Albemarle Corporation develops, manufactures, and markets engineered specialty chemicals worldwide. It operates through three segments: Energy Storage, Specialties and Ketjen. The Energy Storage segment offers lithium compounds, including lithium carbonate, lithium hydroxide, and lithium chloride; technical services for the handling and use of reactive lithium products; and lithium-containing by-products recycling services. The Specialties segment provides bromine-based specialty chemicals, including elemental bromine, alkyl and inorganic bromides, brominated powdered activated carbon, and other bromine fine chemicals; lithium specialties, such as butyllithium and lithium aluminum hydride; develops and manufactures cesium products for the chemical and pharmaceutical industries; and zirconium, barium, and titanium products for pyrotechnical applications that include airbag initiators. The Ketjen segment offers clean fuels technologies (CFT), which is composed of hydroprocessing catalysts (HPC) together with isomerization and akylation catalysts; fluidized catalytic cracking (FCC) catalysts and additives; and performance catalyst solutions (PCS), which is composed of organometallics and curatives. The company serves the energy storage, petroleum refining, consumer electronics, construction, automotive, lubricants, pharmaceuticals, and crop protection markets. Albemarle Corporation was founded in 1887 and is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Albemarle выглядит как компания с сильным балансом, но пока без убедительного подтверждения устойчивой операционной рентабельности. Ликвидность хорошая: current ratio 2.23 и quick ratio 1.57 выше отраслевых ориентиров, а cash on hand в 1.62 млрд долларов даёт запас прочности. Долговая нагрузка умеренная: debt/equity 0.32 ниже медианы отрасли, что снижает финансовые риски, хотя абсолютный долг остаётся заметным. При этом выручка за TTM составляет 1.43 млрд долларов и выглядит сильной относительно отрасли, но качество этой выручки пока не трансформируется в стабильную прибыль. Валовая маржа 13.01% остаётся ниже отраслевой нормы и заметно просела по сравнению с более ранними периодами, что указывает на давление на ценообразование или себестоимость. EPS TTM отрицательный (-0.53), а прогноз EPS тоже отрицательный (-0.40), поэтому рынок пока не видит быстрого восстановления прибыли. ROE, ROA, ROI и return on tangible equity равны нулю, что для инвестора является серьёзным сигналом о слабой отдаче на капитал в текущей базе данных. P/S 4.09 выглядит высоким относительно отрасли, а P/FCF 28.99 также не выглядит дешёвым, то есть оценка уже учитывает часть будущего улучшения. P/B 1.70 и net worth 16.6 выглядят лучше, чем у многих peers, но сами по себе не компенсируют слабую прибыльность. Позитивом остаются рост gross profit, operating income и укрепление собственного капитала, что говорит о частичном восстановлении после более слабых периодов. Однако нулевые значения по EBITDA и маржам в TTM, вместе с отрицательным EPS, не позволяют агрессивно повышать оценку. Дивидендная доходность снизилась с более высоких уровней к 0.24%, поэтому дивидендный аргумент сейчас слабее, чем раньше. В целом фундаментал поддерживает компанию как финансово устойчивую, но не как явно недооценённую, поэтому целесообразна умеренная консервативная корректировка вниз.

Albemarle Corporation

Сильный индекс, значительно упал. Быки в растерянности.

Strong index, significantly down. The bulls are confused.

Слабый индекс, значительно упал. Медведи сохранили, но резко ослабили уверенность в своих позициях.

Weak index, significantly down. The bears retained but sharply weakened their confidence in their positions.

Средний индекс, значительно вырос. Рынок на стороне быков.

Medium index, significantly up. The market is on the bulls' side.

Средний индекс, значительно вырос. Приток средств в лонги увеличился и находится на высоком уровне.

Medium index, significantly up. The inflow of funds into longs has increased and is at a high level.

Сильный индекс, незначительно вырос. Отток средств из шортов на высоком уровне.

Strong index, slightly up. Outflow of funds from shorts at a high level.

У Albemarle крепкий баланс и ликвидность, но слабая прибыльность, низкие маржи и дорогие мультипликаторы ограничивают потенциал переоценки.

