Rio Tinto выглядит как крупный и финансово устойчивый сырьевой бизнес, но текущий набор метрик не даёт оснований для заметного повышения оценки. Сильная сторона — высокая рентабельность по чистой и операционной марже: net profit margin 12.76% и operating margin 17.32% выше медианы отрасли, что говорит о хорошем контроле затрат и способности зарабатывать в циклической среде. При этом gross margin 19.14% ниже отраслевой медианы, поэтому качество валовой экономики не выглядит безусловно сильным, а часть эффективности, вероятно, достигается уже на уровне операционного управления. Баланс в целом крепкий: cash on hand 9.45 млрд и equity 67.02 млрд поддерживают финансовую гибкость, а debt/equity 0.37 остаётся умеренным и близким к отрасли. Однако рост long-term debt до 22.26 млрд при одновременном ухудшении current ratio до 1.45 и quick ratio до 0.98 указывает на некоторое ослабление краткосрочной ликвидности. Самый слабый блок — показатели доходности капитала и активов: ROE, ROA, ROI и return on tangible equity указаны на нуле, что резко хуже отрасли и не подтверждает высокую эффективность использования капитала. Абсолютные показатели прибыли и выручки также не демонстрируют убедимого тренда роста, поскольку в предоставленных данных они равны нулю, а это не позволяет опереться на улучшение операционного масштаба. Дивидендная доходность 2.42% остаётся положительной для инвестора, но она ниже прошлых уровней 3–4%, то есть дивидендный аргумент стал слабее. Мультипликаторы P/E, P/S, P/B и P/FCF не раскрыты в TTM, поэтому по ним нельзя уверенно говорить о явной недооценённости; в такой ситуации лучше сохранять осторожность. В сумме картина смешанная: маржинальность и капитализация баланса поддерживают оценку, но слабая доходность капитала, ухудшение ликвидности и рост долга ограничивают потенциал переоценки. Для инвестора это скорее история о качественном, но циклическом и не дешёвом по рискам сырьевом активе, где справедливая оценка должна оставаться близкой к текущей, без агрессивного апсайда.

Rio Tinto Plc

Средний индекс, значительно упал. Быки в растерянности.

Medium index, significantly down. The bulls are confused.

Слабый индекс, значительно вырос. Рынок на стороне быков.

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

Средний индекс, незначительно упал. Приток средств в лонги снизился, но остается положительным.

Medium index, slightly down. The inflow of funds into longs has decreased, but remains positive.

Сильные маржи и крепкий баланс Rio Tinto уравновешиваются слабой доходностью капитала, ухудшением ликвидности и ростом долга, поэтому оценка требует умеренной осторожности.

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.
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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.

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

(RTTNews) - Rio Tinto announced that it has successfully started commissioning its $1.5 billion AP60 smelter expansion at Complexe Arvida in Quebec. This marks a significant milestone in deploying its state-of-the-art, low-carbon aluminium smelting technology. The start-up, which began in March, is expected to be completed by the end of 2026, with all 96 new pots in operation. Once fully commissioned, the expansion will boost the plant's production capacity by approximately 160,000 metric tonnes of primary aluminium annually, bringing total AP60 technology output to 220,000 metric tonnes.
The AP60 expansion, combined with the planned aluminium recycling centre at Arvida, will more than offset the production loss from the closure of the older Arvida potrooms, scheduled for completion in June.
The project will directly support around 100 permanent high-quality jobs locally and help consolidate positions across the supply chain. During peak construction, more than 1,500 jobs were created, and the project generated over $1 billion in economic benefits for Quebec through spending with contractors and suppliers.
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 Begins Commissioning Of $1.5 Bln AP60 Smelter Expansion In Quebec

