Albemarle Option Alert: Mar 21 $65 Puts Sweep (5) below Bid!: 8800 vs 1014 OI

Albemarle Option Alert: Mar 21 $65 Puts Sweep (5) below Bid!: 8800 @ $0.83 vs 1014 OI; Ref=$76.91

Albemarle (NYSE:ALB) 株価情報

Albemarle

Albemarle is one of the world's largest lithium producers. In the lithium industry, the majority of demand comes from batteries, where lithium is used as the energy storage material, particularly in electric vehicles. Albemarle is a fully integrated lithium producer. Its upstream resources include salt brine deposits in Chile and the US and two hard rock mines in Australia, both of which are joint ventures. The company operates lithium refining plants in Chile, the US, Australia, and China. Albemarle is a global leader in the production of bromine, used in flame retardants. It is also a major producer of oil refining catalysts.

Albemarle Corp

ALBA MINERALS RESOCES PLC by Alba Minerals Resources PLC.

Alba Mineral Resources PLC

ALIBABA HEALTH UNSP/ADR by Alibaba Health Information Technology Ltd

Alibaba Health Information Technology Ltd

Albemarle Corp PRF PERPETUAL USD 1000 - Ser A 1/20th Pref St

ALIBABA HEALTH INFO TECH by Alibaba Health Information Technology Ltd

ALPHA SVCS & HLDGS S A by Alpha Services and Holdings SA

Alpha Services and Holdings SA

ALPHA SVCS & HLDGS S/ADR by Alpha Services and Holdings SA

ALBERT LABS INTL CORP by ALBERT LABS INTL CORP.

Albert Labs International Corp

Avalon Globocare Corp

AllianceBlock - United States Dollar

COMMUTY CAP BNCSHS INC by Community Capital Bancshares, Inc.

Community Capital Bancshares Inc

Albemarle Corporation Depositary Shares each representing a 1/20th of 7.25% Series A Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock

WIIM

Albemarle shares are trading lower after Baird and Citigroup cut their respective price targets on the stock.

Wall Street gained ground by midday trading on Tuesday, as investor concerns over the economic impact of trade tensions continued to ease following recent signs that the Trump administration was taking <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/04/44812727/bessent-says-tariffs-on-china-are-far-from-a-joke-dismisses-treasury-dumping-fears">a more conciliatory approach.</a>
All major indexes were in positive territory, with tech stocks leading the way thanks to strong performances by Netflix Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NFLX#NASDAQ">NFLX</a>) and Palantir Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PLTR#NASDAQ">PLTR</a>), both rising about 6%.
The streaming giant climbed following a <a href="https://www.wsj.com/business/media/netflix-aims-to-join-the-1-trillion-club-fdacb250">Wall Street Journal report</a> that it plans to double revenue by 2030, citing sources. Netflix is set to release its first-quarter earnings on Thursday after market close.
The S&amp;P 500 has now recovered nearly 80% of the losses suffered after Trump's tariff announcement on April 2.
Among sectors, financials led the gains, climbing 1.3%, supported by strong earnings reports from Bank of America Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BAC#NYSE">BAC</a>) and Citigroup Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/C#NYSE">C</a>), which surged 4.3% and 3.8%, respectively.
The U.S. Dollar Index (DXY) rebounded 0.5%, aiming to end a five-day losing streak, while Treasury yields declined further, easing fears of a potential sell-off of U.S. assets by foreign investors. Yields on the 10-year Treasury fell five basis points to 4.33%, following an 11-basis-point drop on Monday.
In commodities, gold edged up 0.4% to $3,223 per ounce, while oil prices slipped 0.8% to $61 per barrel. Natural gas dropped 1.6% to $3.25 per million British thermal units, approaching its lowest level since mid-December 2024.
Crypto markets remained relatively quiet, with Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) rising 0.5% to $85,000.
<h1 class="wp-block-heading">Tuesday&#8217;s Performance In Major U.S. Indices, ETFs</h1>
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Major Indices</td>
<td>Price</td>
<td>1-day chg %</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Nasdaq 100</td>
<td>18,934.51</td>
<td>0.7%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Russell 2000</td>
<td>1,888.28</td>
<td>0.4%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>S&amp;P 500</td>
<td>5,424.34</td>
<td>0.3%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Dow Jones</td>
<td>40,639.56</td>
<td>0.3%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Updated at 12:20 p.m. ET</figcaption></figure>
According to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/?utm_source=BZprocontent&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1">Benzinga Pro</a>&nbsp;data:
<ul>
<li>The&nbsp;SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) rose 0.3% to $540.87.</li>
<li>The&nbsp;SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DIA#NYSE">DIA</a>) inched 0.1% higher to $405.36.</li>
<li>The tech-heavy&nbsp;Invesco QQQ Trust Series&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>)&nbsp;increased 0.7% to $460.14.</li>
<li>The&nbsp;iShares Russell 2000 ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IWM#NYSE">IWM</a>) edged 0.4% higher to $187.22.</li>
<li>The&nbsp;Financial&nbsp;Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLF#NYSE">XLF</a>) outperformed, up 1.3%; the&nbsp;Health Care&nbsp;Select Sector SPDR Fund&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLV#NYSE">XLV</a>) lagged, down 0.5%.</li>
</ul>

<h1 class="wp-block-heading">S&amp;P 500&#8217;s Top 5 Gainers On Monday</h1>
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Company</th>
<th>% Change</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Netflix, Inc. </td>
<td>5.88%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Palantir Technologies Inc.</td>
<td>5.18%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HPE#NYSE">HPE</a>)</td>
<td>4.87%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>CrowdStrike Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CRWD#NASDAQ">CRWD</a>)</td>
<td>4.53%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Bank of America Corporation </td>
<td>4.38%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
<h1 class="wp-block-heading">S&amp;P 500&#8217;s Worst 5 Losers On Monday</h1>
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Company</th>
<th>% Change</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Albemarle Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ALB#NYSE">ALB</a>)</td>
<td>-4.25%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Molina Healthcare, Inc. (NYSE: МОH)</td>
<td>-3.66%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ZBH#NYSE">ZBH</a>)</td>
<td>-3.14%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Moderna, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MRNA#NASDAQ">MRNA</a>)</td>
<td>-2.94%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>The Campbell&#8217;s Company (NYSE: СРB)</td>
<td>-2.75%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
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</ul>

Earnings

Equities

Government

Large Cap

Macro Economic Events

Mid Cap

Regulations

Sector ETFs

Broad U.S. Equity ETFs

Econ #s

Economics

Tech

ETFs

$BTC

CRWD

SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF Trust

MRNA

NFLX

PLTR

Select Sector SPDR-Consumer Discretionary

Stocks Edge Up On Strong Bank Earnings, Netflix Soars, Dollar Rebounds: What's Driving Markets Tuesday?

