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ALB vs SQM
Which Stock Would AI Choose? Albemarle Corporation (ALB) vs. Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile (SQM) Stock Comparison
Key Takeaways
- Both ALB and SQM are leading lithium producers that have rallied strongly year-to-date, with ALB up approximately 37% and SQM up 34%, driven by recovering lithium prices.
- ALB trades at a forward price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of about 22, more attractive than SQM's trailing P/E of 45, amid expectations of earnings growth.
- Recent market activity shows both stocks benefiting from lithium demand tied to electric vehicles (EV) and energy storage, but ALB exhibits steadier upward momentum in recent weeks.
- Analyst price targets suggest modest upside for ALB (average $197) versus potential downside for SQM (average $77), reflecting divergent sentiment.
- SQM holds a larger market capitalization at $26.5 billion compared to ALB's $22.9 billion, highlighting its scale in lithium and fertilizers.
Introduction
Albemarle Corporation (ALB) and Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile (SQM) stand out as premier producers of lithium, a critical battery metal fueling the electric vehicle (EV) boom and renewable energy transition. This stock comparison evaluates their recent market performance, business drivers, and positioning amid fluctuating lithium prices. Traders seeking short-term momentum and long-term investors eyeing EV supply chain exposure will find value in understanding their relative strengths, risks, and sentiment shifts in the current environment.
ALB Overview and Recent Performance
Albemarle Corporation (ALB) is a global specialty chemicals company renowned for its leadership in lithium production, alongside bromine and catalysts. In recent market activity, ALB shares have climbed about 37% year-to-date, trading near $194 with a 52-week range of $54 to $216. This upward trend reflects recovering lithium prices and anticipation of robust Q1 earnings, with analysts forecasting significant year-over-year EPS growth. Sentiment has been buoyed by capacity expansion plans and positive lithium demand projections of 10-20% CAGR through 2030, though shares occasionally dipped against broader market gains due to sector volatility.
SQM Overview and Recent Performance
Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile (SQM), or SQM, is a major Chilean mining firm focused on lithium extraction alongside specialty plant nutrition products like potash and iodine. Shares have advanced roughly 34% year-to-date to around $93, within a 52-week span of $29 to $95. Recent performance has been propelled by lithium price surges and breakouts noted in market analyses, including catalysts from geopolitical tensions boosting commodity appeal. However, cautious lithium outlooks from some analysts have tempered gains, with the stock showing strength over longer periods like 171% in the past year amid EV-driven demand.
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Head-to-Head Comparison
ALB and SQM share lithium exposure as core growth drivers but differ in business models: ALB offers broader diversification into chemicals, reducing single-commodity risk, while SQM emphasizes low-cost brine extraction in Chile alongside fertilizers for revenue stability. Recent momentum favors ALB with steadier recent weeks gains, versus SQM's volatility tied to commodity swings. Risk factors include SQM's exposure to Chilean politics and currency fluctuations, contrasting ALB's global footprint. Market sentiment leans positive for both on EV catalysts, but ALB shows stronger analyst conviction.
Tickeron AI Verdict
Tickeron’s AI models currently lean toward ALB over SQM, based on superior trend consistency, favorable forward valuation, and near-term catalysts like earnings and capacity growth. While SQM offers scale advantages, its relatively lower analyst targets signal caution. This probabilistic edge favors ALB for relative outperformance in prevailing conditions.
Disclaimer
The information on this webpage is provided for general informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as investment advice, a recommendation to purchase or sell any security, or an offer or solicitation related to investments. It does not consider your personal financial situation, goals, or risk profile, and all investing carries inherent risks, including the possibility of losing your entire investment. For more details, please review our full disclaimer. Disclaimers and Limitations
To compare these two companies we present long-term analysis, their fundamental ratings and make comparative short-term technical analysis which are presented below. The conclusion is ALB is a Hold and SQM is a Hold.
Long-Term Analysis
It is best to consider a long-term outlook for a ticker by using Fundamental Analysis (FA) ratings. The rating of 1 to 100, where 1 is best and 100 is worst, is divided into thirds. The first third (a green rating of 1-33) indicates that the ticker is undervalued; the second third (a grey number between 34 and 66) means that the ticker is valued fairly; and the last third (red number of 67 to 100) reflects that the ticker is undervalued. We use an FA Score to show how many ratings show the ticker to be undervalued (green) or overvalued (red).
ALB’s FA Score shows that 1 FA rating(s) are green whileSQM’s FA Score has 1 green FA rating(s).
- ALB’s FA Score: 1 green, 4 red.
- SQM’s FA Score: 1 green, 4 red.
Short-Term Analysis
It is best to consider a short-term outlook for a ticker by using Technical Analysis (TA) indicators. We use Odds of Success as the percentage of outcomes which confirm successful trade signals in the past.
If the Odds of Success (the likelihood of the continuation of a trend) for each indicator are greater than 50%, then the generated signal is confirmed. A green percentage from 90% to 51% indicates that the ticker is in a bullish trend. A red percentage from 90% - 51% indicates that the ticker is in a bearish trend. All grey percentages are below 50% and are considered not to confirm the trend signal.
