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 looks like a company with a strong balance sheet, but so far without convincing evidence of sustainable profitability. Liquidity is comfortable: a current ratio of 2.07 and a quick ratio of 1.21 are at acceptable levels, while cash on hand of $1.09 billion supports financial flexibility. The debt burden is moderate and noticeably better than the industry: debt/equity of 0.18 is below the median, and long-term debt has declined from roughly $3.1–3.2 billion to $1.8 billion, which reduces valuation risk. At the same time, revenue remains high and is holding around $1.43 billion, but this is not translating into quality margins: gross margin of 18.45% is still below the industry median, although the year-over-year trend has improved significantly from very weak levels. EBITDA and gross profit have recovered, indicating a partial exit from the downturn, but capital efficiency metrics remain problematic: ROE, ROA, ROI, and return on tangible equity are reported at zero, while net profit margin and operating margin also do not show a sustained normalization. TTM EPS is negative, and forecast EPS is also negative, meaning the market still cannot rely on a stable earnings stream to justify a high valuation. The valuation picture is mixed: P/B of 1.32 looks moderate, and the debt profile supports balance-sheet stability, but P/S of 2.43 is already above the industry median, while P/FCF of 21.97 does not look cheap for a business with unstable profitability. P/E and some margin metrics are effectively uninformative because of weak earnings, so for an investor it is more important to focus on the recovery in operating efficiency than on a formally low P/E. Shareholders’ equity remains large — more than $10 billion — which creates a safety cushion and lowers the likelihood of a stress scenario. But at the current pace, the company rather calls for a cautious approach: the balance sheet is solid, but earnings quality and margin sustainability are still insufficient for an aggressive re-rating. In the end, the fundamentals support the investment case, but require a discount to very optimistic expectations until more convincing signs of sustainable growth in earnings and margins emerge.

Albemarle Corporation

Сильный индекс, значительно упал. Оптимистичный взгляд на свои позиции резко сменился на неуверенность.

Strong index, significantly down. An optimistic view of his position suddenly changed to uncertainty.

Сильный индекс, значительно упал. Медведи в растерянности.

Strong index, significantly down. The bears are confused.

Слабый индекс, значительно вырос. Рынок не поддерживает быков.

Weak index, significantly up. The market does not support the bulls.

Слабый индекс, значительно упал. Рынок на стороне медведей.

Weak index, significantly down. The market is on the bears' side.

Слабый индекс, незначительно вырос. Приток средств в лонги остается на невысоком уровне.

Weak index, slightly up. The inflow of funds into longs remains at a low level.

Слабый индекс, незначительно упал. Приток средств в шорты остается положительным.

Weak index, slightly down. The inflow of funds into shorts remains positive.

Albemarle has a strong balance sheet and low debt, but weak profitability, negative EPS, and revenue multiples that are on the expensive side limit re-rating potential.

The Board of Directors of Citigroup declared a quarterly dividend on Citigroup's common stock of $0.67 per share, payable on August 28, 2026, to stockholders of record on August 3, 2026.
The Board of Directors of Albemarle today announced that it declared a quarterly common stock dividend of $0.41 per share. The dividend, which has an annualized rate of $1.64, is payable Oct. 1, 2026, to shareholders of record at the close of business as of Sept. 11, 2026.
Rollins, a premier global consumer and commercial services company, announced that the Board of Directors declared a regular quarterly cash dividend on its common stock of $0.1825 per share payable September 10, 2026 to shareholders of record at the close of business on August 10, 2026.
Norfolk Southern announced today a quarterly dividend of $1.35 per share on its common stock. The dividend is payable August 20, 2026, to shareholders of record on August 7, 2026. The company has paid a dividend on its common stock for 176 consecutive quarters since its formation in 1982.
The Board of Directors of Air Products today declared a quarterly dividend of $1.81 per share of common stock. The dividend is payable on November 9, 2026 to shareholders of record at the close of business on October 1, 2026.
The Board of Directors of McKesson yesterday declared a regular dividend of $0.94 per share of common stock, a 15% increase from $0.82 per share in the prior quarter. The dividend will be payable on October 1, 2026, to shareholders of record on September 1, 2026. "Today's announcement marks our tenth consecutive year of dividend growth, reflecting the strength of our business, our disciplined approach to capital allocation and our commitment to returning capital to shareholders," said Brian Tyler, chair and chief executive officer. "We remain focused on leveraging our financial strength to execute against the company priorities and create sustainable, long-term value for shareholders."
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Daily Dividend Report: C,ALB,ROL,NSC,APD,MCK