Citigroup analyst Patrick Cunningham maintains Albemarle (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ALB#NYSE">ALB</a>) with a Neutral and lowers the price target from $85 to $64.

News

Price Target

Analyst Ratings

Citigroup Maintains Neutral on Albemarle, Lowers Price Target to $64

Baird analyst Ben Kallo maintains Albemarle (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ALB#NYSE">ALB</a>) with a Neutral and lowers the price target from $77 to $60.

Baird Maintains Neutral on Albemarle, Lowers Price Target to $60

Keybanc analyst Bradley Thomas maintains Albemarle (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ALB#NYSE">ALB</a>) with a Overweight and lowers the price target from $122 to $102.

Keybanc Maintains Overweight on Albemarle, Lowers Price Target to $102

Truist Securities analyst Peter Osterland maintains Albemarle (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ALB#NYSE">ALB</a>) with a Hold and lowers the price target from $85 to $65.

Truist Securities Maintains Hold on Albemarle, Lowers Price Target to $65

AXTA

Shares of companies in the broader chemicals sector are trading lower as stocks pull back after surging Wednesday following President Trump's tariff pause announcement.

Wells Fargo analyst Michael Sison maintains Albemarle (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ALB#NYSE">ALB</a>) with a Equal-Weight and lowers the price target from $80 to $60.

Wells Fargo Maintains Equal-Weight on Albemarle, Lowers Price Target to $60

U.S. stocks staged a broad-based rally on Monday, snapping a volatile losing streak after President Donald Trump hinted at a more diplomatic <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/tariffs">approach to tariff negotiations.</a>
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said the U.S. is handling a "massive amount of requests for negotiations," referencing active talks with South Korea and hinting that China "wants to make a deal, badly."
He also mentioned a joint venture involving an Alaska pipeline and military cost-sharing, asserting that South Korea&#8217;s top negotiation team was en route to the U.S.
Meanwhile, Fed speakers begin to highlight the negative economic impact from tariffs. &#8220;We can&#8217;t really wait to the end of the quarter plus one month before we find out that investment really dropped off and GDP growth is shrinking,&#8221; Chicago Fed President Austan Goolsbee said.
By midday trading in New York, all major U.S. stock indices were firmly in the green. The S&amp;P 500 rose 1.4%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 1.1%, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite led with a 1.8% jump. Technology stocks were the day's clear outperformers, driven by a strong rebound in the semiconductor sector.
The iShares Semiconductor ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SOXX#NASDAQ">SOXX</a>) surged 3.3%, marking its strongest intraday gain since September 2024. Broadcom Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AVGO#NASDAQ">AVGO</a>) led the charge with a 7.3% jump, followed by Marvell Technology Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MRVL#NASDAQ">MRVL</a>) and Palantir Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PLTR#NASDAQ">PLTR</a>), which both climbed 6.1%.
In commodities, gold prices rose 0.5% to $2,335 per ounce, poised to snap a three-session losing streak. Oil prices also saw a firm recovery, with WTI crude advancing 1.5% to $61.50 per barrel, reversing recent weakness. U.S. Treasury yields remained largely flat. 
In contrast, cryptocurrency markets failed to participate in the rally. Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) fell another 1% to $78,000. 
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Major Indices</td>
<td>Price</td>
<td>1-day %chg</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Nasdaq 100</td>
<td>17,781.63</td>
<td>2.0%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Dow Jones</td>
<td>38,718.65</td>
<td>2.0%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>S&amp;P 500</td>
<td>5,144.86</td>
<td>1.6%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Russell 2000</td>
<td>1,821.21</td>
<td>0.6%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Updated by 12:20 p.m. ET</figcaption></figure>
According to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/?utm_source=BZprocontent&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1">Benzinga Pro</a>&nbsp;data:
<ul>
<li>The&nbsp;SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) rose 1.8% to $513.37.</li>
<li>The&nbsp;SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DIA#NYSE">DIA</a>) rallied 2% to $387.02.</li>
<li>The tech-heavy&nbsp;Invesco QQQ Trust Series&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>)&nbsp;rose 1.9% to $431.23.</li>
<li>The&nbsp;iShares Russell 2000 ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IWM#NYSE">IWM</a>) inched 0.4% higher to 180.33.</li>
<li>The&nbsp;Financials&nbsp;Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLF#NYSE">XLF</a>) outperformed, up 2.5%; the&nbsp;Materials&nbsp;Select Sector SPDR Fund&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLB#NYSE">XLB</a>) lagged, down 0.1%.</li>
</ul>
<h1 class="wp-block-heading">S&amp;P 500&#8217;s Top 5 Performers</h1>
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Name</td>
<td>Chg %</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Humana Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HUM#NYSE">HUM</a>)</td>
<td>9.93%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Sandisk Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SNDK#NASDAQ">SNDK</a>)</td>
<td>8.15%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>CVS Health Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CVS#NYSE">CVS</a>)</td>
<td>6.48%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>UnitedHealth Group Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UNH#NYSE">UNH</a>) </td>
<td>5.98%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Western Digital Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WDC#NASDAQ">WDC</a>)</td>
<td>5.77%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
<h1 class="wp-block-heading">S&amp;P 500&#8217;s Worst 5 Losers</h1>
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Name</td>
<td>Chg %</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Albemarle Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ALB#NYSE">ALB</a>)</td>
<td>-8.18%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>lululemon athletica (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LULU#NASDAQ">LULU</a>)</td>
<td>-4.53%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Enphase Energy, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ENPH#NASDAQ">ENPH</a>)</td>
<td>-4.39%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Celanese Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CE#NYSE">CE</a>)</td>
<td>-3.97%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Ralph Lauren Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RL#NYSE">RL</a>)</td>
<td>-3.50%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
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Photo: Shutterstock

Federal Reserve

AVGO

ENPH

LULU

MRVL

SNDK

iShares PHLX SOX Semiconductor Sector Index Fund

SOXX

Stocks Rebound, Chipmakers Soar On Trade Deal Hopes, Bitcoin Lags: What's Driving Markets Tuesday?

