Albemarle: Ride The Lithium Surge
Update - Jan. 7, 2026 Albemarle rallied from $50 to $150 before Baird became Bullish. These analysts are always late to these calls. Albemarle ( ALB ) +2.2% to its best level in more than two years in Wednesday's trading, as high as $164.98, as Baird upgraded shares to Buy from Hold with a $210 price target, up from $113, believing demand strength from stationary energy storage can boost lithium prices and the company's earnings. "We are incrementally positive given the recent increase in lithium prices... and our view that demand strength stemming from stationary storage will continue to propel ALB higher," Baird analyst Ben Kallo wrote, raising his FY 2026 earnings estimate to $1.26/share from a loss of $0.44/share. Battery-grade lithium carbonate prices have increased to nearly $16/kg from ~$11/kg a month ago on demand tied to energy storage and supply rationalization in China, and prices above $15 is a level Kallo believes is meaningfully supportive ...