Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile S.A. produces and distributes specialty plant nutrients, iodine derivatives, lithium derivatives, potassium chloride and sulfate, industrial chemicals, and other products and services. The company offers specialty plant nutrients, including potassium nitrate, sodium nitrate, sodium potassium nitrate, specialty blends, and other specialty fertilizers. It also provides iodine and its derivatives for use in medical, pharmaceutical, agricultural, and industrial applications comprising x-ray contrast media, polarizing films for LCD and LED, antiseptics, biocides and disinfectants, pharmaceutical synthesis, electronics, pigments, and dye components. In addition, the company offers lithium carbonates for various applications that include electrochemical materials for batteries, frits for the ceramic and enamel industries, heat-resistant glass, air conditioning chemicals, continuous casting powder for steel extrusion, primary aluminum smelting process, pharmaceuticals, and lithium derivatives, as well as ingredient in manufacturing of gunpowder. Further, it supplies lithium hydroxide for the lubricating greases industry, as well as cathodes for batteries. Additionally, it offers potassium chloride and potassium sulfate for various crops, including corn, rice, sugar, soybean, and wheat; industrial chemicals, including sodium nitrate, potassium nitrate, potassium chloride, and solar salts; and other fertilizers and blends. The company operates in Chile, Latin America and the Caribbean, Europe, North America, Asia, and internationally. The company was founded in 1960 and is headquartered in Santiago, Chile.

SQM выглядит финансово сильной компанией, но рынок уже закладывает в цену заметно высокий уровень качества и прибыльности. По мультипликаторам картина неоднородная: P/E ниже медианы отрасли, что поддерживает идею относительной недооценки по прибыли, однако P/S, P/B и P/FCF выше отраслевых ориентиров, а значит по выручке, балансовой стоимости и свободному денежному потоку акция выглядит не дешёвой. Динамика P/S и P/B в последние периоды скорее указывает на подорожание оценки, чем на её сжатие, поэтому потенциал переоценки ограничен. Рентабельность у компании очень сильная: ROE, ROA, ROI и доходность на материальный капитал существенно выше медианы, а маржа чистой прибыли и операционная маржа также выглядят убедительно. При этом валовая маржа лишь немного ниже отраслевой медианы, что говорит о том, что основная сила SQM — не в уникально высокой валовой наценке, а в эффективном контроле затрат и хорошей конверсии выручки в прибыль. Ликвидность комфортная: current ratio и quick ratio выше средних по отрасли, а денежная позиция выглядит устойчивой. Долговая нагрузка умеренная, но debt/equity и долгосрочный долг выше отраслевых ориентиров, поэтому баланс нельзя назвать безрисковым, особенно для циклического сырьевого бизнеса. По абсолютным показателям выручка, EBITDA, операционная прибыль и чистая прибыль остаются высокими, а собственный капитал и активы растут, что поддерживает фундаментальную стоимость компании. Дивидендная доходность есть, но она не настолько высокая, чтобы сама по себе заметно усиливать инвестиционный кейс. В целом фундаментал скорее поддерживает цену, чем требует сильного пересмотра вверх, но часть позитивных факторов уже отражена в мультипликаторах. Для инвестора это означает качественный бизнес с хорошей прибыльностью и приемлемой ликвидностью, но без явного глубокого дисконта к справедливой стоимости. Поэтому целесообразен лишь умеренно осторожный пересмотр прогноза, с учётом того, что для сырьевого сектора важны цикличность, ценовая конъюнктура и риск давления на маржу.

Sociedad Quimica y Minera S.A.

SQM демонстрирует сильную прибыльность и ликвидность, но оценка по P/S, P/B и P/FCF уже не выглядит дешёвой; потенциал роста ограничен долговой нагрузкой и цикличностью.