Across the recent three months, 9 analysts have shared their insights on Albemarle (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ALB#NYSE">ALB</a>), expressing a variety of opinions spanning from bullish to bearish.
The following table encapsulates their recent ratings, offering a glimpse into the evolving sentiments over the past 30 days and comparing them to the preceding months.
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th></th>
<th align="right">Bullish</th>
<th align="right">Somewhat Bullish</th>
<th align="right">Indifferent</th>
<th align="right">Somewhat Bearish</th>
<th align="right">Bearish</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Total Ratings</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">1</td>
<td align="right">6</td>
<td align="right">2</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Last 30D</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">1</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>1M Ago</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2M Ago</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">1</td>
<td align="right">4</td>
<td align="right">2</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>3M Ago</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">1</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
Analysts have recently evaluated Albemarle and provided 12-month price targets. The average target is $85.11, accompanied by a high estimate of $122.00 and a low estimate of $64.00. Observing a downward trend, the current average is 8.73% lower than the prior average price target of $93.25. 
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1744056042_0.png" alt="price target chart" />
<h2>Investigating Analyst Ratings: An Elaborate Study</h2>
In examining recent analyst actions, we gain insights into how financial experts perceive Albemarle. The following summary outlines key analysts, their recent evaluations, and adjustments to ratings and price targets.
&#x7C; Analyst &#x7C; Analyst Firm &#x7C; Action Taken &#x7C; Rating &#x7C;Current Price Target&#x7C; Prior Price Target &#x7C; 
&#x7C;--------------------&#x7C;--------------------&#x7C;---------------&#x7C;---------------&#x7C;--------------------&#x7C;--------------------&#x7C; 
&#x7C;Joshua Spector &#x7C;UBS &#x7C;Lowers &#x7C;Neutral &#x7C; $64.00&#x7C;$86.00 &#x7C; 
&#x7C;John Roberts &#x7C;Mizuho &#x7C;Lowers &#x7C;Neutral &#x7C; $85.00&#x7C;$90.00 &#x7C; 
&#x7C;Charles Neivert &#x7C;Piper Sandler &#x7C;Lowers &#x7C;Underweight &#x7C; $85.00&#x7C;$90.00 &#x7C; 
&#x7C;Vincent Andrews &#x7C;Morgan Stanley &#x7C;Lowers &#x7C;Underweight &#x7C; $68.00&#x7C;$73.00 &#x7C; 
&#x7C;Ben Isaacson &#x7C;Scotiabank &#x7C;Lowers &#x7C;Sector Perform &#x7C; $75.00&#x7C;$85.00 &#x7C; 
&#x7C;Aleksey Yefremov &#x7C;Keybanc &#x7C;Lowers &#x7C;Overweight &#x7C; $122.00&#x7C;$127.00 &#x7C; 
&#x7C;Peter Osterland &#x7C;Truist Securities &#x7C;Lowers &#x7C;Hold &#x7C; $85.00&#x7C;$96.00 &#x7C; 
&#x7C;Joshua Spector &#x7C;UBS &#x7C;Lowers &#x7C;Neutral &#x7C; $86.00&#x7C;$99.00 &#x7C; 
&#x7C;Peter Osterland &#x7C;Truist Securities &#x7C;Announces &#x7C;Hold &#x7C; $96.00&#x7C;- &#x7C;
<h3>Key Insights:</h3>
<ul>
<li>Action Taken: In response to dynamic market conditions and company performance, analysts update their recommendations. Whether they 'Maintain', 'Raise', or 'Lower' their stance, it signifies their reaction to recent developments related to Albemarle. This insight gives a snapshot of analysts' perspectives on the current state of the company.</li>
<li>Rating: Offering a comprehensive view, analysts assess stocks qualitatively, spanning from 'Outperform' to 'Underperform'. These ratings convey expectations for the relative performance of Albemarle compared to the broader market.</li>
<li>Price Targets: Analysts navigate through adjustments in price targets, providing estimates for Albemarle's future value. Comparing current and prior targets offers insights into analysts' evolving expectations.</li>
</ul>
Considering these analyst evaluations in conjunction with other financial indicators can offer a comprehensive understanding of Albemarle's market position. Stay informed and make well-informed decisions with our Ratings Table.
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/ALB/analyst-ratings?adType=benzinga-insights&amp;ad=analyst-ratings&amp;campaign=wallstreetadvantage">Stay up to date on Albemarle analyst ratings.</a>
<h2>Get to Know Albemarle Better</h2>
Albemarle is one of the world's largest lithium producers. In the lithium industry, the majority of demand comes from batteries, where lithium is used as the energy storage material, particularly in electric vehicles. Albemarle is a fully integrated lithium producer. Its upstream resources include salt brine deposits in Chile and the US and two hard rock mines in Australia, both of which are joint ventures. The company operates lithium refining plants in Chile, the US, Australia, and China. Albemarle is a global leader in the production of bromine, used in flame retardants. It is also a major producer of oil refining catalysts.
<h3>Breaking Down Albemarle's Financial Performance</h3>
Market Capitalization Analysis: The company's market capitalization is below the industry average, suggesting that it is relatively smaller compared to peers. This could be due to various factors, including perceived growth potential or operational scale.
Decline in Revenue: Over the 3M period, Albemarle faced challenges, resulting in a decline of approximately -47.72% in revenue growth as of 31 December, 2024. This signifies a reduction in the company's top-line earnings. As compared to competitors, the company encountered difficulties, with a growth rate lower than the average among peers in the Materials sector.
Net Margin: Albemarle's net margin is below industry standards, pointing towards difficulties in achieving strong profitability. With a net margin of 2.73%, the company may encounter challenges in effective cost control.
Return on Equity (ROE): Albemarle's ROE is below industry averages, indicating potential challenges in efficiently utilizing equity capital. With an ROE of 0.43%, the company may face hurdles in achieving optimal financial returns.
Return on Assets (ROA): Albemarle's ROA is below industry standards, pointing towards difficulties in efficiently utilizing assets. With an ROA of 0.2%, the company may encounter challenges in delivering satisfactory returns from its assets.
Debt Management: Albemarle's debt-to-equity ratio is below the industry average at 0.47, reflecting a lower dependency on debt financing and a more conservative financial approach.
<h2>How Are Analyst Ratings Determined?</h2>
Analyst ratings serve as essential indicators of stock performance, provided by experts in banking and financial systems. These specialists diligently analyze company financial statements, participate in conference calls, and engage with insiders to generate quarterly ratings for individual stocks.
Beyond their standard evaluations, some analysts contribute predictions for metrics like growth estimates, earnings, and revenue, furnishing investors with additional guidance. Users of analyst ratings should be mindful that this specialized advice is shaped by human perspectives and may be subject to variability.
Which Stocks Are Analysts Recommending Now?
Benzinga Edge gives you instant access to all major analyst upgrades, downgrades, and price targets. Sort by accuracy, upside potential, and more. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-checkout/?t=be8be9arja3be22bz21&amp;adType=benzinga-insights&amp;ad=analyst-ratings&amp;campaign=wallstreetadvantage">Click here to stay ahead of the market</a>.
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

