Mizuho Rates Albemarle (ALB) Outperform, $130 Price Target

Mizuho has upgraded its rating on Albemarle Corporation to Outperform with a price target of $130, a 36.20% upside from the current price.

By EarningsIQ Research Desk · Published Oct 16, 2026, 2:28 PM EDT

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Mizuho rated Albemarle Corporation ($ALB) "Outperform" with a $130 price target on October 14, 2026.

Since the rating, $ALB is down 2.5% to date (from the $97.97 close on Oct 14, 2026).

ALB Albemarle Corporation

$95.48 -33.10% year to date

Daily close · Oct 16, 2026

Key Points

On October 14, 2026, Mizuho raised its rating on Albemarle Corporation (NYSE: ALB) to Outperform, setting a price target of $130.0.
Mizuho's $130 price target implies 36.20% upside from Albemarle Corporation's ($ALB) current $95.44 share price.
As of October 16, 2026, Albemarle shares were recently trading around $95.44, which is 26.6% below the new analyst target.
The company is set to report earnings on November 4, 2026, and has shown a year-over-year revenue growth of 31.1%.

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Mizuho has upgraded its rating on Albemarle Corporation (NYSE: ALB) to Outperform and set a price target of $130. This upgrade occurred on October 14, 2026, and reflects a shift in the firm's view of the company's potential. Previously, Mizuho maintained a Neutral rating with a target of $140.

Other Institutional Activity in Albemarle Corporation

Several other institutional investors hold significant positions in Albemarle. Capital World Investors has 9,901,852 shares valued at approximately $945.6 million, having slightly increased its holdings by 66,878 shares. Blackrock Inc. owns 9,501,587 shares worth about $907.4 million, increasing its position by 766,905 shares. Vanguard Capital Management LLC holds 7,703,012 shares valued at around $735.6 million, with a small increase of 40,611 shares. Vanguard Portfolio Management LLC has 6,436,930 shares worth about $614.7 million, growing its stake by 121,261 shares, while State Street Corporation has 5,500,062 shares valued at approximately $525.3 million, marking an increase of 275,839 shares.

Albemarle Corporation Stock Down 2.8%

As of October 16, 2026, Albemarle shares were recently trading around $95.44. This price is 26.6% below Mizuho's new price target of $130. The stock has seen fluctuations, and the recent trading level suggests it may be positioned for potential gains based on the analyst's more favorable outlook.

12-month forecast

$ALB price target

Albemarle Corporation daily closes and this analyst's $130 target. Not advice.

Recent Earnings

Albemarle reported trailing twelve-month revenue of approximately $5.91 billion, with a year-over-year revenue growth of 31.1%. The company's earnings per share (EPS) for the same period was $0.27. The next earnings report is scheduled for November 4, 2026.

Earnings drift grade

Outlook vs expectations on the last report — not price action.

B+ 80/100

Reported May 6, 2026

Forward outlook
8 analysts raised price targets.
EPS & revenue
EPS beat estimates by 166.8%. Revenue beat estimates by 7.2%.
Profit surprise
EBITDA missed by 36 percent. Operating income beat by 41 percent.
Pre-earnings setup
Expectations were about average.
Analyst signal
8 target raises.
Earnings quality
Gross margin up 20.7 points. Operating margin up 14.7 points. Positive free cash flow.

Earnings Call Summary

Albemarle had a strong first quarter with $1.43 billion in revenue, up 33 percent from last year, and $664 million in adjusted earnings, more than double the prior year. The company benefited from higher lithium prices (up 51 percent), increased volumes in Energy Storage of 14 percent, and successful cost cutting that saved $40 million so far this year. The company paid down $1.3 billion of debt, improving its financial flexibility, and generated $248 million in free cash flow in the quarter.

Guidance Management raised their full year outlook for the Specialties business, now expecting between $1.3 billion and $1.5 billion in sales and $225 million to $275 million in adjusted earnings. They kept their Energy Storage outlook unchanged despite supply chain disruptions from the Middle East, estimating the cost impact at $70 million to $90 million. The company expects to offset these costs through lower interest expense from debt paydown and better than expected Specialties pricing and volumes.

Good report. The company beat and showed some forward improvement, with a few meaningful caveats.

Insider Buying and Selling at Albemarle Corporation

Insider transactions show that Jerry Kent Masters Jr., the Chief Executive Officer, sold 11,783 shares on March 10, 2026, valued at about $2,012,688. He also sold 16,393 shares on May 15, 2026, for approximately $3,011,766. Both transactions were not part of a planned sale and occurred before the recent analyst upgrades.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

On October 14, 2026, Mizuho upgraded Albemarle's rating to Outperform and maintained a price target of $130. This follows a series of ratings from other firms, including UBS, which maintained a Buy rating with a target of $150, and Argus Research, which also kept a Buy rating with a target of $135. The consensus among analysts shows a growing confidence in Albemarle's market position.

About Albemarle Corporation

Albemarle Corporation provides energy storage solutions worldwide, focusing on lithium compounds used in batteries for consumer electronics and electric vehicles, among other applications. The company operates through three segments: Energy Storage, Specialties, and Ketjen. This upgrade from Mizuho highlights the firm's positive outlook on Albemarle's growth potential in the specialty chemicals sector.

Bottom Line

Investors should keep an eye on Albemarle's upcoming earnings report on November 4, 2026, and any further analyst ratings or price target adjustments that may follow. Mizuho's upgrade to Outperform could signal increased interest in the stock, particularly given its current trading price relative to the new target.