DuPont de Nemours, Inc. DD has announced that its healthcare manufacturing operations in the United States are now entirely powered by renewable electricity. The milestone was achieved through the purchase of additional Renewable Energy Certificates (“RECs”), in line with the company’s long-term climate roadmap that includes sustainability targets for 2035 and a net-zero emissions goal by 2050.
Per DuPont, roughly 30,000 megawatt-hours (MWh) of electricity used across 12 manufacturing facilities in the United States is now matched annually, backed by renewable energy generated within the country. This change helps reduce Scope 2 emissions linked to electricity sourced from the grid, lowering the overall environmental footprint of these operations.
The company also highlighted that this development further supports its participation in the RE100 initiative, which focuses on shifting companies toward 100% renewable electricity. DuPont added that more than half of its global electricity consumption is already sourced from renewable energy, showing continued progress across its worldwide operations.
DuPont will continue expanding the use of renewable electricity across its facilities while working to further reduce emissions. In addition, the company is focused on supporting customers’ sustainability initiatives and advancing a more environmentally responsible healthcare supply chain.
DD has slumped 29.9% over the past year against the industry’s 4.4% growth.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
DD’s Zacks Rank & Key Picks
DD currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
Some better-ranked stocks in the Basic Materials space are Albemarle Corporation ALB, CF Industries Holdings, Inc. CF and Franco-Nevada Corporation FNV.
While ALB sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) at present, CF and FNV carry a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) each. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for ALB’s 2026 earnings is pinned at $12.39 per share, indicating a 1,668.35% year-over-year increase. Its earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in three of the trailing four quarters and missed once, with an average surprise of 74.5%. ALB’s shares have jumped 161.9% over the past year.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for CF’s 2026 earnings is pegged at $17.16 per share, indicating a rise of 83.14% year over year. Its earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the trailing four quarters, with an average surprise of 11.42%. CF’s shares have risen 6.6% over the past year.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for FNV’s 2026 earnings is pinned at $8.85 per share, suggesting a 58.6% year-over-year increase. Its earnings surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the trailing four quarters, with an average surprise of 10.28%. FNV’s shares have risen 21.1% over the past year.
Beyond Nvidia: AI's Second Wave Is Here
The AI revolution has already minted millionaires. But the stocks everyone knows about aren't likely to keep delivering the biggest profits. AI’s second wave is moving from infrastructure to implementation and these companies are at the forefront of this transition, positioned to become what Amazon and Google were to the internet era.
See Stocks Now >>
Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

DuPont Achieves Renewable Power Milestone in US Healthcare Sites

In early trading on Friday, shares of Mosaic topped the list of the day's best performing components of the S&P 500 index, trading up 6.9%. Year to date, Mosaic has lost about 6.4% of its value.
And the worst performing S&P 500 component thus far on the day is KLAC, trading down 90.0%. KLAC is lower by about 80.2% looking at the year to date performance.
Two other components making moves today are EchoStar, trading down 8.3%, and Albemarle, trading up 5.6% on the day.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

S&P 500 Movers: KLAC, MOS

ATI Inc. ATI has announced a new long-term strategic material supply agreement with BWX Technologies, Inc. BWXT to reinforce a long-standing partnership that supports the U.S. Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program. The agreement will be in effect through fiscal year 2030.
The partnership highlights ATI’s role in supplying advanced materials used in naval systems to enable superior performance, reliability, and protection. The company extends the partnership with BWXT to provide a significant advantage to a technologically advanced naval force.
ATI’s expertise in manufacturing specialty materials for nuclear applications dates back nearly 70 years, including contributions to some of the U.S. Navy’s first nuclear-powered submarines. As a world leader in the production of specialty materials, ATI combines advanced materials science and proprietary processes to develop highly engineered products essential to BWXT’s objective.
Moreover, ATI’s critical role as a strategic defense partner across air, land, sea, and missile systems, supplying high-performance titanium, nickel-based alloys, and other specialty materials designed for demanding operational environments, further strengthens its position in the industry.
ATI has gained 134.8% over the past year compared with the industry’s 17.1% growth.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
ATI’s Zacks Rank & Other Key Picks
ATI currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).
Some other top-ranked stocks in the Basic Materials space are Albemarle Corporation ALB and CF Industries Holdings, Inc. CF.
While ALB sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) at present, CF carries a Zacks Rank #2. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for ALB’s 2026 earnings is pinned at $12.39 per share, indicating a 1,668.35% year-over-year increase. Its earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in three of the trailing four quarters and missed once, with an average surprise of 74.5%. ALB’s shares have jumped 161.9% over the past year.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for CF’s 2026 earnings is pegged at $17.16 per share, indicating a rise of 83.14% year over year. Its earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the trailing four quarters, with an average surprise of 11.42%. CF shares have gained 6.6% over the past year.
Beyond Nvidia: AI's Second Wave Is Here
The AI revolution has already minted millionaires. But the stocks everyone knows about aren't likely to keep delivering the biggest profits. AI’s second wave is moving from infrastructure to implementation and these companies are at the forefront of this transition, positioned to become what Amazon and Google were to the internet era.
See Stocks Now >>
Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