Analyst Expectations For Albemarle's Future

UBS analyst Joshua Spector maintains Albemarle (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ALB#NYSE">ALB</a>) with a Neutral and lowers the price target from $86 to $64.

UBS Maintains Neutral on Albemarle, Lowers Price Target to $64

ASPI

FEAM

MATV

MEOH

MERC

PACK

TECK

VALE

Shares of companies within the broader materials sector are trading lower as global markets continue to decline following President Trump's announcement of sweeping tariffs.

CENX

Shares of companies within the broader materials sector are trading lower as markets react to President Trump's announcement of sweeping tariffs.

Top U.S. technology multinationals, which have been the biggest beneficiaries of globalization, come to the fore as tariffs could heavily impact the cost of the goods sold by these firms.
What Happened: The data shared by Gina Martin Adams, the chief equity strategist and global director of equity strategy at Bloomberg Intelligence, shows the top tech companies in the U.S. that are likely to be impacted by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/04/44621408/market-access-has-a-price-trump-unveils-list-of-tariffs-countries-targeted">tariffs announced</a> by President Donald Trump on Wednesday.
These firms &#8220;may suffer the most as tariffs spark trade turmoil and threaten the long-expanding margin domination of American companies,&#8221; explains Adams.
The graphic shared by her shows that <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/legal/25/04/44620411/mark-zuckerberg-led-meta-set-to-face-truth-at-senate-hearing-over-china-operations-and-communist-party-censorship-efforts">Mark Zuckerberg</a>&#8216;s Meta Platforms Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>) spends less than 10% of the total amount required for them to produce their products and services in the U.S., making it the most vulnerable to tariffs.
The top 10 firms also include Advanced Micro Devices Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMD#NASDAQ">AMD</a>), Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>), and AT&amp;T Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/T#NYSE">T</a>).
Adams says that these firms could face more challenges in the wake of retaliation by other countries, further influencing the global supply chain. &#8220;White House tariffs may only be the start, as retaliations further strain global supply chains,&#8221; she adds.
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
<div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">US multinationals, arguably the biggest driver and beneficiary of globalization, may suffer most as tariffs spark trade turmoil and threaten margin domination of American companies. White House tariffs may only be the start, as retaliations further strain global supply chains. <a href="https://t.co/kbopS2fsT8">pic.twitter.com/kbopS2fsT8</a>
&mdash; Gina Martin Adams (@GinaMartinAdams) <a href="https://twitter.com/GinaMartinAdams/status/1907580802222690759?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 2, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/market-summary/25/04/44602836/tesla-short-interest-soars-to-2116-making-it-the-4th-largest-shorted-stock-heres-what-its-charts-are-indicating">Tesla Short Interest Soars To 21.16%, Making It 4th Most Shorted Stock Currently: Here&#8217;s What Its Charts Indicate</a>
Why It Matters: According to Adams, &#8220;Contrary to popular belief, mega-cap U.S. tech may be at considerable risk, with extremely high valuations and assumptions that margin moats will remain intact.
Companies with high facilities exposure and elevated cost of goods sold outside the U.S. face the greatest direct threats in the short run, while those with elevated revenue exposure are not immune.&#8221;
However, she adds, &#8220;Non-domestic stocks and defensive U.S. sectors may provide some haven as U.S. companies adjust to the new regime.&#8221;
Wedbush&#8217;s Daniel Ives adds that &#8220;Negotiations the only option at this point for White House.&#8221;
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
<div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">We would characterize this slate of tariffs as &quot;worse than the worst case scenario&quot; the Street was fearing. The biggest focus will be the China 34% tariff and Taiwan 32% and how this impacts supply chain and demand. Negotiations the only option at this point for White House.
&mdash; Dan Ives (@DivesTech) <a href="https://twitter.com/DivesTech/status/1907611902047338791?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 3, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
Whereas, Craig Shapiro of Bear Trap Reports contends by saying that Trump isn&#8217;t looking for concessions from trading partners, but &#8220;wants/needs the tariff revenues to help plug the fiscal deficit budget hole.&#8221;
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
<div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">What the market fails to realize is that Trump doesn&#39;t want concessions from trading partners. He wants/needs the tariff revenues to help plug the fiscal deficit budget hole <a href="https://t.co/nQf82Q2Zan">https://t.co/nQf82Q2Zan</a>
&mdash; Craig Shapiro (@ces921) <a href="https://twitter.com/ces921/status/1905609335599698141?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 28, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
Price Action: Here&#8217;s how these top 10 firms listed by Adams have performed.
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Companies</td>
<td>Wednesday After-Hours</td>
<td>YTD</td>
<td>One Year</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Meta Platforms Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>)</td>
<td>-4.83%</td>
<td>-2.55%</td>
<td>15.23%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Deckers Outdoor Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DECK#NYSE">DECK</a>)</td>
<td>-11.85%</td>
<td>-42.32%</td>
<td>-21.41%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Incyte Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/INCY#NASDAQ">INCY</a>)</td>
<td>-3.74%</td>
<td>-10.36%</td>
<td>12.69%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Advanced Micro Devices Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMD#NASDAQ">AMD</a>)</td>
<td>-5.79%</td>
<td>-14.65%</td>
<td>-43.04%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>)</td>
<td>-7.14%</td>
<td>-8.19%</td>
<td>31.97%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>AT&amp;T Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/T#NYSE">T</a>)</td>
<td>-0.64%</td>
<td>23.26%</td>
<td>59.80%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Albemarle Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ALB#NYSE">ALB</a>)</td>
<td>-3.32%</td>
<td>-15.23%</td>
<td>-43.94%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VZ#NYSE">VZ</a>)</td>
<td>0.02%</td>
<td>11.27%</td>
<td>4.44%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>T-Mobile Us Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TMUS#NASDAQ">TMUS</a>)</td>
<td>-2.68%</td>
<td>20.51%</td>
<td>62.05%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Best Buy Co Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BBY#NYSE">BBY</a>)</td>
<td>-8.99%</td>
<td>-12.12%</td>
<td>4.51%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
Ahead of the tariff announcements on Wednesday, the SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) and Invesco QQQ Trust ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>), which track the S&amp;P 500 index and Nasdaq 100 index, respectively, rose in trade. The SPY was up 0.63% to $564.52, while the QQQ advanced 0.73% to $476.15, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro</a> data.
On Thursday, the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/04/44620686/sp-500-nasdaq-futures-plunge-over-3-as-trumps-reciprocal-tariff-plan-hits-market-confidence">futures</a> of the Dow Jones index dropped 2.25%, whereas the S&amp;P 500 and Nasdaq 100 indices also slumped by 3.02% and 3.52%, respectively.
Read Next:
<ul>
<li><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44600269/mark-cuban-argues-ais-new-sht-will-drive-growth-not-deflation">Mark Cuban Dismisses Concerns of AI Causing Deflation, Calls It The &#8220;Greatest Growth And Productivity Engine Ever&#8221;</a></li>
</ul>
Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

