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Here's Why You Should Hold Onto Albemarle (ALB) Stock for Now
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Albemarle Corporation (ALB - Free Report) is poised to benefit from strong expected growth in the battery-grade lithium market. It should gain from rising demand for lithium-ion batteries that are used to power electric cars.
Shares of Albemarle are down 6.6% over a year, compared with the 21.2% decline of its industry.
Let’s delve deeper to find out why this Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) stock is worth retaining at the moment.
What’s Aiding ALB?
Albemarle is witnessing strong demand for lithium in battery-grade applications. It is executing a number of projects aimed at boosting its global lithium derivative capacity.
The market for lithium-ion batteries has a lot of untapped potential. Demand for these batteries are expected to go up with their increasing adoption in consumer electronic products as well as efforts to promote the use of electric cars by several governments to curb pollution. The company sees strong long-term demand for lithium.
As part of its lithium growth strategy, Albemarle, in 2019, completed its joint venture (JV) transaction with Mineral Resources Limited under an Asset Sale and Share Subscription Agreement. The 60/40 JV between Albemarle and Mineral Resources is named as MARBL Lithium Joint Venture (MARBL). Under the deal, Albemarle purchased a 60% stake in Mineral Resources’ Wodgina spodumene mine in Western Australia for $1.3 billion.
Last year, Albemarle also completed a 20,000-metric ton lithium hydroxide expansion in China at the Xinyu II facility. The company has also commenced work at its lithium hydroxide conversion plant in Kemerton, Western Australia.
Moreover, Albemarle is gaining from continued strong demand for flame retardants, especially in electronics, which is supporting volume growth in its Bromine Specialties unit. Demand in the oilfield market also remains healthy.
Albemarle also remains committed to deliver incremental returns to shareholders. The company, in early 2019, raised its quarterly dividend by 10% to 36.75 cents per share. The hike represents the 25th straight year of dividend increase by the company. Albemarle also paid dividend worth around $113 million to its shareholders during the first nine months of 2019.
A Few Worries
Albemarle is seeing pricing pressure for both lithium carbonate and hydroxide in specific markets, especially in China, as witnessed in the third quarter of 2019. Lithium prices remain under pressure amid oversupply of the white metal in the market. According to the company, lithium supply capacity grew faster than demand last year, leading to oversupply in the market. This has caused a sharp decline in lithium prices.
The company, in its third-quarter call, noted that it expects global pricing weakness to continue in the fourth quarter as well as in 2020. It envisions price pressure along with the use of tollers to meet customer commitments and address operating issues in Chile, to lead to lower-than-expected performance in its Lithium unit in the fourth quarter. Amid the challenging environment, Albemarle initiated a cost management program which it expects to deliver more than $100 million in savings over a two-year period.
Albemarle is also exposed to currency headwinds. Unfavorable currency swings, stemming from a stronger dollar, impacted its sales by $7.6 million in the last reported quarter. Unfavorable impact on sales for the Lithium unit was $3 million in the quarter. Impact for Bromine and Catalysts units were $1.3 million and $3.2 million, respectively. Currency headwind will likely continue to impact its fourth- quarter results.
Albemarle also faces some headwind from higher raw material costs across its Bromine Specialties and Catalysts segments.
Daqo New Energy has projected earnings growth rate of 294.7% for 2020. The company’s shares have rallied roughly 105% in a year’s time.
Pan American Silver has estimated earnings growth rate of 38.1% for 2020. The company’s shares have shot up roughly 55% in a year’s time.
Sibanye Gold has projected earnings growth rate of 587.5% for 2020. The company’s shares have surged around 248% over a year.
More Stock News: This Is Bigger than the iPhone!
It could become the mother of all technological revolutions. Apple sold a mere 1 billion iPhones in 10 years but a new breakthrough is expected to generate more than 27 billion devices in just 3 years, creating a $1.7 trillion market.
Zacks has just released a Special Report that spotlights this fast-emerging phenomenon and 6 tickers for taking advantage of it. If you don't buy now, you may kick yourself in 2020.
Image: Bigstock
Here's Why You Should Hold Onto Albemarle (ALB) Stock for Now
Albemarle Corporation (ALB - Free Report) is poised to benefit from strong expected growth in the battery-grade lithium market. It should gain from rising demand for lithium-ion batteries that are used to power electric cars.
