Albemarle CorporationALB
NYSE•Basic Materials•Specialty Chemicals
Albemarle Corporation provides energy storage solutions worldwide. It operates through three segments: Energy Storage, Specialties, and Ketjen. The Energy Storage segment offers lithium compounds, including lithium carbonate, lithium hydroxide, and lithium chloride for use in lithium batteries used in consumer electronics and electric vehicles, power grids and solar panels, high performance greases, specialty glass used in consumer appliances and electronics. The Specialties segment provides bromine and highly specialized lithium solutions for various industries, such as energy, mobility, connectivity, and health comprising fire safety compounds; bromine-based specialty chemicals products, including elemental bromine, alkyl bromides, inorganic bromides, brominated powdered activated carbon, and various bromine fine chemicals; lithium specialties, such as butyllithium and lithium aluminum hydride; cesium products for the chemical and pharmaceutical industries; and zirconium, barium, and titanium products for pyrotechnical applications that include airbag initiators. This segment also provides organic synthesis processes in the areas of steroid chemistry and vitamins, and various life science applications, as well as intermediates in the pharmaceutical industry; technical services, including handling and use of reactive lithium products; and recycling services for lithium-containing by-products. The Ketjen segment offers clean fuels technologies, including hydroprocessing catalysts together with isomerization and akylation catalysts; fluidized catalytic cracking catalysts and additives; and performance catalyst solutions comprising organometallics and curatives. It serves grid storage, automotive, aerospace, conventional energy, electronics, construction, agriculture and food, pharmaceuticals and medical device industries. Albemarle Corporation was founded in 1887 and is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Albemarle Corporation (ALB) reported trailing twelve months revenue of $5.49B as of March 2026, a 7.9% increase year-over-year. Quarterly revenue reached $1.43B, reflecting continued top-line momentum.
Albemarle Corporation reported a TTM net loss of $232.88M, with quarterly EBITDA of $391.31M. The operating margin expanded from 1.8% to 16.3%, suggesting improving cost efficiency and pricing discipline.
The spread between operating margin (16.3%) and net margin (22.3%) indicates tight cost control with minimal non-operating drag. Net margin has improved from 3.8% a year ago, signaling stronger bottom-line efficiency.
ALB trades at a P/S of 3.8x. The price-to-book ratio of 2.1x reflects a moderate premium to book value.
The company generated $247.57M in free cash flow over the trailing twelve months, a 31.8% decrease year-over-year, indicating strong cash generation ability. The balance sheet shows $15.14B in total assets with $1.81B in long-term debt against $9.85B in stockholders equity for a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.2, a conservative capital structure. Data based on the most recent quarterly reports.
Competitive analysis based on 21 quarters of fundamental data
Operating margins are under pressure, averaging -15.7%. The business may lack pricing power or face rising costs.'
ROE is low or negative, suggesting limited competitive advantage or capital allocation challenges.
Only 4 of the last 8 quarters had positive FCF — the business may require external capital to sustain operations.
Revenue has been flat or declining over recent quarters, which may indicate eroding demand or competitive pressure.
Data-driven red flags and warnings across 21 quarters
The company posted negative operating margins in recent quarters — core operations are unprofitable.
Free cash flow has been negative in 4 of the last 8 quarters — earnings are not translating to cash.
D/E ratio is 0.2 — conservative capital structure with low financial risk.
TTM revenue has contracted 15.8% — significant decline indicating deteriorating demand.
4 of the last 8 quarters had negative FCF — inconsistent cash generation raises sustainability concerns.
Share count is stable — no significant dilution or buyback activity.
Quarterly standardized metrics.
Stock price and market valuation
Revenue and earnings growth across quarters
Assets, cash, debt, and leverage
Price multiples and return ratios
Operating efficiency and return metrics
Free cash flow, earnings quality, and capital allocation