Analyst Color

Market Summary

Futures

Markets

AAPL

DECK

INCY

TMUS

Meta, AMD, Apple, AT&T Among Biggest US Tech Giants That 'May Suffer The Most' As Tariffs Spark Trade Turmoil: Here's Why

Investors with a lot of money to spend have taken a bullish stance on Albemarle (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ALB#NYSE">ALB</a>).
And retail traders should know.
We noticed this today when the trades showed up on publicly available options history that we track here at Benzinga.
Whether these are institutions or just wealthy individuals, we don't know. But when something this big happens with ALB, it often means somebody knows something is about to happen.
So how do we know what these investors just did? 
Today, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/">Benzinga</a>'s options scanner spotted 8 uncommon options trades for Albemarle.
This isn't normal.
The overall sentiment of these big-money traders is split between 50% bullish and 50%, bearish.
Out of all of the special options we uncovered, 6 are puts, for a total amount of $279,415, and 2 are calls, for a total amount of $135,528.
<h3>Predicted Price Range</h3>
After evaluating the trading volumes and Open Interest, it's evident that the major market movers are focusing on a price band between $40.0 and $100.0 for Albemarle, spanning the last three months.
<h3>Analyzing Volume &amp; Open Interest</h3>
Looking at the volume and open interest is a powerful move while trading options. This data can help you track the liquidity and interest for Albemarle's options for a given strike price. Below, we can observe the evolution of the volume and open interest of calls and puts, respectively, for all of Albemarle's whale trades within a strike price range from $40.0 to $100.0 in the last 30 days. 
<h3>Albemarle 30-Day Option Volume &amp; Interest Snapshot</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1743185731_0.png" alt="Options Call Chart" />
<h3>Largest Options Trades Observed:</h3>

<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Ask</th>
<th>Bid</th>
<th>Price</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th>Open Interest</th>
<th align="right">Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>ALB</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>06/20/25</td>
<td>$26.75</td>
<td>$26.75</td>
<td>$26.75</td>
<td>$100.00</td>
<td>$88.2K</td>
<td>4.5K</td>
<td align="right">33</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ALB</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>05/16/25</td>
<td>$4.7</td>
<td>$4.65</td>
<td>$4.65</td>
<td>$70.00</td>
<td>$72.0K</td>
<td>239</td>
<td align="right">259</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ALB</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>05/16/25</td>
<td>$4.65</td>
<td>$4.6</td>
<td>$4.6</td>
<td>$75.00</td>
<td>$70.8K</td>
<td>45</td>
<td align="right">191</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ALB</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>06/20/25</td>
<td>$32.35</td>
<td>$32.35</td>
<td>$32.35</td>
<td>$40.00</td>
<td>$64.6K</td>
<td>27</td>
<td align="right">30</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ALB</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>06/20/25</td>
<td>$11.75</td>
<td>$11.5</td>
<td>$11.75</td>
<td>$80.00</td>
<td>$35.2K</td>
<td>5.5K</td>
<td align="right">1</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About Albemarle</h3>
Albemarle is one of the world's largest lithium producers. In the lithium industry, the majority of demand comes from batteries, where lithium is used as the energy storage material, particularly in electric vehicles. Albemarle is a fully integrated lithium producer. Its upstream resources include salt brine deposits in Chile and the US and two hard rock mines in Australia, both of which are joint ventures. The company operates lithium refining plants in Chile, the US, Australia, and China. Albemarle is a global leader in the production of bromine, used in flame retardants. It is also a major producer of oil refining catalysts.
In light of the recent options history for Albemarle, it's now appropriate to focus on the company itself. We aim to explore its current performance.
<h3>Current Position of Albemarle</h3>
<ul>
<li>Trading volume stands at 846,168, with ALB's price down by -3.67%, positioned at $72.01.</li>
<li>RSI indicators show the stock to be is currently neutral between overbought and oversold.</li>
<li>Earnings announcement expected in 33 days.</li>
</ul>
<h3>What Analysts Are Saying About Albemarle</h3>
1 market experts have recently issued ratings for this stock, with a consensus target price of $85.0.
Turn $1000 into $1270 in just 20 days?
20-year pro options trader reveals his one-line chart technique that shows when to buy and sell. Copy his trades, which have had averaged a 27% profit every 20 days. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/options-moneyline-2/?t=Moop1arja3be22op14&amp;adType=benzinga-insights&amp;ad=options-activity&amp;campaign=wallstreetadvantage">Click here for access</a>. 
&#x2A; Consistent in their evaluation, an analyst from Mizuho keeps a Neutral rating on Albemarle with a target price of $85. 
Options trading presents higher risks and potential rewards. Astute traders manage these risks by continually educating themselves, adapting their strategies, monitoring multiple indicators, and keeping a close eye on market movements. Stay informed about the latest Albemarle options trades with real-time alerts from <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/">Benzinga Pro</a>.