ATI and BWX Technologies Extend Strategic Partnership Through 2030

BHP Group Limited BHP announced that it signed a Global Framework Agreement with Wuxi BOTON Technology Co., Ltd. to boost their partnership to develop greener and more innovative conveyor technologies for the mining industry. BHP’s collaboration with BOTON is expected to create technologies that support increasingly automated conveyor operations.
BHP-BOTON Partnership to Boost Conveyor Solutions
BHP Group expects this partnership to focus on developing smart conveyor technologies, enabling lower-carbon operations and boosting global service capability.
BHP will explore further at its Escondida copper mine to investigate the deployment of advanced intelligent equipment at scale. This includes longitudinal rip detection, X-ray digital scanning, AI-based automatic belt alignment and robotic inspection systems.
For lower-carbon operations, the partnership will explore the joint launch of a Supply Chain Partner Programme. This initiative aims to establish a full-lifecycle carbon footprint tracking system while advancing circular economy solutions for used conveyor belts to mitigate environmental impacts.
Through this partnership, BHP aims to drive the development of next-generation mining conveyors, boosting efficiency and generating lasting value throughout its worldwide operations.
BHP Stock's Price Performance
BHP Group’s shares have surged 88.9% in the past year compared with the industry’s 53.2% growth.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
BHP’s Zacks Rank & Stock to Consider
BHP Group currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
Some better-ranked stocks from the basic materials space are Albemarle Corporation ALB, CF Industries Holdings, Inc. CF and Avino Silver & Gold Mines Ltd. ASM. ALB carries a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) at present, and CF and ASM carry a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Albemarle has an average trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 74.5%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the company’s 2026 earnings is pegged at $12.45 per share, indicating year-over-year growth from a loss of 79 cents. ALB shares have skyrocketed 181% so far this year.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for CF Industries’ current-year earnings is pegged at $17.16 per share, indicating a 83% year-over-year surge. CF has an average trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 11.4%. CF Industries’ shares have gained 21.4% in a year.
Avino Silver has an average trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 125%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Avino Silver’s 2026 earnings is pegged at 39 cents per share, indicating 34.5% year-over-year growth. Its shares have surged 90.5% in a year.
Beyond Nvidia: AI's Second Wave Is Here
The AI revolution has already minted millionaires. But the stocks everyone knows about aren't likely to keep delivering the biggest profits. AI’s second wave is moving from infrastructure to implementation and these companies are at the forefront of this transition, positioned to become what Amazon and Google were to the internet era.
See Stocks Now >>
Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

