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Mizuho Securities lowered its target for the stock to $130 from $140 on Thursday. This move reflects a more cautious outlook on the lithium market, though the new target is still well above where the stock trades today. The average target from all analysts who cover the company is about $195.
Source: Mizuho Securities
Albemarle announced a leadership transition this week, appointing Ragnar Udd to take over as President and CEO effective February 1, 2027. Mr. Udd joins from BHP, one of the world's largest mining companies, where he currently serves as Chief Commercial Officer. Kent Masters, who has led the company through the recent period of lithium price volatility, will stay on as Executive Chair of the Board.
This is an orderly succession rather than a sudden change. By bringing in an executive with deep experience in global mining and commodities, the board is signaling a focus on large-scale operations and cost efficiency. For a company whose success depends on being the lowest-cost producer in a tough market, having a leader who has managed massive resource businesses across Australia and the Americas is a logical fit.
Source: 8-K filing
On August 19, Albemarle's board appointed Max W. Hood as the company's new Chief Accounting Officer, effective August 24. He joins from The ODP Corporation, where he served as co-Chief Financial Officer, and he previously held leadership roles at General Electric and Deloitte.
While this is a senior hire, it is a routine leadership update rather than a change in strategy. Mr. Hood will oversee the company's financial records and reporting, a key role for maintaining transparency as Albemarle works through its cost-cutting goals and manages its heavy spending on new lithium mines.
Source: 8-K filing
Morgan Stanley lowered its price target for Albemarle from $189 to $161 on August 10. Even with the lower target, the firm still sees the stock as worth more than its current price of about $134. This move follows a period of volatile lithium prices, which has led several analysts to adjust what they think the company's assets are worth in the near term.
Source: Morgan Stanley
The company reported adjusted earnings of $3.75 per share, well above the $3.20 analysts expected. Revenue grew 31 percent to $1.7 billion, driven by a 73 percent price jump in its energy storage business. This is a sharp turnaround for the lithium producer, which had been struggling with a collapse in market prices for the metal used in electric vehicle batteries.
Management is making progress on its plan to cut $1 billion in costs, which helped profit margins expand even faster than sales. The stock rose about 7 percent today as the results suggest the worst of the lithium price crash is over. For long-term owners, this quarter proves the company can stay profitable and grow its volume even when the market is not at its peak.
See the full quarter, and how our tracked metrics did
Source: 8-K filing
Management has a history of setting conservative targets and then clearing them easily, including two massive beats in early 2026 as the business outran analyst expectations.
| Expectation | |
|---|---|
| EPS | $2.55 |
| Revenue | $1.53B |