BASF SE BASFY recently inaugurated a new specialty emollients production plant in Dusseldorf, Germany. The investment is valued in the mid double-digit million-euro range. It aims at expanding the company’s production capacity for specialty products to meet rising global demand, particularly for ingredients used in skin care and sun protection products.
The new facility will manufacture specialty emollients, enabling customers to bring differentiated products to market. This investment supports BASF’s strategy to offer innovative and more sustainable solutions for the cosmetics and personal care industry. The investment builds on the company’s expertise to address growing consumer expectations for performance, formulation flexibility and sustainability.
The project was completed after two years of construction despite numerous challenges. The expansion underscores the company’s long-term commitment to the Düsseldorf site and strengthens its competitiveness.
Emollients are key ingredients in personal care formulations, helping retain skin moisture while improving the sensory profile. BASF’s Düsseldorf site offers one of the industry’s most comprehensive emollient portfolios, and the additional capacity is expected to further reinforce its strength.
Düsseldorf remains BASF’s third-largest production site in Europe and its largest site for the production and development of cosmetic ingredients, making the expansion a milestone for the company’s Personal Care business unit.
BASFY’s shares have gained 9.4% over the past year against the industry’s 3.8% decline.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
BASFY’s Zacks Rank & Key Picks
BASFY currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
Some better-ranked stocks in the Basic Materials space are Kronos Worldwide, Inc. KRO, Carpenter Technology Corporation CRS and Albemarle Corporation ALB.
While KRO and CRS currently sport a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) each, ALB carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for KRO’s 2026 loss is pinned at 33 cents per share, indicating a 65.63% year-over-year increase. Its earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in one of the trailing four quarters and missed the remaining three. KRO’sshares have gained 8.8% over the past year.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for CRS’ 2026 earnings is pegged at $10.56 per share, indicating a rise of 41.18% year over year. Its earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the trailing four quarters, with an average surprise of 8.95%.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for ALB’s current fiscal-year earnings is pinned at $13.06 per share, indicating a 1,753% 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 gained 56.6% over the past year.
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BASF Expands Specialty Emollients Capacity With New Dusseldorf Plant

Ingevity Corporation NGVT announced that its Evotherm P35 warm-mix additive has received approval from BASt, Germany's Federal Highway Research Institute, indicating that it meets the institute’s stringent quality standards. The approval allows the additive to be used in warm-mix asphalt applications and validates it for use in one of Europe's most demanding regulatory environments.
The approval follows several years of technical evaluation, performance testing and comparison with conventional hot-mix asphalt. The testing was conducted under real-world traffic and environmental conditions. The results met BASt's durability and long-term performance standards required for use on federal projects in Germany.
The certification strengthens Ingevity's position in the European pavement technologies market, where regulatory requirements for infrastructure materials are particularly demanding. It also demonstrates the company's ability to tailor its technologies to meet regional specifications while maintaining high performance standards. Evotherm P35 aligns with Germany's performance, environmental and regulatory priorities, highlighting the company’s formulation expertise and capability to satisfy complex technical requirements.
Evotherm P35 incorporates bio-based materials designed to improve performance while supporting environmental objectives, reinforcing the company's Pavement Technologies business.
NGVT’s shares have gained 62.8% over the past year compared with the industry’s 3.2% growth.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
NGVT’s Zacks Rank & Key Picks
Ingevity currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
Some better-ranked stocks in the Basic Materials space are Kronos Worldwide, Inc. KRO, Carpenter Technology Corporation CRS and Albemarle Corporation ALB.
While KRO and CRS currently sport a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) each, ALB carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for KRO’s 2026 loss is pinned at 33 cents per share, indicating a 65.63% year-over-year increase. Its earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in one of the trailing four quarters and missed the remaining three. KROshares have gained 7.1% over the past year.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for CRS’ 2026 earnings is pegged at $10.56 per share, indicating a rise of 41.18% year over year. Its earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the trailing four quarters, with an average surprise of 8.95%.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for ALB’s current fiscal-year earnings is pinned at $13.06 per share, indicating a 1,753% 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 gained 55% over the past year.
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NGVT's Evotherm P35 Gets German Approval for Warm-Mix Asphalt Use

