Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft Increases Albemarle (NYSE:ALB) Price Target to $195.00

Albemarle (NYSE:ALB) had its target price lifted by stock analysts at Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft from $185.00 to $195.00 in a research note issued to investors on Tuesday,MarketScreener reports. The firm presently has a “buy” rating on the specialty chemicals company’s stock. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft’s price objective indicates a potential upside of 14.09% from the stock’s current price.

Other equities analysts have also issued reports about the company. Wells Fargo & Company set a $165.00 target price on Albemarle in a research report on Monday. Morgan Stanley lifted their price objective on shares of Albemarle from $147.00 to $170.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Friday, February 13th. Evercore upped their target price on shares of Albemarle from $88.00 to $100.00 and gave the company an “in-line” rating in a research note on Tuesday, November 11th. Weiss Ratings reissued a “sell (d+)” rating on shares of Albemarle in a research report on Monday, December 29th. Finally, Zacks Research raised shares of Albemarle from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Monday, January 12th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirteen have issued a Buy rating, ten have issued a Hold rating and two have given a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $167.52.

Albemarle Price Performance

Shares of ALB stock opened at $170.92 on Tuesday. The firm’s 50 day moving average price is $160.48 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $117.44. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.41, a quick ratio of 1.57 and a current ratio of 2.23. Albemarle has a 52-week low of $49.43 and a 52-week high of $195.68. The stock has a market cap of $20.14 billion, a PE ratio of -29.73, a PEG ratio of 1.88 and a beta of 1.44.

Albemarle (NYSE:ALB) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 11th. The specialty chemicals company reported ($0.53) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of ($0.40) by ($0.13). Albemarle had a positive return on equity of 0.41% and a negative net margin of 10.74%.The company had revenue of $1.43 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.34 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned ($1.09) earnings per share. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was up 15.9% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, analysts forecast that Albemarle will post -0.04 EPS for the current year.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Albemarle

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Hantz Financial Services Inc. raised its stake in shares of Albemarle by 10,050.0% in the 2nd quarter. Hantz Financial Services Inc. now owns 406 shares of the specialty chemicals company’s stock valued at $25,000 after purchasing an additional 402 shares during the period. Strategic Advocates LLC bought a new position in shares of Albemarle during the third quarter worth about $25,000. MH & Associates Securities Management Corp ADV bought a new position in shares of Albemarle during the fourth quarter worth about $26,000. CVA Family Office LLC raised its position in Albemarle by 7,257.1% in the 2nd quarter. CVA Family Office LLC now owns 515 shares of the specialty chemicals company’s stock valued at $32,000 after buying an additional 508 shares during the last quarter. Finally, BOKF NA lifted its stake in Albemarle by 5,771.4% in the 3rd quarter. BOKF NA now owns 411 shares of the specialty chemicals company’s stock valued at $33,000 after acquiring an additional 404 shares in the last quarter. 92.87% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Albemarle Company Profile

Albemarle Corporation is a leading global specialty chemicals company primarily engaged in the production and distribution of lithium, bromine, and catalysts. Its lithium segment supplies key components used in rechargeable batteries for electric vehicles, portable electronics, and grid storage systems. The company’s bromine specialty products serve a wide range of industries, including oil and gas drilling fluids, fire safety solutions, and water treatment. In its catalysts division, Albemarle provides products for petroleum refining, chemical processing and emissions control.

Founded in 1994 as a spin-off from Ethyl Corporation, Albemarle has grown through strategic acquisitions and capacity expansions to become one of the world’s foremost chemical producers.