Albemarle Corporation ALB and Rio Tinto Group RIO are prominent players in the lithium space. Both companies are well-positioned to gain from higher lithium prices, fueled by robust demand from electric vehicles (EVs) and energy storage systems, as well as supply disruptions linked in part to production cuts in China. Lithium prices have rebounded from last year’s lows amid tightening supply conditions and healthy demand in China and across global markets.
Let’s dive deep and closely compare the fundamentals of these two lithium producers to determine which one is a better investment option now amid improving lithium market conditions.
The Case for 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 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. The CGP3 expansion at the Greenbushes spodumene mine in Australia has been expedited, expected to reach full production later this year, and add to capacity.
Albemarle is taking aggressive cost-saving and productivity actions as well. 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. Its capital expenditures of $590 million for 2025 decreased 65% year over year.
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 0.9% at the current stock price.
The Case for RIO
Rio Tinto holds one of the world’s largest lithium portfolios and a robust pipeline of development projects, positioning it well to benefit from the growing demand for lithium. RIO produces lithium using several established methods, including direct lithium extraction (“DLE”) from brines, traditional pond-based brine extraction and hard-rock mining. The company also manufactures a broad suite of lithium products, including lithium chloride, lithium carbonate, lithium hydroxide, and spodumene concentrate.
RIO is expanding its lithium extraction capabilities through a new partnership with ILiAD Technologies, a leader in DLE technology. The collaboration supports the company’s efforts to enhance operational efficiency while improving sustainability and cost effectiveness. ILiAD’s technology allows the extraction of high-purity lithium chloride from a wide range of lithium-rich brine resources and complements RIO’s existing DLE operations at Fénix and Rincon.
RIO is making progress with its high-value lithium projects. The fully owned Rincon Lithium Project in Argentina remains on track with commissioning of the starter plant already being completed and ramp-up currently in progress, with full capacity expected by the end of 2026. RIO is investing $2.5 billion to expand Rincon, which has a capacity of 60,000 tons of battery-grade lithium carbonate annually with a 40-year mine life. First production from the project is expected in 2028, followed by a three-year ramp-up to full capacity. Rio Tinto has secured a $1.175 billion financing package from international lenders to support the development of the Rincon project.
The Fénix expansion project and Sal de Vida in Argentina, with a capital cost of $0.7 billion each, are mechanically complete with first production expected in second-half 2026. The Nemaska Lithium project, in which Rio Tinto now holds a 53.9% stake with the Government of Québec retaining the balance, is a fully integrated spodumene-to-lithium hydroxide development project comprising the lithium hydroxide plant in Bécancour and the Whabouchi spodumene mine with a production capacity of 32,000 tons. RIO initially acquired a 50% interest in Nemaska Lithium through the buyout of Arcadium in March 2025.
At Bécancour, engineering has been completed with construction at more than 70%. RIO has decided to slow the pace of construction of the project during 2026, but remains fully committed to advancing the project. It expects construction to ramp up following optimization works and does not envision major changes to the project’s overall timeline. Commissioning of the Bécancour plant was planned to start this year, with first production in 2028.
RIO has a robust balance sheet and generates strong cash flows, which allow it to make investments in projects while driving shareholder returns. The company ended 2025 with cash and cash equivalents and other short-term highly liquid investments of $9.2 billion. RIO generated an operating cash flow of $16.8 billion in 2025, up 8% year over year. Rio Tinto has a policy of returning 40-60% of its underlying earnings, with a 10-year track record of dividend payout at the top end of the range. It offers a dividend yield of 4.8% at the current stock price.
ALB & RIO: Price Performance, Valuation & Other Comparisons
The ALB stock has surged 200.9% over the past year, while RIO has rallied 78.4%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
ALB is currently trading at a forward price-to-sales ratio of 3.32. RIO is currently trading at a forward price-to-sales ratio of 2.18, below ALB.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
ALB’s long-term debt-to-capitalization is around 15.2%, lower than RIO’s 24.6%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
How the Zacks Consensus Estimate Compares for ALB & RIO
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for ALB’s 2026 sales implies year-over-year growth of 16.7%. The same for EPS suggests a 1,675.9% year-over-year rise. The EPS estimates for 2026 have been trending higher over the past 60 days.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The consensus estimate for RIO’s 2026 sales and EPS implies a year-over-year rise of 13% and 28%, respectively. The EPS estimates for 2026 have been trending northward over the past 60 days.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
ALB or RIO: Which Stock Holds the Edge?
ALB and RIO stand to benefit from rising lithium prices driven by EV and energy storage demand. Albemarle is benefiting from higher lithium volumes on project ramp-ups and actions to boost global lithium conversion capacity and productivity. RIO is advancing major lithium projects to boost output and leveraging a strong balance sheet. ALB's higher earnings growth projections suggest that it may offer better investment prospects in the current market environment. ALB’s lower leverage also suggests lower financial risks. Investors seeking exposure to the lithium space might consider Albemarle as the more favorable option at this time.
ALB currently carries a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), while RIO has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
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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.
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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.