MP Materials Corp. MP sits near the center of a U.S. push to localize rare earth processing and magnet manufacturing. The investor question is no longer limited to mine output.
The bigger issue is whether MP can turn strategic relevance into repeatable earnings power while it builds a domestic supply chain.
Why MP Materials Fits the Reshoring Trend
MP’s model fits reshoring because it spans more than mining. The company owns Mountain Pass in California, the only rare earth mine and processing site of scale in North America, and operates the Independence facility in Fort Worth, TX.
Mountain Pass supports mining, concentration and separation. Independence produces rare earth metal, alloy and magnetic precursor products, while the planned 10X campus in Northlake, TX, would add more domestic magnet capacity.
Albemarle Corporation ALB, a lithium and specialty chemicals producer, gives investors another way to view processing depth in strategic materials. Cameco Corporation CCJ, a uranium and nuclear fuel company, reflects interest in secure energy supply chains.
How MP is Moving Beyond Commodity Exposure
MP is moving away from a simpler concentrate sales model. It stopped rare earth concentrate sales to Chinese customers in July 2025 and now focuses Materials segment revenues mainly on neodymium-praseodymium oxide and metal.
That shift matters because value creation increasingly depends on processing depth. In the first quarter of 2026, Materials revenues rose to $72.2 million, while neodymium-praseodymium oxide and metal revenues reached $71.1 million.
The downstream transition is also taking shape. Independence began generating revenues from magnetic precursor sales to General Motors in the first quarter of 2025 and started neodymium-iron-boron permanent magnet manufacturing in December 2025.
What Policy Support Means for MP Growth
Policy support has become central to MP’s growth setup. The company entered definitive agreements with the United States Department of War in July 2025 to support a domestic rare earth magnet supply chain.
Those agreements call for expansion of Independence, construction of the 10X facility and extension of heavy rare earth refining capability at Mountain Pass. The Department of War agreed to purchase magnets from 10X, or approve commercial syndication, and guaranteed a minimum EBITDA level for that plant.
MP also implemented a price protection agreement in the fourth quarter of 2025 with a $110-per-kilogram floor for eligible neodymium-praseodymium products through 2035. The Northlake project is supported by roughly $200 million in state and local incentives and a 10-year Pentagon offtake commitment.
This support can improve demand visibility and reduce downside. It also adds contractual obligations, approval requirements and dependence on government program execution.
Why MP Materials Faces a Tougher Margin Equation
The domestic buildout brings costs that investors cannot ignore. MP has reported operating losses for 11 consecutive quarters as it shifts toward higher-value separated products.
Cost of sales climbed 52% in the first quarter of 2026 because of higher volumes of neodymium-praseodymium oxide, metal and magnetic precursor products. These products carry higher per-unit costs than rare earth concentrates because they require chemical reagents, labor, maintenance and other consumables.
Operating expenses are also rising. Selling, general and administrative expenses increased 39.2% in the first quarter, mainly because of higher personnel costs. Start-up costs surged 503% as magnet production and chlor-alkali facilities ramped.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for MP Materials’ 2026 earnings is pegged at 22 cents per share, indicating an improvement from the loss of 24 cents in 2025. The estimate for 2027 is $1.04 per share, indicating a 372% year-over-year improvement.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
However, both the estimates have been revised downward, as shown in the chart below.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Working capital remains part of the equation. Higher trade receivables, inventory needs and deferred revenues show that cash conversion depends on timely shipment, qualification and customer acceptance across newer product lines.
Shares of MP have declined 18.9% in the past three months against the industry’s 9.6% fall.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
How MP Scores Reflect a Trend-Driven Trade
MP’s reshoring appeal is real, but the stock setup remains mixed. The company has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), which fits a business with policy support, improving operating traction and meaningful execution risk. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
The Style Scores show the same split. MP has a Momentum Score of A, suggesting stronger market interest around the theme and recent estimate activity. Its Value Score of F and Growth Score of D point to caution on valuation and fundamental consistency.
The VGM Score of D reinforces that this is not a clean across-the-board setup. MP looks more like a trend-driven stock that still needs proof of durable margins, smooth qualification and reliable downstream scale than a high-conviction buy at any price.
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This company targets millennial and Gen Z audiences, generating nearly $1 billion in revenue last quarter alone. A recent pullback makes now an ideal time to jump aboard. Of course, all our elite picks aren’t winners but this one could far surpass earlier Zacks’ Stocks Set to Double like Nano-X Imaging which shot up +129.6% in little more than 9 months.
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MP Materials and the U.S. Rare Earth Push are Starting to Align