Options

Behind the Scenes of Albemarle's Latest Options Trends

Investors with a lot of money to spend have taken a bearish stance on Albemarle (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ALB#NYSE">ALB</a>).
And retail traders should know.
We noticed this today when the trades showed up on publicly available options history that we track here at Benzinga.
Whether these are institutions or just wealthy individuals, we don't know. But when something this big happens with ALB, it often means somebody knows something is about to happen.
So how do we know what these investors just did? 
Today, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/">Benzinga</a>'s options scanner spotted 10 uncommon options trades for Albemarle.
This isn't normal.
The overall sentiment of these big-money traders is split between 20% bullish and 60%, bearish.
Out of all of the special options we uncovered, 2 are puts, for a total amount of $80,015, and 8 are calls, for a total amount of $268,624.
<h3>Expected Price Movements</h3>
Analyzing the Volume and Open Interest in these contracts, it seems that the big players have been eyeing a price window from $70.0 to $110.0 for Albemarle during the past quarter. 
<h3>Insights into Volume &amp; Open Interest</h3>
Examining the volume and open interest provides crucial insights into stock research. This information is key in gauging liquidity and interest levels for Albemarle's options at certain strike prices. Below, we present a snapshot of the trends in volume and open interest for calls and puts across Albemarle's significant trades, within a strike price range of $70.0 to $110.0, over the past month.
<h3>Albemarle Call and Put Volume: 30-Day Overview</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1742917559_0.png" alt="Options Call Chart" />
<h3>Noteworthy Options Activity:</h3>

<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Ask</th>
<th>Bid</th>
<th>Price</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th>Open Interest</th>
<th align="right">Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>ALB</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>06/20/25</td>
<td>$6.9</td>
<td>$6.85</td>
<td>$6.9</td>
<td>$80.00</td>
<td>$41.4K</td>
<td>1.8K</td>
<td align="right">163</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ALB</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>03/20/26</td>
<td>$11.8</td>
<td>$11.8</td>
<td>$11.8</td>
<td>$75.00</td>
<td>$41.3K</td>
<td>37</td>
<td align="right">37</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ALB</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>01/15/27</td>
<td>$13.8</td>
<td>$13.2</td>
<td>$13.53</td>
<td>$100.00</td>
<td>$40.5K</td>
<td>332</td>
<td align="right">30</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ALB</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>09/19/25</td>
<td>$16.35</td>
<td>$16.0</td>
<td>$16.0</td>
<td>$70.00</td>
<td>$40.0K</td>
<td>459</td>
<td align="right">25</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ALB</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/16/26</td>
<td>$13.35</td>
<td>$13.35</td>
<td>$13.35</td>
<td>$80.00</td>
<td>$38.7K</td>
<td>1.1K</td>
<td align="right">29</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About Albemarle</h3>
Albemarle is one of the world's largest lithium producers. In the lithium industry, the majority of demand comes from batteries, where lithium is used as the energy storage material, particularly in electric vehicles. Albemarle is a fully integrated lithium producer. Its upstream resources include salt brine deposits in Chile and the US and two hard rock mines in Australia, both of which are joint ventures. The company operates lithium refining plants in Chile, the US, Australia, and China. Albemarle is a global leader in the production of bromine, used in flame retardants. It is also a major producer of oil refining catalysts.
<h3>Current Position of Albemarle</h3>
<ul>
<li>Trading volume stands at 450,596, with ALB's price down by -0.01%, positioned at $77.54.</li>
<li>RSI indicators show the stock to be may be approaching overbought.</li>
<li>Earnings announcement expected in 36 days.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Professional Analyst Ratings for Albemarle</h3>
1 market experts have recently issued ratings for this stock, with a consensus target price of $85.0.
Turn $1000 into $1270 in just 20 days?
20-year pro options trader reveals his one-line chart technique that shows when to buy and sell. Copy his trades, which have had averaged a 27% profit every 20 days. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/options-moneyline-2/?t=Moop1arja3be22op14&amp;adType=benzinga-insights&amp;ad=options-activity&amp;campaign=wallstreetadvantage">Click here for access</a>. 
&#x2A; An analyst from Mizuho has decided to maintain their Neutral rating on Albemarle, which currently sits at a price target of $85. 
Options are a riskier asset compared to just trading the stock, but they have higher profit potential. Serious options traders manage this risk by educating themselves daily, scaling in and out of trades, following more than one indicator, and following the markets closely.
If you want to stay updated on the latest options trades for Albemarle, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/">Benzinga Pro</a> gives you real-time options trades alerts.

This Is What Whales Are Betting On Albemarle

KoBold Metals, a startup backed by billionaires Bill Gates and Jeff Bezos, has approached the Democratic Republic of Congo's (DRC) government with an offer to develop one of the world's largest hard rock <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/lithium" rel="noreferrer noopener">lithium mines</a>.
The mining startup looks to take over the disputed mining license for the Roche Dure deposit, taking advantage of the two governments' discussions about a potential <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/03/44216408/dr-congo-explores-a-minerals-for-security-deal-with-the-us" rel="noreferrer noopener">minerals-for-security partnership</a>.
KoBold's bid could resolve an ongoing dispute between Australia's AVZ Minerals and China's Zijin Mining Group. AVZ, which previously controlled the lithium project, lost its rights in 2023 when the government split the permit, handing part of it to Zijin. Per Bloomberg's <a target="_blank" href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-03-21/kobold-makes-offer-for-congo-lithium-as-country-courts-us" rel="noreferrer noopener">report</a>, KoBold's proposal involves compensating AVZ and acquiring the remaining stake while allowing Zijin to maintain control over the northern section of the deposit.
Despite an 80% decline in lithium prices since a peak in 2022, Zijin has actively expanded its operations, acting greedy when others are fearful in anticipation of a future demand and price rebound.
Meanwhile, KoBold staked its claim as a unique company in this industry, using a proprietary AI-powered technology that analyzes geological data more accurately than traditional exploration methods.
This tech-driven approach has attracted over $400 million in funding from high-profile investors, including Breakthrough Energy Ventures (founded by Gates) and Bezos' Bezos Expeditions.
Arguably, the company's best success has been in neighboring Zambia, where it found the Mingomba asset – possibly the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/02/36940360/kobold-metals-announces-historic-copper-discovery-in-zambia" rel="noreferrer noopener">best copper asset in the country</a>. Experts believe that once operational in the early 2030s, it could rival Zijin's Kamoa-Kakula mine in DRC, which produced almost 400,000 tons of copper in 2023.
While DRC is the world's largest producer of cobalt, lithium extraction in the country has lagged behind other regions, such as Australia and South America.
Roche Dure could change the balance, placing the country on the map of major battery-grade lithium producers, as KoBold's interest aligns with the effort to bring this region closer under U.S. influence and pacify the unrest that threatens mineral production.
Still, extraction of hard rock lithium requires extensive open-pit excavation. This traditional method generates significantly more waste rock, consumes vast amounts of water, and uses toxic chemicals in processing, posing greater risks to local ecosystems and communities. Yet, in anticipation of lithium demand, companies are increasingly looking for large-scale projects.
KoBold Metals remains a private company, but CEO Josh Goldman told CNBC a year ago that it plans to go public within three to four years.
Read Next:
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Photo via Shutterstock

