Albemarle Stock: Is Wall Street Bullish or Bearish?

Core Viewpoint - Albemarle Corporation has underperformed compared to the broader market, with mixed quarterly results impacting investor sentiment [2][4]. Company Overview - Albemarle Corporation, based in Charlotte, North Carolina, specializes in engineered specialty chemicals and has a market capitalization of $11.4 billion. The company operates through three segments: Energy Storage, Specialties, and Ketjen [1]. Stock Performance - Over the past year, ALB stock has gained 12.9% year-to-date but has declined 2.8% over the past 52 weeks, while the S&P 500 Index has seen gains of 14.4% in 2025 and 12.7% over the past year [2]. - Compared to the Materials Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLB), which saw a 2% increase in 2025 and a 10% decline over the past 52 weeks, ALB has outperformed the sector [3]. Quarterly Results - In Q3, Albemarle reported a topline of $1.3 billion, down 3.5% year-over-year but 1.2% above Street expectations. The specialties segment saw a volume drop of 1%, while energy storage and Ketjen volumes increased by 8% each. Unfavorable pricing significantly impacted overall results [4]. - The adjusted EPS for the quarter was reported at a negative $0.19, surpassing consensus estimates by 79.4% [4]. Earnings Forecast - For the full fiscal year 2025, ending in December, Albemarle is expected to report an adjusted loss of $1.59 per share, an improvement from the loss of $2.34 per share in the previous year [5]. Analyst Ratings - Among 28 analysts covering ALB, the consensus rating is a "Hold," consisting of six "Strong Buys," two "Moderate Buys," 16 "Holds," and two "Strong Sells" [6]. - This rating is slightly more pessimistic compared to a month ago when seven analysts had given "Strong Buy" recommendations [7]. Price Target - Truist Securities analyst Peter Osterland maintained a "Hold" rating on ALB and raised the price target from $87 to $91. Currently, ALB is trading above its mean price target of $95.21, with the highest target of $135 indicating a potential upside of 38.9% from current levels [8].