Albemarle Corporation ALB remains committed to paying down debt and strengthening its balance sheet. 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.
ALB’s long-term debt was $1.81 billion at the quarter-end, down from $3.12 billion at the end of 2025. The company ended the first quarter with a net debt-to-EBITDA leverage ratio of 1x. It has no major maturities due until late 2028.
At the end of the quarter, ALB had liquidity of around $2.7 billion, including cash and cash equivalents of around $1.1 billion. Its deleveraging efforts are expected to continue to result in improved balance sheet and financial flexibility while reducing interest expenses.
Among its peers, Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile S.A. SQM exited the first quarter with long-term debt of around $4.79 billion, up from $4.22 billion as of Dec. 31, 2025. SQM had strong liquidity, with cash and cash equivalents of around $2.8 billion at the end of the quarter. Sociedad Quimica, in early December 2025, issued a hybrid bond for roughly $430 million to refinance debt and fund its investment plan.
ICL Group Ltd. ICL ended the first quarter with outstanding net debt of roughly $2.57 billion, up $309 million from the end of 2025. Including unutilized revolving credit facility and securitization, ICL Group had cash resources of $1.49 billion at the end of the quarter. ICL has priced a private offering of $800 million senior notes due 2036 and plans to use part of the net proceeds from the offering for the repayment, in part or in full, of outstanding borrowings under its revolving credit facility maturing in April 2030, and to repay other debt.
ALB’s Price Performance, Valuation & Estimates
Albemarle has gained 25.4% in the past six months compared with the Zacks Chemical - Diversified industry’s rise of 25.9%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
ALB is currently trading at a forward price-to-sales ratio of 3.24, 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 1,668.4%. 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 #1 (Strong Buy).
You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
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Is Albemarle Better Positioned After Its Deleveraging Actions?

Looking today at week-over-week shares outstanding changes among the universe of ETFs covered at ETF Channel, one standout is the Global X Lithium & Battery Tech ETF (Symbol: LIT) where we have detected an approximate $154.0 million dollar outflow -- that's a 7.4% decrease week over week (from 25,244,628 to 23,374,628). Among the largest underlying components of LIT, in trading today Rio Tinto plc (Symbol: RIO) is up about 0.9%, Albemarle Corp. (Symbol: ALB) is off about 1.7%, and Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile S.A. (Symbol: SQM) is lower by about 1.1%. For a complete list of holdings, visit the LIT Holdings page » The chart below shows the one year price performance of LIT, versus its 200 day moving average:
Looking at the chart above, LIT's low point in its 52 week range is $36.11 per share, with $91.98 as the 52 week high point — that compares with a last trade of $83.98. Comparing the most recent share price to the 200 day moving average can also be a useful technical analysis technique -- learn more about the 200 day moving average ».
Exchange traded funds (ETFs) trade just like stocks, but instead of ''shares'' investors are actually buying and selling ''units''. These ''units'' can be traded back and forth just like stocks, but can also be created or destroyed to accommodate investor demand. Each week we monitor the week-over-week change in shares outstanding data, to keep a lookout for those ETFs experiencing notable inflows (many new units created) or outflows (many old units destroyed). Creation of new units will mean the underlying holdings of the ETF need to be purchased, while destruction of units involves selling underlying holdings, so large flows can also impact the individual components held within ETFs.
Further LIT Research:
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Global X Lithium & Battery Tech ETF Experiences Big Outflow

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?

Albemarle Corporation ALB remains committed to driving shareholder value by leveraging solid liquidity and healthy cash flows. At the end of the first quarter of 2026, ALB had liquidity of around $2.7 billion, including cash and cash equivalents of around $1.1 billion. It generated an operating cash flow of $346 million and free cash flow of $248 million in the quarter.
ALB generated free cash flow of $692 million for full-year 2025, driven by strong cash conversion, lower capital spending and productivity measures. Free cash flow in 2026 is expected to be supported by the recent uptick in lithium prices, strong cash conversion and productivity. Its ability to convert improving operating performance into free cash is likely to result in incremental returns to shareholders. ALB expected full-year 2026 operating cash flow conversion to be within its long-term target range of 60-70% at the average lithium market price of $20 per kilogram.
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. Backed by healthy cash flows and sound financial health, the company's dividend is perceived to be safe and reliable.
Among its peers, Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile S.A. SQM exited the first quarter with strong liquidity, with cash and cash equivalents being around $2.8 billion. Sociedad Quimica’s solid cash position supports its capital investment in growth projects and shareholder-friendly actions. Sociedad Quimica projects 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.
ICL Group Ltd. ICL ended the first quarter with cash and cash equivalents, and short-term investments and deposits of $581 million. Including unutilized revolving credit facility and securitization, ICL Group had cash resources of $1,491 million at the end of the quarter. ICL generated an operating cash flow of $195 million in the first quarter. It distributed roughly $224 million in dividends to its shareholders last year.
ALB’s Price Performance, Valuation & Estimates
Albemarle has gained 38.3% in the past six months compared with the Zacks Chemical - Diversified industry’s rise of 25.6%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
ALB is currently trading at a forward price-to-sales ratio of 3.37, 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 1,555.7%. 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 #1 (Strong Buy).
You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
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Can ALB's Strong Cash Drive Bigger Shareholder Returns Ahead?