Albemarle vs. Rio Tinto: Which Lithium Stock Holds More Promise?

Albemarle Corporation’s ALB shares have popped 26.4% in the past three months, courtesy of the company’s solid earnings performance, backed by the strength in its Energy Storage segment, cost-reduction initiatives and an uptick in lithium prices. ALB has outperformed the Zacks Chemical - Diversified industry’s rise of 8.7% and the S&P 500’s increase of 9.4%.
ALB’s 3-month Price Performance
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
ALB stock broke above its 50-day simple moving average (SMA) on March 24, 2026. It is also 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 Above 50-Day SMA
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Let’s take a look at ALB’s fundamentals to analyze the stock better.
ALB Gains on Project Expansion, Productivity & Higher Prices
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 constructive 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. The CGP3 expansion at the Greenbushes spodumene mine in Australia has also been expedited, expected to reach full production later this year, and add to capacity.
Albemarle is also 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. Its capital expenditures of $590 million for 2025 decreased 65% year over year.
ALB, in February 2026, announced that it will idle Train 1, the remaining operating train at its Kemerton lithium hydroxide processing plant in Western Australia, and place it into care and maintenance effective immediately. This move follows earlier actions in 2024 to idle Train 2 for care and maintenance and stop expansion plans for Trains 3 and 4. The Kemerton facility processes spodumene from the Greenbushes mine, one of the world’s best deposits. The move is a result of the ongoing efforts over the past two and a half years to reduce operating costs. The company expects higher flexibility and optionality to benefit adjusted EBITDA starting in the second quarter of 2026.
Higher lithium prices, driven by strong demand from EVs and energy storage systems, along with supply disruptions due to recent supply reductions in China, should also 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.
ALB’s Capital Allocation Backed by Strong Financial Health
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 0.8% at the current stock price. Its peers, Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile S.A. SQM and Rio Tinto Group RIO, have a dividend yield of 2.9% and 4.8%, respectively.
ALB’s Estimates Reflect Positive Sentiment
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 $8.72, suggesting a year-over-year rise of 1,203.8%. Earnings are expected to increase roughly 1,909.1% in the second quarter.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
ALB: An Expensive Stock
ALB is currently trading at a forward price-to-sales ratio of 4.11, well above the industry. It is trading at a premium to Sociedad Quimica and Rio Tinto. Albemarle currently has a Value Score of D. Rio Tinto and Sociedad Quimica have a Value Score of A and C, respectively.
ALB’s P/S F12M Vs. Industry, SQM and RIO
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Conclusion: Buy ALB Shares
Albemarle is benefiting from higher lithium volumes driven by project ramp-ups, as well as initiatives to expand global lithium conversion capacity and enhance productivity. The company is well-positioned to capitalize on the substantial growth opportunity in the battery-grade lithium market, supported by the global transition toward EVs. Higher lithium prices amid robust demand and tight supply conditions also act as a tailwind.
Rising earnings estimates and a strong growth outlook are some other positives. While ALB trades at a premium, the valuation is well-supported by its strong fundamentals and earnings potential. 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.
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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.

Albemarle Rallies 26% in 3 Months: What Should Investors Do Now?