BHP Advances Lower-Carbon Conveyor Solutions With BOTON Partnership

Albemarle Corporation ALB is currently trading at a forward price-to-sales ratio of 3.05, well above the Zacks Chemical - Diversified industry’s 0.95. It is also trading at a premium to its peers, Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile S.A. SQM and Rio Tinto Group RIO. Albemarle currently has a Value Score of C. Sociedad Quimica and Rio Tinto have a Value Score of B and A, respectively.
ALB’s P/S F12M Vs. Industry, SQM and RIO
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
ALB’s shares have rallied 161.9% in the past year, thanks to the strength in its Energy Storage segment and an uptick in lithium prices. ALB has outperformed the industry’s rise of 4.4% and the S&P 500’s increase of 25.2%.
ALB’s One-year Price Performance
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
ALB stock broke below its 50-day simple moving average (SMA) on May 15, 2026. It is currently trading above its 200-day SMA, suggesting a long-term uptrend. Following a golden crossover on Sept. 3, 2025, the 50-day SMA is reading higher than the 200-day SMA, indicating a bullish trend.
Albemarle Trades Below 50-Day SMA
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Let’s take a look at ALB’s fundamentals to analyze the stock better.
Growing Lithium Demand, Productivity & Higher Prices Aid ALB
Albemarle is well-placed to gain from long-term growth in the battery-grade lithium market. The market for lithium batteries and energy storage remains strong, especially for electric vehicles (EVs), offering significant opportunities for the company to develop innovative products and expand capacity. Lithium demand is expected to grow on the back of significant global EV penetration.
ALB expects lithium demand to witness a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10-20% from 2025 to 2030. Stationary storage is expected to be a significant driver for lithium demand along with EVs. Albemarle expects demand to grow roughly 15-40% this year. Demand indicators stayed positive in the first quarter of 2026, with global Energy Storage Systems production rising 117% year over year.
The company is strategically executing its projects aimed at boosting its global lithium conversion capacity. It remains focused on investing in high-return projects to drive productivity. Healthy customer demand, capacity expansion and plant productivity improvements are supporting its volumes. ALB saw higher sales volumes (up 14% year over year) in its Energy Storage unit in the first quarter on the strength of its integrated conversion facilities.
The Salar yield improvement project in Chile has achieved a 50% operating rate, and the ramp-up continues to deliver encouraging outcomes. ALB has started the environmental permitting process for a commercial direct lithium extraction project at Salar de Atacama. The ramp-up at the Meishan lithium conversion facility in China is also progressing ahead of schedule.
Albemarle is taking aggressive cost-saving and productivity actions. The company delivered roughly $450 million in cost and productivity improvements for full-year 2025, having surpassed its initial target of $300-$400 million. It expects additional cost and productivity improvements of $100-$150 million in 2026, with $40 million already delivered this year. ALB is taking actions to maintain its competitive position, including the initiation of a comprehensive review of cost and operating structure, optimization of the conversion network and reduction of capital expenditure.
Higher lithium prices, driven by strong demand from EVs and energy storage systems, along with supply disruptions due to recent supply reductions in China, are expected to aid ALB’s performance. Lithium prices have rebounded from the trough levels seen in 2025, supported by tightening supply and strong demand in China and globally. Albemarle’s first-quarter earnings and sales topped estimates as higher lithium prices and volumes lifted results.
ALB’s Strong Financial Health Supports Capital Allocation
Albemarle remains committed to driving shareholder value by leveraging healthy cash flows and strong liquidity. Its operating cash flow was around $1.3 billion in 2025, up roughly 86% from the prior-year period. At the end of the first quarter, ALB had liquidity of around $2.7 billion, including cash and cash equivalents of around $1.1 billion. ALB generated an operating cash flow of $346 million and free cash flow of $248 million in the quarter.
The company paid down $1.3 billion of outstanding debt in March 2026, reducing annual interest expense by roughly $60 million. This followed the successful divestments of the controlling stake in Ketjen and its 50% interest in the Eurecat joint venture, which together generated $670 million in pre-tax proceeds.
The company remains focused on maintaining its dividend payout. It has raised its quarterly dividend for the 30th straight year.
ALB offers a dividend yield of 1.1% at the current stock price. Sociedad Quimica and Rio Tinto, have a dividend yield of 3.6% and 5.1%, respectively.
ALB’s Earnings Estimates Northbound
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2026 for ALB has been revised upward over the past 60 days. The consensus estimate for second-quarter 2026 has been going up over the same time frame.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2026 earnings is currently pegged at $12.39, suggesting a year-over-year rise of 1,668.4%. Earnings are expected to increase roughly 2,700% in the second quarter.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
How Should Investors Play ALB Stock?
Albemarle is gaining from increased lithium volumes, supported by project ramp-ups, ongoing efforts to expand its global lithium conversion capacity and productivity improvement initiatives. The company remains well-positioned to benefit from the long-term expansion of the battery-grade lithium market, driven by the accelerating adoption of EVs worldwide. Favorable lithium pricing, backed by strong demand and constrained supply, further strengthens its outlook.
Robust growth prospects and rising earnings estimates are some other positives. Although ALB trades at a premium valuation, its strong fundamentals and earnings growth potential justify the higher multiple. We advise investors to bet on this Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stock now, as it has solid growth prospects.
You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Beyond Nvidia: AI's Second Wave Is Here
The AI revolution has already minted millionaires. But the stocks everyone knows about aren't likely to keep delivering the biggest profits. AI’s second wave is moving from infrastructure to implementation and these companies are at the forefront of this transition, positioned to become what Amazon and Google were to the internet era.
See Stocks Now >>
Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report
Rio Tinto PLC (RIO) : Free Stock Analysis Report
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Does Albemarle's Premium Valuation Justify Buying the Stock Now?