The following companies are expected to report earnings after hours on 05/26/2026. Visit our Earnings Calendar for a full list of expected earnings releases.
Zscaler, Inc. (ZS)is reporting for the quarter ending April 30, 2026. The security company's consensus earnings per share forecast from the 12 analysts that follow the stock is $-0.04. This value represents a 0.00% decrease compared to the same quarter last year. Zacks Investment Research reports that the 2026 Price to Earnings ratio for ZS is -6079.00 vs. an industry ratio of -528.90.
Semtech Corporation (SMTC)is reporting for the quarter ending April 30, 2026. The semiconductor company's consensus earnings per share forecast from the 6 analysts that follow the stock is $0.30. This value represents a 3.23% decrease compared to the same quarter last year. SMTC missed the consensus earnings per share in the 3rd calendar quarter of 2025 by -21.43%. Zacks Investment Research reports that the 2027 Price to Earnings ratio for SMTC is 97.99 vs. an industry ratio of 99.60.
Modine Manufacturing Company (MOD)is reporting for the quarter ending March 31, 2026. The auto (truck) company's consensus earnings per share forecast from the 6 analysts that follow the stock is $1.51. This value represents a 34.82% increase compared to the same quarter last year. In the past year MOD has beat the expectations every quarter. The highest one was in the 4th calendar quarter where they beat the consensus by 20.2%. Zacks Investment Research reports that the 2026 Price to Earnings ratio for MOD is 54.05 vs. an industry ratio of 6.10, implying that they will have a higher earnings growth than their competitors in the same industry.
Sociedad Quimica y Minera S.A. (SQM)is reporting for the quarter ending March 31, 2026. The chemical company's consensus earnings per share forecast from the 3 analysts that follow the stock is $1.78. This value represents a 270.83% increase compared to the same quarter last year. Zacks Investment Research reports that the 2026 Price to Earnings ratio for SQM is 12.11 vs. an industry ratio of 16.60.
Box, Inc. (BOX)is reporting for the quarter ending April 30, 2026. The internet software company's consensus earnings per share forecast from the 4 analysts that follow the stock is $0.06. This value represents a 100.00% increase compared to the same quarter last year. BOX missed the consensus earnings per share in the 4th calendar quarter of 2025 by -66.67%. Zacks Investment Research reports that the 2027 Price to Earnings ratio for BOX is 76.18 vs. an industry ratio of -278.90, implying that they will have a higher earnings growth than their competitors in the same industry.
Qfin Holdings, Inc. (QFIN)is reporting for the quarter ending March 31, 2026. The financial services company's consensus earnings per share forecast from the 2 analysts that follow the stock is $0.96. This value represents a 44.83% decrease compared to the same quarter last year. Zacks Investment Research reports that the 2026 Price to Earnings ratio for QFIN is 3.05 vs. an industry ratio of 9.70.
Transcat, Inc. (TRNS)is reporting for the quarter ending March 31, 2026. The industrial company's consensus earnings per share forecast from the 2 analysts that follow the stock is $0.51. This value represents a 20.31% decrease compared to the same quarter last year. Zacks Investment Research reports that the 2026 Price to Earnings ratio for TRNS is 39.90 vs. an industry ratio of 27.50, implying that they will have a higher earnings growth than their competitors in the same industry.
Digital Turbine, Inc. (APPS)is reporting for the quarter ending March 31, 2026. The internet software company's consensus earnings per share forecast from the 2 analysts that follow the stock is $0.04. This value represents a 100.00% increase compared to the same quarter last year. In the past year APPS and beat the expectations the other three quarters. Zacks Investment Research reports that the 2026 Price to Earnings ratio for APPS is 21.67 vs. an industry ratio of -278.90, implying that they will have a higher earnings growth than their competitors in the same industry.
Ooma, Inc. (OOMA)is reporting for the quarter ending April 30, 2026. The communications company's consensus earnings per share forecast from the 6 analysts that follow the stock is $0.20. This value represents a 300.00% increase compared to the same quarter last year. In the past year OOMA has beat the expectations every quarter. The highest one was in the 1st calendar quarter where they beat the consensus by 23.53%. Zacks Investment Research reports that the 2027 Price to Earnings ratio for OOMA is 24.51 vs. an industry ratio of 36.20.
Banco BBVA Argentina S.A. (BBAR)is reporting for the quarter ending March 31, 2026. The bank (foreign) company's consensus earnings per share forecast from the 1 analyst that follows the stock is $0.17. This value represents a 39.29% decrease compared to the same quarter last year. Zacks Investment Research reports that the 2026 Price to Earnings ratio for BBAR is 9.61 vs. an industry ratio of 11.20.
Heidmar Maritime Holdings Corp. (HMR)is reporting for the quarter ending March 31, 2026. The shipping company's consensus earnings per share forecast from the 1 analyst that follows the stock is $0.04. This value represents a 233.33% increase compared to the same quarter last year. Zacks Investment Research reports that the 2026 Price to Earnings ratio for HMR is 11.54 vs. an industry ratio of 7.50, implying that they will have a higher earnings growth than their competitors in the same industry.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

