Albemarle Reports Third Quarter 2026 Results
Q3 adj. EBITDA $646M, up 186%; adj. EPS $2.58 on $1.6B sales (+19%); Specialties EBITDA guide raised to $350-375M, capex cut to $300-350M.
What this release says
Albemarle reported third quarter 2026 net sales of $1.6 billion, up 19%, with net income of $297 million and adjusted EBITDA of $646 million. Profit improved mainly from higher lithium pricing in Energy Storage and better pricing, volumes and cost savings in Specialties. For a shareholder, the company also raised its Specialties EBITDA outlook and cut its full-year capital spending forecast.
Key figures
- Q3 2026 net sales
- $1.6 billion
- Q3 2026 net income
- $297 million
- Q3 2026 adjusted EBITDA
- $646 million
- Q3 free cash flow
- $325 million
- Full-year Specialties adjusted EBITDA outlook
- $350-$375 million
- Full-year capital expenditure forecast
- $300-$350 million
Positive for shareholders
- Net income rose by $457 million from a loss in the year-earlier quarter.
- Specialties full-year EBITDA outlook was raised, partly on cost and productivity gains.
- Full-year capital spending forecast was lowered from about $500 million.
- Talison's Chemical Grade Plant 3 reached 30 days of nameplate performance in September.
Negative for shareholders
- Specialties outlook is partly offset by supply chain cost increases tied to the Middle East conflict.
- Working capital timing reduced operating cash flow conversion, which the release says was supported by a Talison dividend.
- Q3 results include $4.2 million of acquisition and divestiture costs.
Written by Quantisnow AI from this release. Not financial advice.
Key terms
- Adjusted EBITDA:
- Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, adjusted by the company to exclude certain one-time or unusual items.
- Free cash flow:
- Operating cash flow minus capital spending, showing cash left after investing in the business.
- Operating cash flow conversion:
- The share of adjusted EBITDA that the company turned into operating cash flow.
- Talison joint venture:
- A jointly owned lithium operation in which Albemarle holds an interest and which paid a cash dividend to the company this quarter.
FAQ
How did Albemarle's third quarter 2026 profit compare with a year earlier?
Net income attributable to Albemarle was $297 million, compared with a loss of $160.7 million in the third quarter of 2025, a $457.4 million improvement.
What changed in Albemarle's full-year 2026 outlook?
Specialties adjusted EBITDA is now expected at $350-$375 million, up from $275-$325 million, and capital expenditures are forecast at $300-$350 million, down from about $500 million.
Historical context for ALB
Across the 25 sessions after earlier ALB headlines, the stock closed higher 13 times and lower 12 times, with a median move of 2.4% in either direction. This shows timing only: many things move a stock in a session, and these figures do not show that any headline caused a move.
| Session | Earlier headline | ALB | SPY |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 27, 2026 | Albemarle Announces Quarterly Common Stock Dividend | +5.9% | +0.6% |
| Oct 14, 2026 | Albemarle upgraded by Mizuho | +0.3% | -1.1% |
| Oct 13, 2026 | Barclays initiated coverage on Albemarle with a new price target | -0.9% | -0.0% |
| Oct 2, 2026 | Albemarle Corporation to Release Third Quarter 2026 Earnings Results on Wednesday, November 4, 2026 | -0.4% | +0.7% |
| Sep 3, 2026 | Albemarle Announces CEO Succession Plan | -4.1% | +1.0% |
| Aug 6, 2026 | Albemarle Reports Second Quarter 2026 Results | +5.5% | -0.2% |
Keep researching ALB
- ALB earnings historyPast Albemarle Corporation earnings releases, newest first.
- What is Earnings per share?A company's net income available to common shareholders divided by its weighted average shares outstanding, reported as basic and diluted figures.
- How to read an earnings reportAn earnings report is a company's quarterly results release, usually filed under 8-K Item 2.02. Learn how to read revenue, EPS, margins, guidance and the 10-Q.
- Earnings calendarWho reports this week, and the results as they come out.
- ALB financial statementsRevenue, profit, cash flow and balance sheet from Albemarle Corporation's SEC filings.
- ALB insider tradesEvery buy and sale reported by Albemarle Corporation officers, directors and large holders.
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