Albemarle Corp. stock slips while 2026 sales guidance is affirmed

Published on 09/20/2026 at 19:00 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS

Albemarle Corp. stock closed at USD 111.02 on September 18, 2026 on the NYSE, down 21.5 percent since the start of the year. The company has affirmed its 2026 sales guidance between USD 5.70 billion and USD 6.00 billion, keeping growth expectations in focus.

Schwarz-Weiß-Reportagefoto von Bergarbeitern am Lithium-Salzsee im Gegenlicht — Albemarle Corp. US0126531013 – Schwarz-Weiß-Reportage mit Bergarbeitern am Salzsee, dramatische Silhouetten im Gegenlicht, Illustration mit AI erstellt.

Albemarle Corp. stock (ISIN US0126531013) ended the last completed trading day at USD 111.02 on the New York Stock Exchange on September 18, 2026, leaving the shares 21.5 percent below their level at the start of the year at USD 141.43 per share per MarketBeat data.

Guidance for 2026 sales remains intact

According to ScanX on September 18, 2026, Albemarle has affirmed its sales guidance for the fiscal year ending in 2026, targeting revenue between USD 5.70 billion and USD 6.00 billion, which underscores management’s expectation of continued demand for its energy storage and specialty chemicals offerings.

This guidance range provides a concrete yardstick for investors: at the midpoint of USD 5.85 billion, it implies a meaningful step up from Albemarle’s most recent quarterly revenue of USD 1.74 billion, even though quarterly figures cannot be annualized directly, and it frames the revenue trajectory in a period where lithium pricing and margins are under pressure.

Recent quarterly figures and margin signal

As MarketBeat reported in its latest overview, Albemarle’s most recently reported quarter ended on August 5, 2026 and saw earnings per share of USD 3.75, ahead of the consensus estimate of USD 3.20 by USD 0.55, signalling that the company’s profitability held up better than analysts had expected in a volatile pricing environment.

In the same quarter, revenue reached USD 1.74 billion, up 31.1 percent compared with the prior-year quarter according to MarketBeat, indicating that Albemarle was able to grow volumes and maintain its position in key lithium and specialty chemistry markets even as costs and contract dynamics evolved.

Stock performance and valuation context

Per the same MarketBeat data, Albemarle’s shares started 2026 at USD 141.43 and, with the latest closing price of USD 111.02 on September 18, 2026, have fallen 21.5 percent year to date, a decline that reflects investor concern about lithium supply, pricing cycles and capital expenditure needs despite the company’s earnings beat.

The MarketBeat overview also points to a health indicator showing that the stock has moved from a stronger uptrend to a more volatile phase, even though Albemarle continues to invest in energy storage and specialty chemicals capacity while keeping its 2026 sales guidance between USD 5.70 billion and USD 6.00 billion intact as noted by ScanX.

Closing price and trading data

Albemarle Corp. stock closed at USD 111.02 on the New York Stock Exchange on September 18, 2026, with MarketBeat noting that the shares were down 3.50 percent on that trading day compared with the prior close, which positions the stock below earlier levels in 2026 and keeps valuation and leverage to lithium pricing firmly in focus for investors.