 | 0.60 |
| Debt / EBITDA | 4.38 | 4.38 | — | 6.38 | 1.18 | 3.20 | 4.87 | 3.55 | 1.84 | 2.24 | 3.22 |
| Net Debt / Equity | — | 0.17 | 0.24 | 0.35 | 0.22 | 0.36 | 0.66 | 0.63 | 0.31 | 0.18 | 0.03 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 2.23 | 2.23 | — | 5.05 | 0.65 | 2.65 | 3.88 | 2.86 | 1.24 | 0.85 | 0.14 |
| Debt / FCF | — | 2.42 | — | — | 2.81 | — | — | — | — | — | 0.19 |
| Interest Coverage | -0.48 | -0.48 | -5.33 | 19.10 | 27.07 | 4.73 | 7.19 | 11.88 | 13.82 | 5.40 | 7.82 |
Short-term solvency ratios and asset-utilisation metrics
| Metric | TTM | FY 2025 | FY 2024 | FY 2023 | FY 2022 | FY 2021 | FY 2020 | FY 2019 | FY 2018 | FY 2017 | FY 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio | 2.23 | 2.23 | 1.95 | 1.47 | 1.89 | 1.06 | 1.22 | 1.58 | 1.69 | 2.06 | 2.90 |
| Quick Ratio | 1.57 | 1.57 | 1.19 | 0.86 | 1.13 | 0.64 | 0.81 | 1.03 | 1.10 | 1.57 | 2.51 |
| Cash Ratio | 0.90 | 0.90 | 0.61 | 0.25 | 0.55 | 0.23 | 0.41 | 0.44 | 0.47 | 0.95 | 1.99 |
| Asset Turnover | — | 0.31 | 0.32 | 0.53 | 0.47 | 0.30 | 0.30 | 0.36 | 0.45 | 0.40 | 0.33 |
| Inventory Turnover | 3.79 | 3.79 | 3.54 | 3.89 | 2.04 | 2.90 | 2.84 | 3.03 | 3.07 | 3.29 | 3.79 |
| Days Sales Outstanding | — | 54.28 | 72.33 | 69.65 | 72.23 | 76.78 | 61.92 | 76.51 | 75.48 | 73.59 | 74.04 |
Earnings, FCF, buyback, and dividend yields — total returns to shareholders
Full dividend history and growth charts are on the Dividend History page
| Metric | TTM | FY 2025 | FY 2024 | FY 2023 | FY 2022 | FY 2021 | FY 2020 | FY 2019 | FY 2018 | FY 2017 | FY 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield | 1.6% | 1.1% | 1.9% | 1.1% | 0.7% | 0.7% | 1.0% | 2.0% | 1.7% | 1.0% | 1.4% |
| Payout Ratio | — | — | — | 11.9% | 6.9% | 143.8% | 43.1% | 28.5% | 20.8% | 256.3% | 21.0% |
| Metric | TTM | FY 2025 | FY 2024 | FY 2023 | FY 2022 | FY 2021 | FY 2020 | FY 2019 | FY 2018 | FY 2017 | FY 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Earnings Yield | 5.8% | — | — | 9.2% | 10.5% | 0.5% | 2.4% | 6.9% | 8.2% | 0.4% | 6.6% |
| FCF Yield | 12.3% | 4.2% | — | — | 2.5% | — | — | — | — | — | 5.5% |
| Buyback Yield | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 5.9% | 1.7% | 0.0% |
| Total Shareholder Yield | 1.6% | 1.1% | 1.9% | 1.1% | 0.7% | 0.7% | 1.0% | 2.0% | 7.6% | 2.7% | 1.4% |
| Shares Outstanding | — | $118M | $118M | $118M | $118M | $117M | $107M | $106M | $109M | $112M | $113M |
Includes 30+ ratios · 30 years · Updated daily
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Quick answers to the most common questions about buying ALB stock.
Albemarle Corporation's current P/E ratio is 17.3x. The historical average is 17.0x. This places it at the 65th percentile of its historical range.
Albemarle Corporation's current EV/EBITDA is 8.8x. This enterprise value multiple compares the company's total value (equity + debt - cash) to its EBITDA. The historical average is 12.3x.