MP Materials Corp. MP has become more than a rare earth mining story. Its shift into separated products, metal, alloy and magnet manufacturing gives investors a clearer view of a domestic supply chain buildout.
The harder question is price. MP’s operating progress is improving, but the stock still carries a premium valuation while the company ramps several capital-intensive projects at once.
Why MP Stock Has Started Looking More Credible
MP’s first-quarter 2026 results made the business model look more tangible. Revenues rose 49% year over year to $90.6 million, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $75 million. Adjusted earnings were three cents per share, above the consensus mark of a loss of one cent.
Adjusted EBITDA was $36.6 million against a loss of $2.7 million a year earlier. Operating cash use narrowed to $1.9 million from $63.2 million, helped by higher product sales, prior-quarter price protection collections and a $19 million 45X credit receipt.
MP produced a record 917 metric tons of NdPr up 63% year over year, while NdPr sales volumes rose 117% to 1,006 metric tons. That supports the case that separated rare earth output is moving into measurable volume growth.
Why MP Materials Still Looks Expensive
Valuation is the biggest obstacle to a clean buy case. MP trades at 13.78X forward 12-month sales, well above 1.59X for the Zacks sub-industry, 2.6X for the Zacks Basic Materials sector and 5.06X for the S&P 500.
The premium also sits above MP’s own five-year median of 11.32X, although the multiple has ranged from 5.59X to 38.89X over that span. Investors are already paying for a sizable portion of the future buildout.
The near-term upside case looks tempered. The $52 price target is only modestly above the $49.46 stock price as of July 15, 2026. Execution gains still need to keep arriving.
Shares of MP have declined 18.9% in the past three months against the industry’s 9.6% fall.
What Keeps MP From a Cleaner Bull Case
MP still has a profitability problem. The company has reported operating losses for 11 consecutive quarters as it shifts from concentrate sales toward higher-value separated rare earth products.
The cost base is rising with the strategy. Cost of sales climbed 52% in the first quarter of 2026 due to higher sales volumes of NdPr oxide, metal and magnetic precursor products. Selling, general and administrative expenses rose 39.2%, while start-up costs surged 503%.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for MP Materials’ 2026 earnings is pegged at 22 cents per share, indicating an improvement from the loss of 24 cents in 2025. The estimate for 2027 is $1.04 per share, indicating a 372% year-over-year improvement.
However, both the estimates have been revised downward, as shown in the chart below.
The downstream transition remains unfinished. Independence is ramping magnet manufacturing and qualification, Mountain Pass is moving toward heavy rare earth production, and the 10X facility requires construction and commissioning. Any delay in customer acceptance, yield improvement or qualification could push revenue and cash flow further out.
How Liquidity Strengthens the MP Materials Case
MP’s balance sheet is a key reason the story remains investable despite those risks. Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments totaled $1.74 billion as of March 31, 2026, compared with $1.83 billion at the end of 2025.
The company also had no borrowings under its $275 million revolving credit facility and $203 million of remaining borrowing capacity. That liquidity gives MP room to fund Mountain Pass investments, heavy rare earth refining, Independence scale-up and 10X construction.
Albemarle Corporation ALB gives investors exposure to another minerals supply chain tied to electrification. Energy Fuels Inc. UUUU, a producer of uranium, rare earth elements and other critical minerals, reflects domestic resource security interest.
What MP Ratings Say About Investor Timing
MP’s setup looks more balanced than one-sided. The stock currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), which fits a company showing operational improvement but still facing valuation, cost and execution hurdles. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
The Style Scores send a similar message. MP has a Momentum Score of A, pointing to stronger market interest and estimate-revision support. However, its Value Score of F, Growth Score of D and VGM Score of D argue against treating the stock as a high-conviction buy at the current entry point.
For now, MP offers a credible domestic rare earth growth platform with enough liquidity to keep building. The stock’s premium valuation and unfinished operating ramp make patience more appropriate than aggressive buying.
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This company targets millennial and Gen Z audiences, generating nearly $1 billion in revenue last quarter alone. A recent pullback makes now an ideal time to jump aboard. Of course, all our elite picks aren’t winners but this one could far surpass earlier Zacks’ Stocks Set to Double like Nano-X Imaging which shot up +129.6% in little more than 9 months.
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Is MP Stock a Buy Now or Too Pricey for Its Execution Risks?

