Albemarle (NYSE:ALB) Shares Down 5.6% - What's Next?

Key Points

• Shares fell 5.6% on Wednesday, trading as low as $179.25 (last $183.37) on 1,306,954 shares — about 62% below average session volume.
• Analysts have increasingly raised targets and ratings, leaving a consensus of Moderate Buy with an average price target of $161.16, while some firms set higher targets (Deutsche Bank $185, RBC $200).
• Albemarle beat estimates last quarter with EPS of ($0.19) and revenue of $1.31B, but still reported a negative net margin and analysts project about -$0.04 EPS for the year.

Albemarle Corporation (NYSE:ALB - Get Free Report) shares traded down 5.6% on Wednesday . The stock traded as low as $179.25 and last traded at $183.3720. 1,306,954 shares changed hands during trading, a decline of 62% from the average session volume of 3,474,146 shares. The stock had previously closed at $194.18.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research analysts have recently issued reports on ALB shares. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upgraded shares of Albemarle from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating and boosted their price target for the stock from $125.00 to $185.00 in a research note on Monday, January 12th. Bank of America boosted their target price on Albemarle from $118.00 to $167.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research report on Thursday, January 8th. Argus increased their target price on Albemarle from $120.00 to $140.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Monday, November 17th. Stephens restated an "outperform" rating on shares of Albemarle in a research note on Friday, December 19th. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada increased their price objective on Albemarle from $159.00 to $200.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 21st. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirteen have issued a Buy rating, eleven have assigned a Hold rating and two have given a Sell rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $161.16.

Albemarle Price Performance

The company's 50-day moving average is $146.52 and its 200-day moving average is $107.17. The firm has a market capitalization of $21.72 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -116.36, a PEG ratio of 4.14 and a beta of 1.41. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.40, a current ratio of 2.27 and a quick ratio of 1.51.

Albemarle (NYSE:ALB - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, November 5th. The specialty chemicals company reported ($0.19) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of ($0.92) by $0.73. The firm had revenue of $1.31 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.27 billion. Albemarle had a negative net margin of 0.43% and a positive return on equity of 0.10%. The company's revenue was down 3.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned ($1.55) EPS. On average, research analysts expect that Albemarle Corporation will post -0.04 earnings per share for the current year.

Institutional Trading of Albemarle

Several large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. MH & Associates Securities Management Corp ADV acquired a new position in shares of Albemarle during the fourth quarter valued at $26,000. Strategic Advocates LLC bought a new position in shares of Albemarle in the third quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Hantz Financial Services Inc. increased its stake in shares of Albemarle by 10,050.0% during the second quarter. Hantz Financial Services Inc. now owns 406 shares of the specialty chemicals company's stock valued at $25,000 after acquiring an additional 402 shares during the period. BOKF NA raised its holdings in Albemarle by 5,771.4% during the third quarter. BOKF NA now owns 411 shares of the specialty chemicals company's stock worth $33,000 after purchasing an additional 404 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Cromwell Holdings LLC lifted its position in Albemarle by 36.8% in the third quarter. Cromwell Holdings LLC now owns 413 shares of the specialty chemicals company's stock worth $34,000 after purchasing an additional 111 shares during the period. 92.87% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

About Albemarle

Albemarle Corporation is a leading global specialty chemicals company primarily engaged in the production and distribution of lithium, bromine, and catalysts. Its lithium segment supplies key components used in rechargeable batteries for electric vehicles, portable electronics, and grid storage systems. The company's bromine specialty products serve a wide range of industries, including oil and gas drilling fluids, fire safety solutions, and water treatment. In its catalysts division, Albemarle provides products for petroleum refining, chemical processing and emissions control.

Founded in 1994 as a spin-off from Ethyl Corporation, Albemarle has grown through strategic acquisitions and capacity expansions to become one of the world's foremost chemical producers.

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