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Albemarle's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ALB#NYSE">ALB</a>) short percent of float has risen 6.87% since its last report. The company recently reported that it has 12.01 million shares sold short, which is 11.66% of all regular shares that are available for trading. Based on its trading volume, it would take traders 4.69 days to cover their short positions on average.
<h3>Why Short Interest Matters</h3>
Short interest is the number of shares that have been sold short but have not yet been covered or closed out. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-short-a-stock?adType=benzinga-insights&amp;ad=short-interest&amp;campaign=wallstreetadvantage">Short selling</a> is when a trader sells shares of a company they do not own, with the hope that the price will fall. Traders make money from short selling if the price of the stock falls and they lose if it rises.
Short interest is important to track because it can act as an indicator of market sentiment towards a particular stock. An increase in short interest can signal that investors have become more bearish, while a decrease in short interest can signal they have become more bullish.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/short-interest?adType=benzinga-insights&amp;ad=short-interest&amp;campaign=wallstreetadvantage">List of the most shorted stocks</a>
<h3>Albemarle Short Interest Graph (3 Months)</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1742325315_0.png" alt="short_fig" />
As you can see from the chart above the percentage of shares that are sold short for Albemarle has grown since its last report. This does not mean that the stock is going to fall in the near-term but traders should be aware that more shares are being shorted.
<h3>Comparing Albemarle's Short Interest Against Its Peers</h3>
Peer comparison is a popular technique amongst analysts and investors for gauging how well a company is performing. A company's peer is another company that has similar characteristics to it, such as industry, size, age, and financial structure. You can find a company's peer group by reading its 10-K, proxy filing, or by doing your own similarity analysis.
According to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/">Benzinga Pro</a>, Albemarle's peer group average for short interest as a percentage of float is 3.18%, which means the company has more short interest than most of its peers.
Did you know that increasing short interest can actually be bullish for a stock? <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-make-money-on-a-short-squeeze?adType=benzinga-insights&amp;ad=short-interest&amp;campaign=wallstreetadvantage">This post by Benzinga Money explains how you can profit from it.</a>
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and was reviewed by an editor.

Short Sellers

Short Ideas

Trading Ideas

What Does the Market Think About Albemarle?

Investors with a lot of money to spend have taken a bullish stance on Albemarle (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ALB#NYSE">ALB</a>).
And retail traders should know.
We noticed this today when the trades showed up on publicly available options history that we track here at Benzinga.
Whether these are institutions or just wealthy individuals, we don't know. But when something this big happens with ALB, it often means somebody knows something is about to happen.
So how do we know what these investors just did? 
Today, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/">Benzinga</a>'s options scanner spotted 9 uncommon options trades for Albemarle.
This isn't normal.
The overall sentiment of these big-money traders is split between 55% bullish and 33%, bearish.
Out of all of the special options we uncovered, 5 are puts, for a total amount of $410,943, and 4 are calls, for a total amount of $481,564.
<h3>Predicted Price Range</h3>
After evaluating the trading volumes and Open Interest, it's evident that the major market movers are focusing on a price band between $60.0 and $125.0 for Albemarle, spanning the last three months.
<h3>Volume &amp; Open Interest Development</h3>
Assessing the volume and open interest is a strategic step in options trading. These metrics shed light on the liquidity and investor interest in Albemarle's options at specified strike prices. The forthcoming data visualizes the fluctuation in volume and open interest for both calls and puts, linked to Albemarle's substantial trades, within a strike price spectrum from $60.0 to $125.0 over the preceding 30 days.
<h3>Albemarle Option Volume And Open Interest Over Last 30 Days</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1742230838_0.png" alt="Options Call Chart" />
<h3>Biggest Options Spotted:</h3>

<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Ask</th>
<th>Bid</th>
<th>Price</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th>Open Interest</th>
<th align="right">Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>ALB</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>04/17/25</td>
<td>$19.0</td>
<td>$18.7</td>
<td>$19.0</td>
<td>$60.00</td>
<td>$380.0K</td>
<td>1.8K</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ALB</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/16/26</td>
<td>$14.35</td>
<td>$14.1</td>
<td>$14.1</td>
<td>$80.00</td>
<td>$211.5K</td>
<td>949</td>
<td align="right">150</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ALB</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>04/17/25</td>
<td>$0.85</td>
<td>$0.84</td>
<td>$0.84</td>
<td>$65.00</td>
<td>$74.4K</td>
<td>1.0K</td>
<td align="right">886</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ALB</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>06/20/25</td>
<td>$24.5</td>
<td>$23.15</td>
<td>$23.41</td>
<td>$100.00</td>
<td>$58.5K</td>
<td>4.5K</td>
<td align="right">25</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ALB</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>09/19/25</td>
<td>$16.7</td>
<td>$16.3</td>
<td>$16.48</td>
<td>$70.00</td>
<td>$41.2K</td>
<td>431</td>
<td align="right">25</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About Albemarle</h3>
Albemarle is one of the world's largest lithium producers. In the lithium industry, the majority of demand comes from batteries, where lithium is used as the energy storage material, particularly in electric vehicles. Albemarle is a fully integrated lithium producer. Its upstream resources include salt brine deposits in Chile and the US and two hard rock mines in Australia, both of which are joint ventures. The company operates lithium refining plants in Chile, the US, Australia, and China. Albemarle is a global leader in the production of bromine, used in flame retardants. It is also a major producer of oil refining catalysts.
Having examined the options trading patterns of Albemarle, our attention now turns directly to the company. This shift allows us to delve into its present market position and performance
<h3>Current Position of Albemarle</h3>
<ul>
<li>Trading volume stands at 1,136,118, with ALB's price up by 4.12%, positioned at $78.33.</li>
<li>RSI indicators show the stock to be is currently neutral between overbought and oversold.</li>
<li>Earnings announcement expected in 44 days.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Expert Opinions on Albemarle</h3>
In the last month, 4 experts released ratings on this stock with an average target price of $78.25.
Turn $1000 into $1270 in just 20 days?
20-year pro options trader reveals his one-line chart technique that shows when to buy and sell. Copy his trades, which have had averaged a 27% profit every 20 days. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/options-moneyline-2/?t=Moop1arja3be22op14&amp;adType=benzinga-insights&amp;ad=options-activity&amp;campaign=wallstreetadvantage">Click here for access</a>. 
&#x2A; An analyst from Piper Sandler has decided to maintain their Underweight rating on Albemarle, which currently sits at a price target of $85. 
&#x2A; Maintaining their stance, an analyst from Scotiabank continues to hold a Sector Perform rating for Albemarle, targeting a price of $75. 
&#x2A; Consistent in their evaluation, an analyst from Morgan Stanley keeps a Underweight rating on Albemarle with a target price of $68. 
&#x2A; An analyst from Mizuho has decided to maintain their Neutral rating on Albemarle, which currently sits at a price target of $85. 
Trading options involves greater risks but also offers the potential for higher profits. Savvy traders mitigate these risks through ongoing education, strategic trade adjustments, utilizing various indicators, and staying attuned to market dynamics. Keep up with the latest options trades for Albemarle with <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/">Benzinga Pro</a> for real-time alerts.

