Albemarle (ALB) Stock Analysis

November 11, 2026

This is a peer-relative look at Albemarle (ALB): its performance, risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividend, and valuation are each measured against its Materials peers, so every number reads in context rather than in isolation.

Company Profile

Company profile fields for Albemarle (ALB)
Profile Item	ALB
Name	Albemarle Corporation
Country/Region	United States
GICS Sector	Materials
GICS Industry Group	Materials
GICS Industry	Chemicals
GICS Sub-Industry	Specialty Chemicals
Market Capitalization	11.71 billion USD
Currency	USD
Exchange	NYSE
Listing Date	February 22, 1994
Security Type	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

ALB

GSPC

Albemarle (ALB) vs. S&P 500 (GSPC): Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Trailing Returns

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Trailing total returns for Albemarle (ALB) and S&P 500 (GSPC). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Albemarle (ALB) and S&P 500 (GSPC). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Albemarle (ALB) metric values compared with Materials industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: ALB	Industry group median
Total Return (1Y)	1.28%	19.59%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	-3.80%	18.91%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	-17.74%	5.70%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

ALB

GSPC

Albemarle (ALB) vs. S&P 500 (GSPC): Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Return Distribution

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Distribution of monthly total returns for Albemarle (ALB) and S&P 500 (GSPC). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Albemarle (ALB) metric values compared with Materials industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: ALB	Industry group median
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	53.59%	52.82%
Beta (5Y)	1.32	0.97
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-83.90%	-58.44%

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

Each dot is a stock plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. ALB is highlighted; the dashed line is the Capital Allocation Line from the risk-free rate through the industry median — dots above it are stronger on a risk-adjusted basis.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Albemarle (ALB) metric values compared with Materials industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: ALB	Industry group median
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	-0.06	0.32
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	-0.08	0.47

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Albemarle (ALB) posts ROE of 7.05%, roughly around the peer group’s normal range. Shareholders’ equity is producing a return that looks broadly typical for the industry.

ALB

Materials industry group

7.05%

Group distribution

Max: 52.88%
Q3: 19.49%
Median: 8.76%
ALB: 7.05%
Q1: -3.41%
Min: -32.81%

Largest peers

SCCO: 52.88%
NEM: 27.26%
BHP: 24.00%
AEM: 23.24%
RIO: 19.31%
LIN: 17.72%
ALB: 7.05%

Where Albemarle (ALB) stands on ROE within its Materials peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Net Margin (TTM)

Albemarle (ALB) keeps 11.08% of revenue as net profit, roughly in line with the peer group’s normal net margin range. Its full cost stack is taking a typical share of sales for the industry.

ALB

Materials industry group

11.08%

Group distribution

Max: 38.66%
Q3: 15.98%
ALB: 11.08%
Median: 5.28%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: -20.40%

Largest peers

AEM: 41.01%
SCCO: 37.16%
NEM: 34.73%
RIO: 19.59%
LIN: 19.34%
BHP: 16.73%
ALB: 11.08%

Where Albemarle (ALB) stands on net margin within its Materials peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Albemarle (ALB) turns 11.74% of revenue into operating profit, roughly in line with the peer group’s normal operating margin range. Its core cost structure looks typical for the industry.

ALB

Materials industry group

11.74%

Group distribution

Max: 66.70%
Q3: 28.92%
Median: 12.56%
ALB: 11.74%
Q1: 3.28%
Min: -14.07%

Largest peers

SCCO: 59.94%
AEM: 55.49%
NEM: 49.99%
BHP: 43.34%
RIO: 28.05%
LIN: 27.97%
ALB: 11.74%

Where Albemarle (ALB) stands on operating margin within its Materials peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Profitability Metrics

Albemarle (ALB) metric values compared with Materials industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: ALB	Industry group median
ROE (TTM)	7.05%	8.76%
ROA (TTM)	3.95%	4.42%
Net Margin (TTM)	11.08%	5.28%
Operating Margin (TTM)	11.74%	12.56%
Gross Margin (TTM)	26.17%	27.57%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Albemarle (ALB) grew revenue -4.37%, in the lower peer quartile. The top line is expanding more slowly than at most peers, which can reflect softer demand, lost share, or weaker pricing.

Albemarle (ALB): Revenue Growth across different time periods, set against Materials industry-group medians.

EPS Growth

No usable EPS growth is available for Albemarle (ALB) this period, so the earnings-momentum read is skipped.

Albemarle (ALB) doesn't report EPS Growth this period; the bars show the Materials industry-group medians on their own.

Growth Metrics

Albemarle (ALB) metric values compared with Materials industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: ALB	Industry group median
Revenue Growth (YoY)	-4.37%	8.36%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	-11.10%	0.59%
EPS Growth (YoY)	--	-1.73%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	--	2.12%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Albemarle (ALB) has current ratio of 2.34, in the healthier middle range for its industry. The short-term asset cushion looks balanced relative to peers rather than stretched thin.