After-Hours Earnings Report for May 26, 2026 : ZS, SMTC, MOD, SQM, BOX, QFIN, TRNS, APPS, OOMA, BBAR, HMR

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

CF Industries Holdings, Inc. CF reported first-quarter 2026 earnings of $3.98 per share, up from $1.85 in the year-ago quarter.
Barring one-time items, adjusted earnings came in at $2.89 per share. The figure surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.43.
Net sales rose around 19.4% year over year to $1,986 million in the quarter, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1,766.2 million.
In the first quarter, average selling prices increased from the same period in 2025, driven by strong global nitrogen demand and supply disruptions due to geopolitical issues. However, sales volumes were lower year over year, mainly due to lower urea ammonium nitrate and ammonium nitrate sales.
CF Industries Holdings, Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
CF’s Segment Review
Net sales in the Ammonia segment increased 20.5% to $627 million in the reported quarter, beating our estimate of $505 million. The adjusted gross margin per ton for ammonia from the year-ago period, mainly due to higher average selling prices, was partially offset by higher maintenance costs and higher realized natural gas costs.
Sales in the Granular Urea segment rose 34.4% year over year to $590 million, surpassing our estimate of $436.2 million. The adjusted gross margin per ton for granular urea increased from the year-ago period, mainly driven by higher average selling prices, though partly offset by higher realized natural gas costs.
Sales in the UAN segment rose around 24.04% year over year to $583 million, beating our estimate of $471.2 million. The adjusted gross margin per ton for UAN increased from the previous year, mainly due to higher average selling prices, partially offset by higher realized natural gas costs.
Sales in the AN segment declined around 42.6% year over year to $58 million, missing our estimate of $100.2 million. The adjusted gross margin per ton for AN declined from the year-ago period, mainly due to costs related to the ongoing outage at the company’s Yazoo City, MS, complex, partially offset by higher average selling prices.
CF’s Financials
As of March 31, 2026, CF Industries’ cash and cash equivalents were $2.04 billion, up 3% year over year. Long-term debt was $3,216 million, flat year over year.
Net cash provided by operating activities was $496 million in the reported quarter, down nearly 15,.4% year over year.
The company repurchased 155,000 shares for $15 million in the first quarter of 2026.
CF’s Outlook
Per CF, the global nitrogen market remains tight in 2026 due to strong demand, geopolitical disruptions and constrained natural gas availability. The Middle East conflict has significantly reduced ammonia and urea exports, while LNG supply disruptions have curtailed nitrogen production in import-dependent regions such as India, Pakistan and Bangladesh.
Higher European gas prices and ongoing supply disruptions in Russia and China are further supporting elevated global nitrogen prices. In North America, nitrogen availability remains stable with average inventory levels and expected U.S. corn plantings of around 95 million acres. India is projected to significantly increase urea imports in 2026 due to low inventories, reduced domestic production and supply shortfalls, although higher prices may weaken demand in some other import regions.
CF’s Price Performance
CF shares have surged 48.5% in the past year compared with an 21.4% rise in the industry.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
CF’s Zacks Rank & Other Key Picks
CF currently carries a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy).
Some other top-ranked stocks worth a look in the basic materials space are Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile S.A. SQM, Idaho Strategic Resources, Inc. IDR and Hawkins, Inc. HWKN.
Sociedad is slated to report first-quarter 2026 results on May 26. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for loss is pegged at $1.36 per share, indicating 183.3% year-over-year growth. SQM has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) at present.
Idaho is expected to report first-quarter 2026 results on May 14. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings is pegged at 43 cents per share, indicating 258.3% year-over-year growth. IDR sports a Zacks Rank #1 at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Hawkins is scheduled to report fiscal fourth-quarter results on May 13. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for HWKN’s fourth-quarter earnings is pegged at 77 cents per share. HWKN currently has a Zacks Rank #2.
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CF's Q1 Earnings and Sales Beat Estimates on Higher Prices