In trading on Thursday, the VanEck Rare Earth/Strategic Metals ETF is outperforming other ETFs, up about 6.2% on the day. Components of that ETF showing particular strength include shares of Sigma Lithium, up about 9.1% and shares of Albemarle, up about 7.5% on the day.
And underperforming other ETFs today is the iShares Paris-Aligned Climate MSCI USA ETF, off about 1.6% in Thursday afternoon trading. Among components of that ETF with the weakest showing on Thursday were shares of Oracle, lower by about 11.7%, and shares of Adobe, lower by about 4.1% on the day.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Thursday's ETF Movers: REMX, PABU

DuPont de Nemours, Inc. DD recently announced that its MemCor membrane bioreactor (MBR) system has been selected for the next phase of upgrades at the Riverstone Water Resource Recovery Facility (WRRF) in Sydney, Australia. This significant investment in wastewater infrastructure is aimed at supporting the region’s population growth while enhancing environmental protection.
The upgrade will be led by the North West Hub Alliance, which includes Sydney Water, John Holland, KBR and Stantec. DuPont will supply a MemCor MBR system featuring 2,592 MemPulse B50 MBR modules, designed to support an average capacity of 24.8 megaliters per day and a peak wet weather flow of 86 megaliters per day.
The Riverstone upgrade forms a major part of a broader expansion of wastewater treatment infrastructure across Sydney’s North West region. Once complete, the upgraded facility is expected to significantly increase treatment capacity, protect waterways, and support future housing development in the region.
The project highlights the value of collaboration between utilities. The infrastructure investments and local expertise of DuPont in Australia will enable technology providers to help communities while protecting vital water resources. DuPont’s commitment to sustainable water management solutions will help purify more than 50 million gallons of water every minute in 112 countries across the world.
DD has slumped 34.1% over the past year against the industry’s 2.8% growth.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
For the second quarter of 2026, DuPont expects net sales of about $1.8 billion and operating EBITDA of about $430 million. Adjusted earnings are projected at approximately 59 cents per share, with guidance assuming about 3% organic sales growth year over year and currency as a slight tailwind.
Management raised its full-year 2026 outlook following the first-quarter outperformance and the interest income benefit tied to the Aramids transaction. The company now expects net sales of $7.155-$7.215 billion, operating EBITDA of $1.730-$1.760 billion and adjusted earnings of $2.35-$2.40 per share for 2026.
DD’s Zacks Rank & Key Picks
DD currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
Some better-ranked stocks in the Basic Materials space are Albemarle Corporation ALB, CF Industries Holdings, Inc. CF and Avino Silver & Gold Mines Ltd. ASM.
While ALB sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) at present, CF and ASM carry a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) each. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for ALB’s 2026 earnings is pinned at $12.39 per share, indicating a 1,668.35% year-over-year increase. Its earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in three of the trailing four quarters and missed once, with an average surprise of 74.5%. ALB’s shares have jumped 135.6% over the past year.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for CF’s 2026 earnings is pegged at $17.16 per share, indicating a rise of 83.14% year over year. Its earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the trailing four quarters, with an average surprise of 11.42%. CF’s shares have soared 16.5% over the past year.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for ASM’s current fiscal-year earnings is pinned at 39 cents per share, indicating a 34.48% year-over-year increase. Its earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the trailing four quarters, with an average surprise of 125%.
7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days
Just released: Experts distill 7 elite stocks from the current list of 220 Zacks Rank #1 Strong Buys. They deem these tickers "Most Likely for Early Price Pops."
Since 1988, the full list has beaten the market more than 2X over with an average gain of +23.7% per year. So be sure to give these hand picked 7 your immediate attention.
See them now >>
Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