ALB

Materials industry group

2.34

Group distribution

Max: 5.96
Q3: 3.30
ALB: 2.34
Median: 2.24
Q1: 1.45
Min: 0.16

Largest peers

SCCO: 4.31
AEM: 2.75
NEM: 2.45
ALB: 2.34
BHP: 1.89
RIO: 1.42
LIN: 0.86

Where Albemarle (ALB) stands on current ratio within its Materials peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Albemarle (ALB) has debt-to-equity ratio of 0.18, roughly in line with the peer group’s normal leverage range. Its mix of debt and equity looks typical for the industry.

ALB

Materials industry group

0.18

Group distribution

Max: 1.98
Q3: 0.89
Median: 0.47
ALB: 0.18
Q1: 0.13
Min: 0.00

Largest peers

LIN: 0.65
SCCO: 0.63
BHP: 0.50
RIO: 0.32
ALB: 0.18
NEM: 0.16
AEM: 0.01

Where Albemarle (ALB) stands on debt-to-equity ratio within its Materials peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Financial Strength Metrics

Albemarle (ALB) metric values compared with Materials industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: ALB	Industry group median
Current Ratio (MRQ)	2.34	2.24
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	0.18	0.47
Net Debt / EBITDA	0.09	1.37

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Albemarle (ALB) has dividend yield of 1.65%, in the industry’s normal income range. It provides a meaningful dividend without the red flag of an unusually high headline yield.

ALB

Materials industry group

1.65%

Group distribution

Max: 4.52%
Q3: 1.85%
ALB: 1.65%
Median: 0.38%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Largest peers

RIO: 5.59%
SCCO: 2.30%
BHP: 2.19%
ALB: 1.65%
LIN: 1.21%
AEM: 0.93%
NEM: 0.87%

Where Albemarle (ALB) stands on dividend yield within its Materials peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Albemarle (ALB) has payout ratio of 39.16%, within the industry’s typical payout band. The dividend shares profits with investors while leaving earnings coverage that looks normal for the peer group.

ALB

Materials industry group

39.16%

Group distribution

Max: 83.62%
Q3: 41.37%
ALB: 39.16%
Median: 9.54%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Largest peers

BHP: 68.84%
RIO: 54.46%
SCCO: 52.43%
LIN: 41.83%
ALB: 39.16%
AEM: 14.26%
NEM: 11.95%

Where Albemarle (ALB) stands on payout ratio within its Materials peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Dividend Metrics

Albemarle (ALB) metric values compared with Materials industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: ALB	Industry group median
Dividend Yield (TTM)	1.65%	0.38%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	39.16%	9.54%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Albemarle (ALB) trades at P/E ratio of 23.92, near the industry’s usual earnings multiple. The stock is not showing a clear peer discount or premium on trailing earnings.

ALB

Materials industry group

23.92

Group distribution

Max: 59.00
Q3: 32.93
ALB: 23.92
Median: 18.82
Q1: 11.96
Min: 3.93

Largest peers

LIN: 34.21
ALB: 23.92
SCCO: 22.27
BHP: 20.70
AEM: 15.61
NEM: 14.03
RIO: 11.35

Where Albemarle (ALB) stands on P/E ratio within its Materials peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Albemarle (ALB) trades at 1.90 on P/S ratio, roughly in the peer group’s normal range. The market is not making a strong cheap-or-rich statement about its revenue base.

ALB

Materials industry group

1.90

Group distribution

Max: 9.62
Q3: 4.34
ALB: 1.90
Median: 1.87
Q1: 0.73
Min: 0.00

Largest peers

SCCO: 8.34
LIN: 6.53
AEM: 6.44
NEM: 4.72
BHP: 3.46
RIO: 2.20
ALB: 1.90

Where Albemarle (ALB) stands on P/S ratio within its Materials peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Albemarle (ALB) trades at 1.41 on P/B ratio, roughly in line with the industry’s normal price-to-book range. Its balance sheet is not being priced at a clear discount or premium versus peers.

ALB

Materials industry group

1.41

Group distribution

Max: 6.59
Q3: 3.55
Median: 2.08
ALB: 1.41
Q1: 1.26
Min: -0.17

Largest peers

SCCO: 10.89
LIN: 6.00
BHP: 3.98
NEM: 3.53
AEM: 3.27
RIO: 2.08
ALB: 1.41

Where Albemarle (ALB) stands on P/B ratio within its Materials peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Valuation Metrics

Albemarle (ALB) metric values compared with Materials industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: ALB	Industry group median
P/E Ratio (TTM)	23.92	18.82
P/S Ratio (TTM)	1.90	1.87
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	1.41	2.08
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	10.67%	3.08%