MP Materials Corp. MP is no longer just a Mountain Pass mining story. The company is building a broader rare earth platform that links upstream production with downstream magnets.
That shift gives investors more to consider. Demand visibility is improving, but the same strategy also raises the burden on execution, working capital and margins.
How MP Materials Is Rebuilding the Supply Chain
MP controls rare earth production from mining and separation to metal, alloy and magnet manufacturing. Mountain Pass in California anchors the Materials segment, while the Fort Worth, TX, Independence facility supports downstream metal, alloy and magnetic precursor production.
The two assets matter more together as MP moves away from lower-value concentrate sales. The company ceased concentrate sales to Chinese customers in July 2025 and began neodymium-iron-boron permanent magnet manufacturing at Independence in December 2025.
Why MP Stock Has Better Demand Visibility
MP’s story is now shaped by commercial and policy support, not only rare earth pricing. Agreements with the Department of War support the expansion of Independence, the construction of the 10X facility in Northlake, TX, and heavy rare earth refining capability at Mountain Pass.
The framework also includes a $110-per-kilogram price floor for eligible neodymium-praseodymium products through 2035. That protection, combined with long-term magnet purchase commitments tied to 10X, gives MP more visible offtake and partial earnings support.
USA Rare Earth USAR is another name tied to U.S. rare earth processing and magnet ambitions. Its presence keeps investor attention on the broader domestic supply chain buildout rather than on MP alone.
Where MP Materials is Showing Real Operating Progress
The first quarter of 2026 showed progress in the transition. Revenues rose 49% year over year to $90.6 million, helped by stronger Materials and Magnetics contributions.
Materials revenues rose 30% to $72.2 million as MP produced a record 917 metric tons of neodymium-praseodymium and sold 1,006 metric tons. Magnetics revenues reached $21 million as higher magnetic precursor output supported the segment.
General Motors GM remained central to that downstream ramp. MP had sold $87.9 million of magnetic precursor products to General Motors as of March 31, 2026 and expects to complete the remaining $62.1 million commitment within the next year.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for MP Materials’ 2026 earnings is pegged at 22 cents per share, indicating an improvement from the loss of 24 cents in 2025. The estimate for 2027 is $1.04 per share, indicating a 372% year-over-year improvement.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
What Could Still Disrupt MP Materials Growth
MP’s transition is technically demanding. Mountain Pass is moving toward heavy rare earth production, Independence is ramping magnet manufacturing and qualification, and 10X still requires construction and commissioning.
Customer concentration also remains a risk. In the first quarter of 2026, two Materials customers accounted for 40% and 24% of total revenues, while General Motors represented 23% through Magnetics.
Costs add another constraint. Cost of sales climbed 52% in the quarter due to higher volumes of neodymium-praseodymium oxide, metal and magnetic precursor products, while start-up costs rose sharply as magnet and chlor-alkali activities ramped.
Shares of MP have declined 18.9% in the past three months compared with the industry’s 9.6% fall.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Albemarle Corporation ALB, though focused on lithium rather than rare earth magnets, offers a useful comparison for investors watching critical minerals. Commodity exposure, processing costs and capital discipline often shape how markets value producers tied to electrification supply chains.
How MP Signals a Balanced Stock Setup
The bottom line is that MP has a clearer domestic rare earth growth path, but not a simple one. Scale, policy support and downstream integration improve the setup, while qualification risk, customer concentration and elevated investment needs keep the outlook balanced.
MP currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). That rank fits a company with visible catalysts but a near-term profile that still depends on execution across several capital-intensive projects. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
The Style Scores show the same split. MP has a Value Score of F, Growth Score of D, Momentum Score of A and VGM Score of D. The strong Momentum Score points to better sentiment and timing characteristics, but the weak Value, Growth and VGM readings suggest investors should weigh the stock’s improving narrative against an uneven operating and valuation profile.
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From thousands of stocks, 5 Zacks experts each have chosen their favorite to skyrocket +100% or more in months to come. From those 5, Director of Research Sheraz Mian hand-picks one to have the most explosive upside of all.
This company targets millennial and Gen Z audiences, generating nearly $1 billion in revenue last quarter alone. A recent pullback makes now an ideal time to jump aboard. Of course, all our elite picks aren’t winners but this one could far surpass earlier Zacks’ Stocks Set to Double like Nano-X Imaging which shot up +129.6% in little more than 9 months.
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USA Rare Earth Inc. (USAR) : 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.