DuPont MemCor MBR Selected for Riverstone Upgrade in Australia

NWPX Infrastructure, Inc. NWPX has announced the successful completion of the first field installation of its patent-pending Permalok Radial Bending Joint (RBJ) technology, marking a significant breakthrough in trenchless infrastructure construction. The technology establishes the world's first intentionally curved steel microtunnel installation, demonstrating a new capability for underground utility construction that could reshape future water and wastewater infrastructure projects.
The installation was completed beneath Pleasure Bay in New Jersey, as part of an emergency wastewater infrastructure project for the Two Rivers Water Reclamation Authority. The project involved approximately 1,290 linear feet of 72-inch steel casing pipe installed along a 5,500-foot-radius curved alignment, enabling crews to navigate a constrained underground environment and connect with an abandoned tunnel that had become critical to the project's completion. The project was designed by Hazen and Sawyer and executed by Northeast Remsco Construction.
Traditionally, steel casing pipes used in microtunneling were limited to straight-line installations, making it difficult to navigate existing utilities, waterways and other underground obstacles. NWPX's new RBJ technology enables controlled curved pipe installations while maintaining structural integrity.
The technology also retains the benefits of the company's Permalok press-fit connection technology, including weld-free installation, lower labor requirements and compatibility with existing microtunneling equipment.
Per NWPX, the achievement is one of the most important advancements in steel microtunneling in decades. The successful deployment validates a technology that can potentially reduce project costs, minimize construction disruption, shrink jobsite footprints and enable infrastructure projects that were previously considered too complex or expensive to build.
Shares of NWPX are up 211.7% over the past year compared with the industry’s 99.4% rise.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
NWPX’s Zacks Rank & Key Picks
NWPX carries a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold)
Some better-ranked stocks in the Basic Materials space are Nucor Corporation NUE, L.B. Foster Company FSTR and Albemarle Corporation ALB. NUE, FSTR and ALB carry a Zacks Rank of #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for NUE’s current-year earnings stands at $14.84 per share, implying a 92.5% year-over-year increase. Its earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in two of the trailing four quarters and missed twice, with the average surprise being 8.1%.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for FSTR’s current-year earnings is pegged at $1.74 per share, implying a 152.2% year-over-year increase. Its earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in one of the trailing four quarters and missed thrice, with the average surprise being 3.62%.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for ALB’s current-year earnings is pegged at $12.39 per share, indicating a 1,668.4% year-over-year increase. Its earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in three of the trailing four quarters and missed once, with the average surprise being 74.5%.
7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days
Just released: Experts distill 7 elite stocks from the current list of 220 Zacks Rank #1 Strong Buys. They deem these tickers "Most Likely for Early Price Pops."
Since 1988, the full list has beaten the market more than 2X over with an average gain of +23.7% per year. So be sure to give these hand picked 7 your immediate attention.
See them now >>
Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report
L.B. Foster Company (FSTR) : Free Stock Analysis Report
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

