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Investing.com - Baird downgraded Albemarle (NYSE:ALB) from Neutral to Underperform on Tuesday, while setting a price target of $60.00. According to InvestingPro data, the company’s current financial health shows concerning metrics, with a gross profit margin of just 3.93% and negative earnings over the last twelve months.
The research firm expressed concerns that recent increases in lithium pricing may be driven by speculators rather than fundamental demand, suggesting that the lower-for-longer pricing environment could persist longer than previously anticipated.
Baird highlighted potential risks to contract renegotiations, which may become a focus for investors looking ahead to 2026 and beyond, specifically regarding how Albemarle’s pricing floors might change.
The downgrade was also influenced by evidence that producers are operating below full utilization rates, which Baird believes indicates a structural market change that could challenge longer-term supply and demand imbalance forecasts.
The firm warned that concerns about Albemarle’s balance sheet may become amplified in the near term as these market dynamics continue to unfold.
In other recent news, Albemarle Corporation has announced its 126th consecutive quarterly dividend, declaring a payout of $0.405 per share. This dividend, payable on October 1, 2025, reflects an annualized rate of $1.62 per share, continuing Albemarle’s tradition of returning value to shareholders. Meanwhile, BofA Securities has raised its price target for Albemarle to $93, citing the company’s significant cost-cutting achievements. Albemarle has reportedly reached approximately 90% of its targeted savings, contributing to positive free cash flow expectations for 2025.
Conversely, Berenberg analysts have lowered their price target for Albemarle to $74, maintaining a Hold rating due to ongoing weakness in lithium prices. Despite Albemarle’s strong first-quarter earnings, which exceeded EBITDA expectations by over 30%, Berenberg predicts a challenging second quarter. The firm expects EBITDA to fall 30% below current consensus estimates. These developments highlight differing analyst perspectives on Albemarle’s future performance amidst fluctuating market conditions.
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