MP Materials Stock Outlook Hinges on Rare Earth Scale-Up Plans

BHP Group Limited BHP announced that its iron ore production dipped 3% year over year to 68.1 Mt in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2026 (ended June 30, 2026). However, the production increased 8% from the third quarter’s reported figure and 1% year over year, bringing the company’s total iron ore production for fiscal 2026 to a record 264.7 Mt. It came within its iron ore production guidance of 258-269 Mt for fiscal 2026.
The upside was driven by record production at Western Australia Iron Ore (“WAIO”) as a result of the strong operational performance. WAIO’s iron ore production was 256.9 Mt for fiscal 2026 (291.2 Mt on a 100% basis). This reflects solid supply-chain performance, along with a strong performance at South Flank. WAIO's production is expected between 253 Mt and 264 Mt (286 Mt and 298 Mt on a 100% basis) for fiscal 2027.
BHP’s FY26 Copper Output Within Guidance
The company’s opper output declined 5% year over year to 491.9 kt in the fourth quarter 2026 but increased 3% sequentially. BHP’s fiscal 2026 copper output fell 3% year over year to 1,952.8 kt. BHP’s guidance for copper production for fiscal 2026 was within 1,900-2,000 kt.
Copper production at Escondida fell 3% year over year to 1,261.2 kt due to planned lower concentrator feed grade. This was partially offset by continued solid operational performance and productivity. Copper output at Pampa Norte was down 21% year over year to 212.6 kt in fiscal 2026. Production at Spence fell due to ongoing challenges with processing complex ore. Production was also impacted by Cerro Colorado remaining in care and maintenance throughout the year.
Production from Copper South Australia was 320.7 kt, which marked a 2% rise from the prior fiscal quarter, aided by a strong operational performance. Antamina’s copper production rose 27% to record 151.5 kt in fiscal 2026 as a result of higher feed grades and improved operational performance.
The company expects copper production of 1,650-1,800 kt for fiscal 2027.
BHP Group’s Energy & Steelmaking Coal Output Rises Y/Y
Energy coal production rose 3% year over year to 4.2 Mt in the fiscal fourth quarter, bringing the year’s total to 16.4 Mt. The fiscal 2026 energy coal production marked a 9% year-over-year increase. It came slightly above its production guidance of 14-16 Mt for fiscal 2026.
Steelmaking coal production was 5.7 Mt, which increased 10% from the year-ago quarter. The fiscal 2026 production was up 3% year over year to 18.6 Mt. It came within its guidance of 18-20 Mt for fiscal 2026.
The production guidance for steelmaking coal is 18.5-20.5 Mt, while the energy coal guidance is 14-16 Mt for fiscal 2027.
BHP Sees Y/Y Growth in Average Prices
In the fiscal fourth quarter, average realized prices for iron ore were up 5% year over year to $83.58 per ton. Copper prices increased 47% year over year to $6.53 per pound. In fiscal 2024, average realized prices for iron ore grew 3% year over year to $84.56 per ton. Copper prices were up 35% to $5.74 per pound.
BHP Group’s Peer Performances
Rio Tinto Group RIO reported iron ore shipments from Pilbara (on a 100% basis) of 85.3 Mt for the second quarter of 2025, which increased 7% year over year. On a sequential basis, shipments rose 18%. Total iron ore production from Pilbara for the quarter was 83.5 Mt, in line with the year-ago quarter. This marked the highest first-half iron ore production at Pilbara since 2018.
In the second quarter, Rio Tinto’s mined copper production was 213 thousand tons, 7% lower than the year-ago quarter. Production at Kennecott was 49% lower year over year due to lower cathode production. Copper production at Escondida decreased 13% year over year due to expected lower ore grades from the mine sequence.
BHP’s Price Performance
The company’s shares have surged 72.4% in a year compared with the industry’s 38.7% growth.
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BHP Group’s Zacks Rank & Stocks to Consider
BHP currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
Some better-ranked stocks from the basic materials space are Carpenter Technology Corporation CRS and Albemarle Corporation ALB. CRS sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) at present and ALB carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Carpenter Technology has an average trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 8.9%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Carpenter Technology’s 2026 earnings is pegged at $10.57 per share, indicating 41.3% year-over-year growth. Its shares have surged 101% in a year.
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 66% so far this year.
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BHP Reports Record FY26 Iron Ore Output on Strong WAIO Performance