Albemarle Corporation's return on equity (ROE) is -5.1%. The historical average is 14.5%.
Based on historical data, Albemarle Corporation is trading at a P/E of 17.3x. This is at the 65th percentile of its historical P/E range. Compare with industry peers and growth rates for a complete picture.
Albemarle Corporation's current dividend yield is 1.63%.
Albemarle Corporation has 13.1% gross margin and 1.8% operating margin.
Albemarle Corporation's Debt/EBITDA ratio is 4.4x, indicating high leverage. A ratio above 4x may signal elevated financial risk.
Key Metrics
Top Statement Risk
Lithium pricing and margin compression
Metrics are mathematically derived from official filings.
Forward Earnings Pricing Versus Trailing Losses
Based on reported figures, ALB trades at 9.03x forward earnings despite a negative trailing P/E of -17.26, implying the market expects a sharp earnings recovery that trailing results do not yet show.
The gap between the negative trailing P/E and the 9.03x forward multiple suggests investors are pricing in normalization of lithium pricing and cost execution rather than current earnings. The forward EV/EBITDA of 4.85x versus a trailing 17.74x reinforces this divergence, indicating that valuation depends heavily on the durability of the recent quarterly rebound. Investors should monitor whether the 19.4% gross margin in Q3 2026 holds before accepting the forward multiple at face value.
Quarterly Rebound Masks Trailing Margin Weakness
As reported in quarterly statements, Albemarle's operating margin reached 26.0% in Q2 2026 but compressed to 9.5% in Q3 2026, while trailing net margin stands at -9.9%.
Operating margins have swung widely from -20.7% in Q3 2024 to recent positive territory, showing high sensitivity to realized lithium pricing and feedstock costs. The Q3 2026 net margin of 19.1% versus the trailing -9.9% indicates that a single strong quarter is carrying much of the recovery narrative. The more conservative read is that earnings power remains unproven until several consecutive quarters confirm sustained margins.
ROIC Recovery Still Below Zero Trend
According to reported ratio data, ROIC improved to 3.1% in Q2 2026 and 1.0% in Q3 2026, but has been negative or near zero for much of the prior two years.
The return profile suggests Albemarle is only beginning to earn back its capital base after an extended period of weak returns. ROE of 2.8% in Q3 2026 against a trailing -5.1% shows improvement but remains thin relative to the capital-intensive asset base. Investors should view this as an early-stage recovery that has not yet demonstrated compounding returns on invested capital.
Deleveraging Restores Interest Coverage Comfort
Based on reported figures, debt-to-equity fell from 0.36 in Q3 2025 to 0.17 in Q3 2026, and interest coverage rose to 5.79x, suggesting debt service has become more manageable.
The reduction in leverage appears to reflect debt repayment rather than equity growth alone, lowering refinancing pressure in the near term. Interest coverage recovering to the mid-single digits suggests operating income can now comfortably service obligations, though coverage has been volatile quarter to quarter. Investors should monitor coverage stability given the swings in operating margin.
Current Ratio Provides Near-Term Cushion
As reported in financial statements, the current ratio of 2.34 and quick ratio of 1.57 in Q3 2026 suggest liquidity is adequate to meet near-term obligations under current conditions.
A quick ratio well above 1.0 indicates that liquidity does not depend heavily on inventory conversion, which matters given the DIO of 44 days and inventory exposure to lithium price moves. Under a severe lithium price decline, inventory write-downs could erode the current asset base faster than the ratios imply. The position appears strong on paper, but its resilience under stress warrants further investigation.
Recovery Case Depends on Pricing Persistence
Based on reported figures, the Q3 2026 earnings beat and 19.1% net margin may reflect a single strong quarter, while trailing net margin of -9.9% and revenue down 4.4% year over year challenge the durability of the recovery.
The most misleading read would be extrapolating the Q3 2026 rebound, since its drivers appear tied to realized lithium pricing and cost levers rather than volume growth. Gross margin already compressed from 35.1% in Q1 2026 to 19.4% in Q3 2026, suggesting pricing sensitivity is high. Investors should treat the forward P/E of 9.03x as contingent on sustained margin recovery rather than a confirmed earnings base.