NWPX's RBJ Technology Enables First Curved Steel Microtunnel

Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. APD is benefiting from investments in high-return projects, new business deals, acquisitions and productivity initiatives.
We are positive about APD’s prospects and believe that the time is right for you to add the stock to the portfolio, as it looks promising and is poised to carry the momentum ahead.
Let's see what makes APD stock an attractive investment option at the moment.
Positive Analyst Sentiment for APD Stock
Earnings estimates for APD have been going up over the past 60 days. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fiscal 2026 has increased by 1.5%. The consensus estimate for fiscal 2027 has also been revised 1.2% upward over the same time frame. The favorable estimate revisions instill investor confidence in the stock.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for APD’s fiscal 2026 earnings is pegged at $13.2, suggesting a 9.7% increase from the previous year’s tally. Earnings are projected to increase by 7.3% in fiscal 2027.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
APD’s Positive Earnings Surprise History
Air Products has outpaced the Zacks Consensus Estimate in three of the trailing four quarters. In this time frame, it has delivered an earnings surprise of roughly 3%, on average.
APD’s Superior Return on Equity (ROE)
ROE is a measure of a company’s efficiency in utilizing shareholders’ funds. ROE for the trailing 12-months for Air Products is 16.1%, above the industry’s level of 2.9%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Upbeat Outlook
Air Products raised its full-year fiscal 2026 adjusted earnings guidance to $13-$13.25 per share, supported by its strong first-half performance and expectations for continued execution on pricing and productivity. Management said new asset contributions are expected to build through the second half, adding to the underlying earnings profile.
For the third quarter of fiscal 2026, Air Products expects adjusted earnings of $3.25-$3.35 per share, implying 5-8% growth from the prior-year period. The company maintained its fiscal 2026 capital expenditures outlook of approximately $4 billion.
High-Return Projects & Productivity Actions Aid Air Products
Air Products is well-placed to gain from its investments in high-return industrial gas projects and productivity measures. It remains focused on its gasification strategy and is executing its key growth projects. These projects are expected to be accretive to earnings and cash flows.
Currently, APD is making progress with its two major projects — the NEOM green hydrogen project in Saudi Arabia and the Louisiana Clean Energy Complex. The Louisiana project is expected to produce more than 750 million standard cubic feet per day of blue hydrogen for local and global markets. The NEOM Green Hydrogen Project in Saudi Arabia is expected to supply up to 1.2 million tons per year of renewable ammonia. Air Products and Yara International are in advanced negotiations to partner on these large-scale, low-emission ammonia projects.
Air Products is also driving productivity to improve its cost structure. It is seeing the positive impacts of its productivity actions. Benefits from additional productivity and cost improvement programs are likely to support its margins moving ahead. The company also remains focused on improving pricing amid an inflationary environment. Air Products is also taking action to right-size the organization through headcount reductions and expects these reductions to result in $250 million in annual cost savings once completed. It has already realized roughly $50 million in savings from headcount reduction, as divulged in its fiscal second quarter earnings call.
Air Products remains committed to maximizing returns to shareholders by leveraging its strong balance sheet and cash flows. Its board, in January 2026, increased its quarterly dividend to $1.81 per share. This marked the 44th straight year of dividend increase. The company returned roughly $1.6 billion to shareholders through dividends in 2025.
APD generated an operating cash flow of around $3.3 billion in fiscal 2025 and $2 billion in the first six months ended March 31, 2026. The company also returned $800 million to shareholders in the first half of fiscal 2026. Strong cash flow enables the company to boost shareholders’ value by increasing dividends and capital deployment.
Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. Price and Consensus
APD’s Zacks Rank & Key Picks
APD currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).
Other top-ranked stocks in the Basic Materials space are Nucor Corporation NUE, L.B. Foster Company FSTR and Albemarle Corporation ALB, each carrying a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Nucor’s current-year earnings stands at $14.84 per share, implying an 92.5% year-over-year increase. NUE’s earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in two of the trailing four quarters and missed twice, with an average surprise of 8.1%.
The consensus estimate for L.B. Foster’s current-year earnings is pegged at $1.74 per share, implying a 152.2% year-over-year increase. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for FSTR’s current-year earnings has been revised 12.3% higher over the past 60 days.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Albemarle’s current-year earnings is pegged at $12.39 per share, indicating a 1,668.4% year-over-year increase. ALB’s earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in three of the trailing four quarters and missed once, with an average surprise of 54.1%.
7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days
Just released: Experts distill 7 elite stocks from the current list of 220 Zacks Rank #1 Strong Buys. They deem these tickers "Most Likely for Early Price Pops."
Since 1988, the full list has beaten the market more than 2X over with an average gain of +23.7% per year. So be sure to give these hand picked 7 your immediate attention.
See them now >>
Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Why You Should Add Air Products Stock to Your Portfolio Now