(RTTNews) - Rio Tinto Plc (RTNTF, RIO, RIO.L, RTPPF, RIO1.DE, RIO.AX), an Anglo-American mining and metals company, said that Yindjibarndi Energy Corp. (YEC) has reached Financial Close for the Jinbi Solar Project in the Pilbara region of Australia and has signed a 30-year Power Purchase Agreement with Rio Tinto. This paves the way for construction to begin once all key funding, agreements, and approvals are secured.
The project is YEC's first to reach this stage since its establishment as a partnership between Yindjibarndi Aboriginal Corp. and ACEN Corp. three years ago. Under the agreement, YEC will supply all electricity generated from Stage 1 to support Rio Tinto's Pilbara iron ore operations and decarbonisation goals.
According to Rio Tinto, Stage 1 includes a 75 MWac solar facility, with potential expansion to 150 MWac and the future addition of Battery Energy Storage Systems or BESS. Early works are already underway, led by Yurra, with full commercial operations expected to commence in mid-2028, the company said in an official statement.
On the OTC Markets, RTNTF.PK ended Friday's trading at $120.00.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Yindjibarndi Energy Reaches Financial Close For Jinbi Solar, Signs 30-Yr Rio Tinto Deal

Albemarle Corporation ALB is slated to report first-quarter 2026 results after the closing bell on May 6. ALB is likely to have benefited from its cost and productivity actions, higher volumes in its lithium business and increased prices in the first quarter.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for first-quarter earnings was revised upward in the past 60 days. The consensus estimate for earnings is pegged at $1.24 per share, suggesting a 788.9% year-over-year rise. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for first-quarter revenues currently stands at $1.33 billion, indicating a roughly 23.1% increase from the year-ago quarter.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
ALB beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings in three of the last four quarters. It has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 57.8%, on average.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Q1 Earnings Whispers for ALB
Our proven model predicts an earnings beat for ALB this time around. The combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) increases the chances of an earnings beat. That is just the case here. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they’re reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.
ALB has an Earnings ESP of +20.12% and a Zacks Rank #3. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Factors Shaping ALB’s Q1 Results
ALB is expected to have gained from higher lithium volumes and improved prices in the March quarter. Healthy customer demand, capacity expansion and plant productivity improvements are expected to have supported volumes. ALB saw higher sales volumes in its Energy Storage unit in the fourth quarter of 2025 on strong production from its integrated conversion facilities.
Higher lithium prices, driven by strong demand from electric vehicles (EVs) and energy storage systems, along with supply disruptions due to supply reductions in China, are also expected to have aided 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. Higher volumes and prices are expected to have driven sales in the company’s Energy Storage segment in the quarter to be reported.
Cost-saving, pricing and productivity initiatives are also expected to have aided ALB’s performance in the first quarter, supporting margins. Efforts to drive operating efficiency and improve the utilization of raw materials are likely to support the company’s results.
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.
The company's Specialties unit is expected to have faced challenges from softness in building and construction. High interest rates continue to curb spending in residential construction. Weaker demand in oil and gas applications is also likely to have weighed on the segment’s sales and margins.
Albemarle Stock’s Price Performance and Valuation
ALB’s shares have surged 231.7% in the past year, outperforming the Zacks Chemical - Diversified industry’s 21.7% increase and the S&P 500’s rise of 33.8%. Its peers, Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile S.A. SQM and Rio Tinto Group RIO have surged 165.2% and 65%, respectively, over the same period.
ALB’s One-year Price Performance
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
From a valuation standpoint, ALB is currently trading at a forward price-to-sales ratio of 3.78, above the industry. It is trading at a premium to Sociedad Quimica and Rio Tinto. Albemarle and Sociedad Quimica currently have a Value Score of D, while Rio Tinto has a Value Score of A.
ALB’s P/S F12M Vs. Industry, SQM and RIO
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Investment Thesis for ALB Stock
Albemarle is well-positioned to capitalize on the substantial growth opportunity in the battery-grade lithium market, supported by the global transition toward EVs. The market for lithium batteries and energy storage remains strong, especially for EVs, offering significant opportunities for the company to develop innovative products and expand capacity. The company is strategically executing its projects aimed at boosting its global lithium conversion capacity as it benefits from a rebound in lithium prices. It remains focused on investing in high-return projects to drive productivity.
ALB also remains committed to driving shareholder value by leveraging healthy cash flows and strong liquidity. However, it faces headwinds in the Specialties unit, which remains exposed to demand weakness in building and construction, and oil and gas end markets.
Conclusion: Hold Onto ALB Stock for Now
Albemarle is gaining from higher lithium volumes driven by project ramp-ups, as well as initiatives to expand global lithium conversion capacity and enhance productivity. The company is well-placed to gain from long-term growth in the battery-grade lithium market. Higher lithium prices amid robust demand and tight supply conditions also provide a tailwind.
Rising earnings estimates and a strong growth outlook are other positives. However, headwinds in Specialties could dampen its prospects. Its stretched valuation also might not offer an attractive entry point at this time. Investors who already own ALB shares may consider maintaining their positions while awaiting greater visibility following the company’s upcoming earnings release.
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Here's How to Play Albemarle Stock Before Q1 Earnings Release