Financial giants have made a conspicuous bullish move on Albemarle. Our analysis of options history for Albemarle (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ALB#NYSE">ALB</a>) revealed 8 unusual trades.
Delving into the details, we found 62% of traders were bullish, while 25% showed bearish tendencies. Out of all the trades we spotted, 2 were puts, with a value of $88,092, and 6 were calls, valued at $483,146.
<h3>Predicted Price Range</h3>
Taking into account the Volume and Open Interest on these contracts, it appears that whales have been targeting a price range from $60.0 to $100.0 for Albemarle over the last 3 months. 
<h3>Analyzing Volume &amp; Open Interest</h3>
In today's trading context, the average open interest for options of Albemarle stands at 621.5, with a total volume reaching 1,182.00. The accompanying chart delineates the progression of both call and put option volume and open interest for high-value trades in Albemarle, situated within the strike price corridor from $60.0 to $100.0, throughout the last 30 days.
<h3>Albemarle Call and Put Volume: 30-Day Overview</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1741883455_0.png" alt="Options Call Chart" />
<h3>Significant Options Trades Detected:</h3>

<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Ask</th>
<th>Bid</th>
<th>Price</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th>Open Interest</th>
<th align="right">Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>ALB</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>04/17/25</td>
<td>$13.35</td>
<td>$12.55</td>
<td>$13.2</td>
<td>$60.00</td>
<td>$158.4K</td>
<td>1.7K</td>
<td align="right">1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ALB</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/16/26</td>
<td>$5.8</td>
<td>$5.7</td>
<td>$5.75</td>
<td>$100.00</td>
<td>$135.6K</td>
<td>626</td>
<td align="right">242</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ALB</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>09/19/25</td>
<td>$6.4</td>
<td>$6.35</td>
<td>$6.4</td>
<td>$85.00</td>
<td>$62.7K</td>
<td>461</td>
<td align="right">105</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ALB</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>03/21/25</td>
<td>$3.45</td>
<td>$3.35</td>
<td>$3.4</td>
<td>$73.00</td>
<td>$46.2K</td>
<td>195</td>
<td align="right">542</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ALB</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>04/17/25</td>
<td>$2.2</td>
<td>$2.16</td>
<td>$2.2</td>
<td>$80.00</td>
<td>$44.0K</td>
<td>710</td>
<td align="right">3</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About Albemarle</h3>
Albemarle is one of the world's largest lithium producers. In the lithium industry, the majority of demand comes from batteries, where lithium is used as the energy storage material, particularly in electric vehicles. Albemarle is a fully integrated lithium producer. Its upstream resources include salt brine deposits in Chile and the US and two hard rock mines in Australia, both of which are joint ventures. The company operates lithium refining plants in Chile, the US, Australia, and China. Albemarle is a global leader in the production of bromine, used in flame retardants. It is also a major producer of oil refining catalysts.
In light of the recent options history for Albemarle, it's now appropriate to focus on the company itself. We aim to explore its current performance.
<h3>Current Position of Albemarle</h3>
<ul>
<li>Currently trading with a volume of 545,996, the ALB's price is down by -1.62%, now at $71.63. </li>
<li>RSI readings suggest the stock is currently may be approaching oversold.</li>
<li>Anticipated earnings release is in 48 days.</li>
</ul>
<h3>What The Experts Say On Albemarle</h3>
A total of 5 professional analysts have given their take on this stock in the last 30 days, setting an average price target of $89.0.
Unusual Options Activity Detected: Smart Money on the Move
Benzinga Edge's Unusual Options board spots potential market movers before they happen. See what positions big money is taking on your favorite stocks. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-checkout/?t=Be8be9arja3be22bz20&amp;adType=benzinga-insights&amp;ad=options-activity&amp;campaign=wallstreetadvantage">Click here for access</a>. 
&#x2A; An analyst from Piper Sandler has decided to maintain their Underweight rating on Albemarle, which currently sits at a price target of $85. 
&#x2A; An analyst from Truist Securities persists with their Hold rating on Albemarle, maintaining a target price of $85. 
&#x2A; An analyst from Mizuho persists with their Neutral rating on Albemarle, maintaining a target price of $85. 
&#x2A; Maintaining their stance, an analyst from Keybanc continues to hold a Overweight rating for Albemarle, targeting a price of $122. 
&#x2A; An analyst from Morgan Stanley persists with their Underweight rating on Albemarle, maintaining a target price of $68. 
Options trading presents higher risks and potential rewards. Astute traders manage these risks by continually educating themselves, adapting their strategies, monitoring multiple indicators, and keeping a close eye on market movements. Stay informed about the latest Albemarle options trades with real-time alerts from <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/">Benzinga Pro</a>.

Decoding Albemarle's Options Activity: What's the Big Picture?

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