Albemarle (ALB) closed the most recent trading day at $147.22, moving -3.65% from the previous trading session. This change lagged the S&P 500's daily loss of 1.62%. Meanwhile, the Dow lost 1.87%, and the Nasdaq, a tech-heavy index, lost 1.98%.
Prior to today's trading, shares of the specialty chemicals company had lost 25.66% lagged the Basic Materials sector's loss of 5.57% and the S&P 500's loss of 0.03%.
Analysts and investors alike will be keeping a close eye on the performance of Albemarle in its upcoming earnings disclosure. In that report, analysts expect Albemarle to post earnings of $3.08 per share. This would mark year-over-year growth of 2700%. Meanwhile, the latest consensus estimate predicts the revenue to be $1.48 billion, indicating a 11.36% increase compared to the same quarter of the previous year.
For the annual period, the Zacks Consensus Estimates anticipate earnings of $12.39 per share and a revenue of $5.99 billion, signifying shifts of +1668.35% and +16.45%, respectively, from the last year.
Any recent changes to analyst estimates for Albemarle should also be noted by investors. These revisions typically reflect the latest short-term business trends, which can change frequently. As a result, upbeat changes in estimates indicate analysts' favorable outlook on the business health and profitability.
Our research suggests that these changes in estimates have a direct relationship with upcoming stock price performance. To exploit this, we've formed the Zacks Rank, a quantitative model that includes these estimate changes and presents a viable rating system.
Ranging from #1 (Strong Buy) to #5 (Strong Sell), the Zacks Rank system has a proven, outside-audited track record of outperformance, with #1 stocks returning an average of +25% annually since 1988. The Zacks Consensus EPS estimate has moved 38.76% higher within the past month. As of now, Albemarle holds a Zacks Rank of #1 (Strong Buy).
From a valuation perspective, Albemarle is currently exchanging hands at a Forward P/E ratio of 12.34. This valuation marks a discount compared to its industry average Forward P/E of 16.29.
Also, we should mention that ALB has a PEG ratio of 0.77. The PEG ratio is akin to the commonly utilized P/E ratio, but this measure also incorporates the company's anticipated earnings growth rate. The Chemical - Diversified industry currently had an average PEG ratio of 1.23 as of yesterday's close.
The Chemical - Diversified industry is part of the Basic Materials sector. At present, this industry carries a Zacks Industry Rank of 87, placing it within the top 36% of over 250 industries.
The Zacks Industry Rank assesses the strength of our separate industry groups by calculating the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks contained within the groups. Our research shows that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1.
To follow ALB in the coming trading sessions, be sure to utilize Zacks.com.
Zacks' Research Chief Names "Stock Most Likely to Double"
Our team of experts has just released the 5 stocks with the greatest probability of gaining +100% or more in the coming months. Of those 5, Director of Research Sheraz Mian highlights the one stock set to climb highest.
This top pick is a little-known satellite-based communications firm. Space is projected to become a trillion dollar industry, and this company's customer base is growing fast. Analysts have forecasted a major revenue breakout in 2025. Of course, all our elite picks aren't winners but this one could far surpass earlier Zacks' Stocks Set to Double like Hims & Hers Health, which shot up +209%.
Free: See Our Top Stock And 4 Runners Up
Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Indicator	TTM Median
P/E	0.00 23.59
Price/Sales	4.09 1.39
P/B	1.70 1.82
P/FCF	28.99 26.06

Indicator	TTM Median
ROE	0.00 13.61
ROA	0.00 6.13
ROI	0.00 9.18
Net Worth	16.60 1.71
Quick Ratio	1.57 1.21
Current Ratio	2.23 2.00

Indicator	TTM Median
Net Profit Margin	0.00 8.35
Operating Margin	0.00 12.06
Gross Margin	13.01 28.06
Return on tangible equity	0.00 16.74

Indicator	TTM Median
EPS	-0.53 0.32
EPS Forecast	-0.40 0.28
Revenue	1.43B 210.00M
Gross Profit	198.00M —
EBITDA	0.00 —

Albemarle Corporation

Recent quarterly and TTM performance

Valuation

Debts

Efficiency

Other ratios

Revenue