Albemarle Corporation ALB is strategically executing its projects aimed at boosting its global lithium conversion capacity as it benefits from a rebound in lithium prices amid strengthening demand and tighter supply conditions. The market for lithium batteries and energy storage remains strong, especially for electric vehicles, offering significant opportunities for the company to develop innovative products and expand capacity.
ALB 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 in its Energy Storage unit in the fourth quarter of 2025 on strong production from 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. The ramp-up at the Meishan lithium conversion facility in China is also progressing ahead of schedule. The ramp-up of the CGP3 expansion at the Greenbushes spodumene mine in Australia is also underway, which is expected to reach full production later this year and add to capacity. The company’s volumes are expected to continue to be supported by these capacity expansion actions going forward.
Among its peers, Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile S.A. SQM has a robust balance sheet and generates strong cash flows, which allow it to make investments in driving production capacity. SQM’s solid cash position supports its capital investment in growth projects. Sociedad Quimica expects total capital expenditure of $2.7 billion for the 2025-2027 period, which includes the expansion of lithium carbonate and lithium hydroxide capacity in Chile, the expansion of the Mt. Holland project and investments to develop the Andover project, both in Australia.
Rio Tinto Group RIO is making progress with its high-value lithium projects. The fully owned Rincon Lithium Project in Argentina remains on track with the commissioning of the starter plant already being completed and start-up currently in progress, with full capacity expected by the end of 2026. The Fénix expansion project and Sal de Vida in Argentina, with a capital cost of $0.7 billion each, are mechanically complete with first production expected in second-half 2026. The Nemaska Lithium project, in which Rio Tinto now holds a 53.9% stake with the Government of Québec retaining the balance, is a fully integrated spodumene-to-lithium hydroxide development project comprising the lithium hydroxide plant in Bécancour and the Whabouchi spodumene mine with a production capacity of 32,000 tons. RIO initially acquired a 50% interest in Nemaska Lithium through the buyout of Arcadium in March 2025.
ALB’s Price Performance, Valuation & Estimates
Albemarle has gained 221.7% in the past year compared with the Zacks Chemical - Diversified industry’s rise of 15.6%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
ALB is currently trading at a forward price-to-sales ratio of 3.79, above the industry. It carries a Value Score of D.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for ALB’s 2026 earnings implies a year-over-year rise of 1,203.8%. The EPS estimates for 2026 have been trending higher over the past 60 days.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
ALB stock currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
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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.

Can Capacity Expansion Position ALB for the Next Growth Phase?

(RTTNews) - Rio Tinto (RIO, RIO.L) reported 9% year-over-year copper equivalent production growth across its portfolio for the first quarter. Global iron ore sales were up 2% from last year. The company reported second highest first quarter Pilbara production since 2018, up 13% from prior year. Rio Tinto said its 2026 production/sales guidance is unchanged. Also, 2026 unit cost guidance is unchanged.
With regard to Middle East conflict, the company noted that, to date, on the supply-side, the direct impacts on operations have been limited, while its commodity prices have responded favourably.
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 Q1 Copper Production Up 9%; 2026 Production Guidance Unchanged