Rio Tinto Group RIO reported iron ore shipments from Pilbara (on a 100% basis) of 85.3 million tons (Mt) for the second quarter of 2025, which increased 7% year over year. On a sequential basis, shipments rose 18%. Total iron ore production from Pilbara for the quarter was 83.5 Mt, in line with the year-ago quarter. This marked the highest first-half iron ore production at Pilbara since 2018.
Bauxite production dipped 3% year over year to 15.2 Mt in the second quarter. However, the figure marked a 14% increase from first-quarter 2026. Rio Tinto’s aluminum output was steady year over year at 840 thousand tons. Alumina production increased 10% to 2 Mt.
In the second quarter, mined copper production was 213 thousand tons, 7% lower than the year-ago quarter. Production at Kennecott was 49% lower year over year due to lower cathode production. Copper production at Escondida decreased 13% year over year due to expected lower ore grades from the mine sequence.
Oyu Tolgoi’s production rose 12% year over year to 97 thousand tons, driven by the ramp-up of underground operations, and a higher combined grade from the open pit and underground.
Titanium dioxide slag production declined 15% from the year-ago quarter, led by weak market conditions.
Rio Tinto’s Production Guidance for 2026
RIO expects Pilbara iron ore shipments (100% basis) at the lower end of 323-338 Mt.
The company retains its Bauxite’s guidance at 58-61 Mt. Alumina production is anticipated between 7.6 and 8 Mt, while aluminum production is expected to be 3.25-3.45 Mt for 2026. The copper output guidance remains unchanged at 800-870 kt.
RIO Share Price Performance
In a year, shares of the company have gained 64.2% compared with the industry’s 38.7% growth.
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Rio Tinto’s Peer Performances
BHP Group Limited BHP announced that its iron ore production dipped 3% year over year to 68.1 Mt in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2026 (ended June 30, 2026). However, the production increased 8% from the third quarter’s reported figure and 1% year over year, bringing the company’s total iron ore production for fiscal 2026 to a record 264.7 Mt. It came within its fiscal 2026 iron ore production guidance at 258-269 Mt.
BHP Group’s copper output declined 5% year over year to 491.9 kt in the fourth quarter but increased 3% sequentially. The company’s fiscal 2026 copper output fell 3% year over year to 1,952.8 kt. BHP Group’s guidance for copper production for fiscal 2026 was 1,900-2,000 kt.
RIO’s Zacks Rank & Stocks to Consider
Rio Tinto currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
Some better-ranked stocks from the basic materials space are Carpenter Technology Corporation CRS and Albemarle Corporation ALB. CRS sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) at present and ALB carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Carpenter Technology has an average trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 8.9%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Carpenter Technology’s 2026 earnings is pegged at $10.57 per share, indicating 41.3% year-over-year growth. Its shares have surged 101% in a year.
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 surged 66% so far this year.
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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.
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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.