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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Can Capacity Expansion Position ALB for the Next Growth Phase?

Albemarle Corporation ALB and Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile S.A. SQM are prominent players in the lithium space. An uptick in lithium prices amid rising demand and supply tightness has contributed to an upswing in their share prices. Both are well-placed to benefit from higher lithium prices driven by strong demand from electric vehicles (EVs) and energy storage systems, along with supply disruptions partly due to supply reductions in China. Lithium prices have rebounded from the trough levels seen last year, supported by tightening supply and strong demand in China and globally.
Let’s dive deep and closely compare the fundamentals of these two major lithium stocks to determine the 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. Lithium demand increased more than 30% year over year. Albemarle 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.
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 0.8% at the current stock price.
The Case for SQM
Chile-based Sociedad Quimica produces plant nutrients, iodine, lithium and industrial chemicals. SQM is gaining from the favorable trends in the lithium market underpinned by strong EV sales. Higher demand is expected to continue to support the company’s lithium sales volumes.
SQM logged record lithium sales volumes in the fourth quarter of 2025 on strong market demand, driven by EVs and battery energy storage systems. The Nova Andino Litio business logged historic high volumes of more than 66,000 metric tons in the quarter, roughly 52% higher compared to the prior-year quarter, driven by capacity expansion actions. SQM’s average realized sales price increased roughly 14% sequentially in the fourth quarter and it expects prices to increase significantly in the first quarter. SQM is operating at full capacity in the production of spodumene concentrate in Australia and achieved its first shipment of lithium hydroxide produced in the country at the Kwinana refinery.
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.
Earlier this year, SQM and Codelco completed their strategic partnership to jointly develop the Atacama salt flat. The partnership was completed through the merger by absorption of Codelco’s subsidiary, Minera Tarar SpA, into SQM’s subsidiary, SQM Salar SpA, which took full effect last month after a favorable Supreme Court resolution.
This major milestone paves the way for the production of refined lithium in the Salar de Atacama until 2060 and contributes to making Chile a leader in the production of lithium. Improvements in process efficiency, the adoption of new technologies and the optimization of operations are expected to lead to incremental lithium production through 2060.
Sociedad Quimica has a robust balance sheet and generates strong cash flows, which allow it to make investments in driving production capacity. It exited 2025 with strong liquidity, including cash and cash equivalents of around $1.75 billion. It offers a dividend yield of 0.1% at the current stock price.
ALB & SQM: Price Performance, Valuation & Other Comparisons
The ALB stock has surged 232% over the past year, while SQM has rallied 138.4%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
ALB is currently trading at a forward price-to-sales ratio of 3.86. SQM is currently trading at a forward price-to-sales ratio of 3.18, below ALB.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
ALB’s long-term debt-to-capitalization is around 24.2%, lower than SQM’s 34.4%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
How the Zacks Consensus Estimate Compares for ALB & SQM
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for ALB’s 2026 sales implies year-over-year growth of 12.9%. The same for EPS suggests a 1,148.1% 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 SQM’s 2026 sales and EPS implies a year-over-year rise of 60.9% and 227.2%, respectively. The EPS estimates for 2026 have been trending northward over the past 60 days.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
ALB or SQM: Which Stock Holds the Edge?
ALB and SQM stand to benefit from higher 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. SQM is delivering record lithium volumes, expanding operations and is expected to benefit from the strategic partnership with Codelco. 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 #2 (Buy), while SQM has 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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Sociedad Quimica y Minera S.A.

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