Key Points
QSM Asset Management Ltd bought 611,003 shares of Mobileye, with an estimated trade value of $5.54 million based on quarterly average pricing.
The quarter-end value of the new Mobileye stake was $4.13 million.
This trade represented a 2.71% shift in QSM Asset Management Ltd’s 13F reportable assets under management.
At quarter-end, QSM held 611,003 shares of Mobileye, valued at $4.13 million.
The Mobileye position accounted for 2.02% of the fund’s 13F AUM, placing it outside the fund's top five holdings.
QSM Asset Management Ltd initiated a new position in Mobileye Global Inc. (NASDAQ:MBLY) during Q1 2026, according to an SEC filing dated April 15, 2026.
What happened
According to an SEC filing dated April 15, 2026, QSM Asset Management Ltd reported a new position in Mobileye Global Inc. The fund acquired 611,003 shares during the first quarter, with the estimated transaction value at $5.54 million based on the mean unadjusted close price for the quarter. The value of the position at quarter-end was $4.13 million, reflecting price movements during the period.
What else to know
This new position made up 2.02% of QSM Asset Management Ltd’s total 13F reportable assets as of March 31, 2026.
Top holdings after the filing:
NYSE: OXY: $14.03 million (6.9% of AUM)
NYSE: PFE: $13.74 million (6.7% of AUM)
NYSE: ZBH: $13.65 million (6.7% of AUM)
NASDAQ: VTRS: $13.27 million (6.5% of AUM)
NYSE: RIO: $12.42 million (6.1% of AUM)
As of April 14, 2026, Mobileye shares were priced at $7.62, down 41.1% over the past year, underperforming the S&P 500 by 71.07 percentage points.
The company had a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 30.08 and an enterprise value to EBITDA ratio of 35.72 as of the latest filings.
Company Overview
Price (as of market close 2026-04-14)
$7.62
Market capitalization
$6.41 billion
Revenue (TTM)
$1.89 billion
Net income (TTM)
$-392.00 million
Company Snapshot
Develops and sells advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), autonomous driving solutions, and related automotive technologies, including Mobileye SuperVision and Mobileye Drive.
Engages in selling advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and autonomous driving technologies and solutions to automotive manufacturers and related industry customers worldwide.
Serves global automotive OEMs, Tier 1 suppliers, and mobility service operators seeking to implement safety and automation features in vehicles.
Mobileye Global Inc. is a leading provider of ADAS and autonomous driving technologies, operating at scale with a global customer base and a strong presence in the automotive supply chain. The company leverages proprietary vision and mapping technologies to deliver safety and automation features that are critical to the evolution of next-generation vehicles. Its strategic partnerships and continuous innovation position Mobileye as a key enabler of the transition toward safer, more autonomous mobility solutions worldwide.
What this transaction means for investors
QSM is buying Mobileye as it endures its most brutal sell-off in the stock’s short history. Although Intel (NASDAQ: INTC) owns the majority of Mobileye shares, it seems to have so far missed the upside that has benefited its parent.
However, given the success with autonomous driving that companies such as Tesla and Alphabet’s Waymo have experienced recently, it is conceivable that the AI stock could also experience some upside.
Moreover, while funds may sell stocks for a variety of reasons, a purchase almost always signals bullish sentiment.
Indeed, QSM may be buying at an opportune time. The stock is down by more than 80% from its all-time high. Also, while it reported a loss for the year, analysts estimate its forward P/E ratio is 30.
That indicates it will not only turn profitable, but also be inexpensive since newly profitable companies tend to grow their net incomes rapidly. Such conditions bode well for Mobileye stock and its future.
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The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