Shares of Albemarle are down 6.6% over a year, compared with the 21.2% decline of its industry.
Let’s delve deeper to find out why this Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) stock is worth retaining at the moment.
What’s Aiding ALB?
Albemarle is witnessing strong demand for lithium in battery-grade applications. It is executing a number of projects aimed at boosting its global lithium derivative capacity.
The market for lithium-ion batteries has a lot of untapped potential. Demand for these batteries are expected to go up with their increasing adoption in consumer electronic products as well as efforts to promote the use of electric cars by several governments to curb pollution. The company sees strong long-term demand for lithium.
As part of its lithium growth strategy, Albemarle, in 2019, completed its joint venture (JV) transaction with Mineral Resources Limited under an Asset Sale and Share Subscription Agreement. The 60/40 JV between Albemarle and Mineral Resources is named as MARBL Lithium Joint Venture (MARBL). Under the deal, Albemarle purchased a 60% stake in Mineral Resources’ Wodgina spodumene mine in Western Australia for $1.3 billion.
Last year, Albemarle also completed a 20,000-metric ton lithium hydroxide expansion in China at the Xinyu II facility. The company has also commenced work at its lithium hydroxide conversion plant in Kemerton, Western Australia.
Moreover, Albemarle is gaining from continued strong demand for flame retardants, especially in electronics, which is supporting volume growth in its Bromine Specialties unit. Demand in the oilfield market also remains healthy.
Albemarle also remains committed to deliver incremental returns to shareholders. The company, in early 2019, raised its quarterly dividend by 10% to 36.75 cents per share. The hike represents the 25th straight year of dividend increase by the company. Albemarle also paid dividend worth around $113 million to its shareholders during the first nine months of 2019.
A Few Worries
Albemarle is seeing pricing pressure for both lithium carbonate and hydroxide in specific markets, especially in China, as witnessed in the third quarter of 2019. Lithium prices remain under pressure amid oversupply of the white metal in the market. According to the company, lithium supply capacity grew faster than demand last year, leading to oversupply in the market. This has caused a sharp decline in lithium prices.
The company, in its third-quarter call, noted that it expects global pricing weakness to continue in the fourth quarter as well as in 2020. It envisions price pressure along with the use of tollers to meet customer commitments and address operating issues in Chile, to lead to lower-than-expected performance in its Lithium unit in the fourth quarter. Amid the challenging environment, Albemarle initiated a cost management program which it expects to deliver more than $100 million in savings over a two-year period.
Albemarle is also exposed to currency headwinds. Unfavorable currency swings, stemming from a stronger dollar, impacted its sales by $7.6 million in the last reported quarter. Unfavorable impact on sales for the Lithium unit was $3 million in the quarter. Impact for Bromine and Catalysts units were $1.3 million and $3.2 million, respectively. Currency headwind will likely continue to impact its fourth- quarter results.
Albemarle also faces some headwind from higher raw material costs across its Bromine Specialties and Catalysts segments.
Albemarle Corporation Price and Consensus
Albemarle Corporation price-consensus-chart | Albemarle Corporation Quote
Stocks to Consider
Some better-ranked stocks worth considering in the basic materials space include Daqo New Energy Corp. (DQ - Free Report) , Pan American Silver Corp. (PAAS - Free Report) and Sibanye Gold Limited , all sporting a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Daqo New Energy has projected earnings growth rate of 294.7% for 2020. The company’s shares have rallied roughly 105% in a year’s time.
Pan American Silver has estimated earnings growth rate of 38.1% for 2020. The company’s shares have shot up roughly 55% in a year’s time.
Sibanye Gold has projected earnings growth rate of 587.5% for 2020. The company’s shares have surged around 248% over a year.
More Stock News: This Is Bigger than the iPhone!
It could become the mother of all technological revolutions. Apple sold a mere 1 billion iPhones in 10 years but a new breakthrough is expected to generate more than 27 billion devices in just 3 years, creating a $1.7 trillion market.
Zacks has just released a Special Report that spotlights this fast-emerging phenomenon and 6 tickers for taking advantage of it. If you don't buy now, you may kick yourself in 2020.
Click here for the 6 trades >>