ALB’s TA Score shows that 4 TA indicator(s) are bullish while SQM’s TA Score has 4 bullish TA indicator(s).
- ALB’s TA Score: 4 bullish, 5 bearish.
- SQM’s TA Score: 4 bullish, 4 bearish.
Price Growth
ALB (@Chemicals: Specialty) experienced а -11.37% price change this week, while SQM (@Chemicals: Specialty) price change was -7.80% for the same time period.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Chemicals: Specialty industry was +0.59%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was +6.81%, and the average quarterly price growth was +60.26%.
Reported Earning Dates
ALB is expected to report earnings on Aug 05, 2026.
SQM is expected to report earnings on May 27, 2026.
Industries' Descriptions
@Chemicals: Specialty (+0.59% weekly)The specialty chemicals sector includes companies that produce chemicals and industrial gases, which are of relatively high-value, often made to customer specifications. Examples of specialty chemicals are electronic chemicals, industrial gases, coatings, adhesives and sealants, industrial and institutional cleaning chemicals. The products are often valued on the basis of their purposes/performances rather than for their composition. Linde Plc, Ecolab Inc., Air Products and Chemicals, Inc., and Dow, Inc. are some of the largest companies making specialty chemicals.
| ALB | SQM | ALB / SQM | |
| Capitalization | 21.3B | 24.1B | 88% |
| EBITDA | 568M | 1.15B | 50% |
| Gain YTD | 27.847 | 23.863 | 117% |
| P/E Ratio | 33.94 | 45.96 | 74% |
| Revenue | 5.5B | 4.58B | 120% |
| Total Cash | 1.09B | 1.17B | 93% |
| Total Debt | 1.88B | 4.73B | 40% |
ALB | SQM | ||
|---|---|---|---|
OUTLOOK RATING 1..100 | 73 | 19 | |
VALUATION overvalued / fair valued / undervalued 1..100 | 76 Overvalued | 51 Fair valued | |
PROFIT vs RISK RATING 1..100 | 87 | 64 | |
SMR RATING 1..100 | 92 | 67 | |
PRICE GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 38 | 39 | |
P/E GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 3 | 5 | |
SEASONALITY SCORE 1..100 | 50 | 50 |
Tickeron ratings are formulated such that a rating of 1 designates the most successful stocks in a given industry, while a rating of 100 points to the least successful stocks for that industry.
SQM's Valuation (51) in the Chemicals Agricultural industry is in the same range as ALB (76) in the Chemicals Specialty industry. This means that SQM’s stock grew similarly to ALB’s over the last 12 months.
SQM's Profit vs Risk Rating (64) in the Chemicals Agricultural industry is in the same range as ALB (87) in the Chemicals Specialty industry. This means that SQM’s stock grew similarly to ALB’s over the last 12 months.
SQM's SMR Rating (67) in the Chemicals Agricultural industry is in the same range as ALB (92) in the Chemicals Specialty industry. This means that SQM’s stock grew similarly to ALB’s over the last 12 months.
ALB's Price Growth Rating (38) in the Chemicals Specialty industry is in the same range as SQM (39) in the Chemicals Agricultural industry. This means that ALB’s stock grew similarly to SQM’s over the last 12 months.
ALB's P/E Growth Rating (3) in the Chemicals Specialty industry is in the same range as SQM (5) in the Chemicals Agricultural industry. This means that ALB’s stock grew similarly to SQM’s over the last 12 months.
| ALB | SQM | |
|---|---|---|
| RSI ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 82% | 3 days ago 77% |
| Stochastic ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 78% | 3 days ago 84% |
| Momentum ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 78% | 3 days ago 69% |
| MACD ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 71% | 3 days ago 72% |
| TrendWeek ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 78% | 3 days ago 70% |
| TrendMonth ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 80% | 3 days ago 71% |
| Advances ODDS (%) | 7 days ago 82% | 6 days ago 76% |
| Declines ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 78% | 3 days ago 75% |
| BollingerBands ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 79% | 3 days ago 82% |
| Aroon ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 79% | 3 days ago 70% |
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ALB and
Correlation & Price change
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, ALB has been closely correlated with SQM. These tickers have moved in lockstep 81% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is a high statistical probability that if ALB jumps, then SQM could also see price increases.
SQM and
Correlation & Price change
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, SQM has been closely correlated with ALB. These tickers have moved in lockstep 81% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is a high statistical probability that if SQM jumps, then ALB could also see price increases.
| Ticker / NAME | Correlation To SQM | 1D Price Change % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SQM | 100% | -2.93% | ||
| ALB - SQM | 81% Closely correlated | -5.61% | ||
| OLN - SQM | 54% Loosely correlated | -3.46% | ||
| HUN - SQM | 50% Loosely correlated | -4.26% | ||
| SXYAY - SQM | 47% Loosely correlated | -3.69% | ||
| MEOH - SQM | 46% Loosely correlated | +1.31% | ||
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