QSM Asset Management Loads Up 611,000 Mobileye Shares

Albemarle Corporation’s ALB shares have gained roughly 21.9% year to date. The upside has been driven by the company’s solid earnings performance, supported by strong growth in the Energy Storage segment, cost-reduction initiatives and a rebound in lithium prices amid strengthening demand and tighter supply conditions. ALB has underperformed the Zacks Chemical - Diversified industry’s rise of around 32.9%.
ALB’s YTD Price Performance
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
ALB stock broke above its 50-day simple moving average (SMA) on March 24, 2026. It is also currently trading above its 200-day SMA, suggesting a long-term uptrend.
Albemarle Trades Above 50-Day SMA
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Let’s take a look at ALB’s fundamentals to analyze the stock better.
Lithium Project Expansion & Productivity Aid Albemarle
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 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. Lithium demand increased more than 30% year over year, and the company expects demand to grow roughly 15-40% this 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 in its Energy Storage unit in the fourth quarter of 2025 on strong production from 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. 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 in the wake of tumbling lithium prices. 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. 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. Its capital expenditures of $590 million for 2025 decreased 65% year over year.
ALB, in February 2026, announced that it will idle Train 1, the remaining operating train at its Kemerton lithium hydroxide processing plant in Western Australia, and place it into care and maintenance effective immediately. This move follows earlier actions in 2024 to idle Train 2 for care and maintenance and stop expansion plans for Trains 3 and 4. The Kemerton facility processes spodumene from the Greenbushes mine, one of the world’s best deposits. The move is a result of the ongoing efforts over the past two and a half years to reduce operating costs. The company expects higher flexibility and optionality to benefit adjusted EBITDA starting in the second quarter of 2026.
Higher lithium prices, driven by strong demand from EVs and energy storage systems, along with supply disruptions due to recent supply reductions in China, should also aid ALB’s performance. Lithium prices have rebounded lately from trough levels, supported by tightening supply and strong demand in China and globally.
Robust Financial Health Supports ALB’s Capital Allocation
Albemarle remains committed to driving shareholder value by leveraging healthy cash flows and strong liquidity. At the end of 2025, ALB had liquidity of around $3.2 billion, including cash and cash equivalents of around $1.6 billion. Its operating cash flow was around $1.3 billion in 2025, up roughly 86% from the prior-year period. ALB expects generated free cash flow of $692 million for full-year 2025, driven by strong cash conversion, lower capital spending and productivity measures.
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 0.9% at the current stock price. Its peers, Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile S.A. SQM and Rio Tinto Group RIO have a dividend yield of 0.2% and 5.2%, respectively.
Volume & Demand Headwinds Ail ALB
While the Energy Storage unit is expected to benefit from higher lithium prices in 2026, it faces volume pressure, which may affect the segment’s sales. The company expects energy storage sales volumes to be roughly flat in 2026, following inventory drawdowns in 2025. The normalization of inventories is likely to impact volumes in 2026.
The Specialties unit also faces challenges from softness in building and construction. High interest rates continue to curb spending in residential construction. Weaker demand in oil and gas applications is also expected to weigh on the segment’s sales and margins.
ALB’s Estimates Reflect Positive Sentiment
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2026 for ALB has been revised upward over the past 60 days. The consensus estimate for 2027 has been going up over the same time frame.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2026 earnings is currently pegged at $8.15, suggesting a year-over-year rise of 1,131.7%. Earnings are expected to increase roughly 17.7% in 2027.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
ALB: An Expensive Stock
ALB is currently trading at a forward price-to-sales ratio of 3.54, well above the industry. It is trading at a premium to Sociedad Quimica and Rio Tinto. Albemarle and Sociedad Quimica currently have a Value Score of D, while Rio Tinto has a Value Score of A.
ALB’s P/S F12M Vs. Industry, SQM and RIO
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Conclusion: Hold Onto ALB Stock for Now
Albemarle is benefiting from its initiatives to expand global lithium conversion capacity and enhance productivity. The company is well-positioned to capitalize on the substantial growth opportunity in the battery-grade lithium market, supported by the global transition toward EVs. Higher lithium prices amid robust demand and tight supply conditions also provide a tailwind.
Rising earnings estimates and a strong growth outlook are other positives. However, volume pressures in Energy Storage and demand headwinds in Specialties could dampen its prospects. Its stretched valuation also might not offer an attractive entry point at this time. Considering these factors, holding onto this Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) stock will be prudent for investors who already own it.
You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
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The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.