Rio Tinto Reports 18% Sequential Increase in Q2 Iron Ore Shipments

DuPont de Nemours, Inc. DD has launched an end-to-end Direct Lithium Extraction portfolio aimed at improving lithium recovery and offering solutions for diverse brine resources that will help scale production to meet rising demand. The portfolio comprises more than 20 products spanning the entire lithium brine treatment process, from extraction and purification to final concentration.
The new offering includes lithium-selective sorbents, nanofiltration and reverse osmosis membranes, and ion exchange resins into an integrated flowsheet design to tailor solutions to specific customer needs through advanced separation technologies designed to extract lithium effectively and efficiently from brine. Customers can either adopt the complete end-to-end solution or choose individual technologies according to the requirements.
A key feature of the portfolio is its range and flexibility. It includes DuPont AmberSorb adsorbents for both high and low-temperature brine streams, along with FilmTec LiNE nanofiltration and reverse osmosis elements incorporating low salt rejection reverse osmosis technology to enhance lithium concentration. Additional technologies, including IntegraTec, Inge ultrafiltration modules and AmberLite ion exchange resins, are designed to improve lithium yield, purity and concentration.
DuPont is also accelerating the transition from laboratory testing to commercial lithium production through its global research and development capabilities. As the lithium industry increasingly adopts direct extraction technologies, DuPont's integrated DLE portfolio strengthens its position as a technical collaborator while unlocking new lithium resources.
DD’s shares have lost 39.6% over the past year compared with the industry’s 2.8% decline.
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DD’s Zacks Rank & Key Picks
DD currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
Some better-ranked stocks in the Basic Materials space are Kronos Worldwide, Inc. KRO, Carpenter Technology Corporation CRS and Albemarle Corporation ALB.
While KRO and CRS sport a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) at present, ALB carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for KRO’s 2026 loss is pinned at 33 cents per share, indicating a 65.63% year-over-year increase. Its earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in one of the trailing four quarters and missed the rest. KRO’sshares have gained 3.8% over the past year.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for CRS’ 2026 earnings is pegged at $10.56 per share, indicating a rise of 41.18% year over year. Its earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the trailing four quarters, with an average surprise of 8.95%.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for ALB’s current fiscal-year earnings is pinned at $13.06 per share, indicating a 1,753% year-over-year increase. Its earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in three of the trailing four quarters while missing it in one, with an average surprise of 74.5%. ALB’sshares have gained 64.7% over the past year.
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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%.
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DuPont Rolls Out End-to-End Direct Lithium Extraction Portfolio

PPG Industries, Inc. PPG has launched the PPG Aeroview virtual aircraft painter, a web-based digital tool that enables business and general aviation customers to customize aircraft paint colors by helping visualize with precision and ease. The tool allows users to choose from a range of aircraft models and apply colors from PPG's library in real time.
Currently available for U.S. aerospace coatings products, the platform is designed to improve visibility and accessibility of PPG's aerospace coatings while reducing dependence on traditional physical color brochures. It offers 3D renderings that help designers, fleet managers, maintenance planners and aviation enthusiasts to select aircraft coatings with confidence.
According to PPG, the Aeroview virtual aircraft painter can help reduce design uncertainty, minimize costly repaint errors and speed up project approvals. Users can also save, share and archive designs for future reference or maintenance planning. The platform integrates with PPG LiveryLab Studio, which supports the livery design service.
PPG’s shares have lost 0.6% over the past year against the industry’s 3.9% growth.
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PPG’s Zacks Rank & Other Key Picks
PPG currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).
Other top-ranked stocks in the Basic Materials space are Kronos Worldwide, Inc. KRO, Carpenter Technology Corporation CRS and Albemarle Corporation ALB.
While KRO and CRS sport a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) at present, ALB carries a Zacks Rank #2. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for KRO’s 2026 loss is pinned at 33 cents per share, indicating a 65.63% year-over-year increase. Its earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in one of the trailing four quarters and missed the rest. KROshares have gained 3.8% over the past year.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for CRS’ 2026 earnings is pegged at $10.56 per share, indicating a rise of 41.18% year over year. Its earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the trailing four quarters, with an average surprise of 8.95%.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for ALB’s current fiscal-year earnings is pinned at $13.06 per share, indicating a 1,753% year-over-year increase. Its earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in three of the trailing four quarters while missing it in one, with an average surprise of 74.5%. ALB’s shares have gained 64.7% over the past year.
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.

Albemarle Corporation

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