Albemarle Stock (NYSE:ALB), Trade Ideas

Albemarle

Albemarle is one of the world's largest lithium producers. In the lithium industry, the majority of demand comes from batteries, where lithium is used as the energy storage material, particularly in electric vehicles. Albemarle is a fully integrated lithium producer. Its upstream resources include salt brine deposits in Chile and the U.S. and two hard rock mines in Australia, both of which are joint ventures. The company operates lithium refining plants in Chile, the U.S., Australia, and China. Albemarle is a global leader in the production of bromine, used in flame retardants. It is also a major producer of oil refining catalysts.

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Last Week&#39;s Worst-Performing Stocks: Are These 11 Large-Cap Stocks In Your Portfolio?

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Chile plans to double lithium output to meet growing demand for clean energy. Government balancing state control and private investment.

Chile&#39;s Lithium Vision: Ambitious Plans Shine While US Market Tries To Overcome Fragmentation

Albemarle Corp

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<p>These seven large-cap stocks were the worst performers last week. Are they in your portfolio?</p>
<ol>
<li><strong>Arm Holdings plc</strong> (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ARM#NASDAQ">ARM</a>) was the worst large-cap stock performer last week, plummeting 31.08%. The company fell alongside <strong>ASML Holding N.V. </strong>(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ASML#NASDAQ">ASML</a>), which reported worse-than-expected <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/04/38299189/whats-going-on-with-arm-holdings-stock" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">first-quarter FY24 results last week</a>. Exane BNP Paribas analyst David O&#8217;Connor downgraded ARM from <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/ARM/analyst-ratings" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">&#8220;Outperform&#8221; to &#8220;Neutral&#8221;</a> with a $100 price target.</li>
<li><strong>MicroStrategy Inc&#8217;s</strong>&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSTR#NASDAQ">MSTR</a>) stock lost 20.07% last week. Most crypto stocks fell last week due to the volatility in Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC/USD) price.</li>
<li><strong>Coinbase Global Inc</strong>&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/COIN#NASDAQ">COIN</a>) stock lost 15% last week due to weakness in Bitcoin&#8217;s (CRYPTO: BTC/USD) price. Economist and crypto skeptic Peter Schiff&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com//node/38265256" rel="noreferrer noopener">expressed skepticism</a>&nbsp;regarding the apex crypto blasting off in line with predictions by some bulls.</li>
<li><strong>Prologis, Inc.</strong> (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PLD#NYSE">PLD</a>) declined 13.73% as the company&#8217;s first quarter FY24 rental revenue of $1.83 billion missed the consensus and lowered the FY24 outlook for EPS and core FFO/share due to anticipated lower <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/04/38292399/why-prologis-shares-are-trading-lower-today" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">average occupancy and competitive leasing</a>.</li>
<li><strong>Tesla Inc</strong> (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) fell 13.6% last week. The Elon Musk-led company had a tough week on <a href="https://www.benzinga.com//node/38346490" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">multiple counts</a>. It faces falling EV demand, a Cybertruck recall, employee layoffs, and price cuts.</li>
<li><strong>Equifax Inc.</strong>&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EFX#NYSE">EFX</a>) stock decreased 13.54%. The company reported worse-than-expected first-quarter sales results and issued adjusted&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/04/38333254/equifax-analysts-cut-their-forecasts-after-q1-results" rel="noreferrer noopener">guidance below estimates on Wednesday</a>.</li>
<li><strong>Bruker Corp</strong>&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BRKR#NASDAQ">BRKR</a>) has had a tough week, losing 11.90% in value after announcing NanoString Technologies&#8217;s acquisition<strong>&nbsp;</strong>for $392.6 million in cash<strong>.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Live Nation Entertainment, Inc.</strong>&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LYV#NYSE">LYV</a>) was down 11.76%. The company&#8217;s shares took a hit following a report indicating the Justice Department will file an antitrust&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/04/38265894/live-nation-entertainment-groupon-and-other-big-stocks-moving-lower-in-tuesdays-pre-market-session" rel="noreferrer noopener">lawsuit against the company</a>.</li>
<li><strong>Arista Networks Inc.</strong> (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ANET#NYSE">ANET</a>) fell 10.69% last week. Recently, a Rosenblatt analyst <a href="https://www.benzinga.com//node/38220808" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">double-downgraded the stock to &#8220;Sell&#8221;</a> with a $210 price target.</li>
<li><strong>J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc.</strong>&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JBHT#NASDAQ">JBHT</a>) fell 10.47% as its first-quarter FY24 earnings missed consensus estimates due to lower segment&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/04/38287679/why-j-b-hunt-transport-shares-are-diving-today" rel="noreferrer noopener">gross revenue and fewer loads</a>. Several analysts lowered&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/JBHT/analyst-ratings" rel="noreferrer noopener">price targets on the stock</a>&nbsp;following the earnings miss.</li>
<li><strong>Albemarle Corp</strong>&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ALB#NYSE">ALB</a>) stock shed 9% in value last week due to lithium price volatility.</li>
</ol>
<p><em>See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/04/38349264/tracking-last-weeks-top-performers-are-these-7-large-cap-stocks-in-your-portfolio">Tracking Last Week&#8217;s Top Performers: Are These 7 Large-Cap Stocks In Your Portfolio?</a></em></p>
<p><em>Photo: Shutterstock</em></p>


Last Week's Worst-Performing Stocks: Are These 11 Large-Cap Stocks In Your Portfolio?

<p>Albemarle (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ALB#NYSE">ALB</a>) has outperformed the market over the past 20 years by 2.77% on an annualized basis producing an average annual return of 10.42%. Currently, Albemarle has a market capitalization of $13.06 billion. </p>
<p><strong>Buying $1000 In ALB:</strong> If an investor had bought $1000 of ALB stock 20 years ago, it would be worth <strong>$7,369.82</strong> today based on a price of $111.10 for ALB at the time of writing.</p>
<h3>Albemarle's Performance Over Last 20 Years</h3>
<p><img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1713465032_0.png" alt="comp_fig" /></p>
<p>Finally -- what's the point of all this? The key insight to take from this article is to note how much of a difference compounded returns can make in your cash growth over a period of time.</p>
<p><em>This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.</em></p>


Here's How Much You Would Have Made Owning Albemarle Stock In The Last 20 Years

Albemarle Disclosed A $1M Donation To Cleveland Community College For The Purchase Of Equipment, Supplies And Facility Improvements To Benefit Workforce Training Programs

<p>Investors with significant funds have taken a bearish position in Albemarle (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ALB#NYSE">ALB</a>), a development that retail traders should be aware of.</p>
<p>This was brought to our attention today through our monitoring of publicly accessible options data at Benzinga. The exact nature of these investors remains a mystery, but such a major move in ALB usually indicates foreknowledge of upcoming events.</p>
<p>Today, Benzinga's options scanner identified 14 options transactions for Albemarle. This is an unusual occurrence. The sentiment among these large-scale traders is mixed, with 42% being bullish and 57% bearish. Of all the options we discovered, 13 are puts, valued at $512,446, and there was a single call, worth $48,160.</p>
<h3>Expected Price Movements</h3>
<p>Taking into account the Volume and Open Interest on these contracts, it appears that whales have been targeting a price range from $115.0 to $140.0 for Albemarle over the last 3 months. </p>
<h3>Insights into Volume &amp; Open Interest</h3>
<p>In terms of liquidity and interest, the mean open interest for Albemarle options trades today is 2837.0 with a total volume of 2,175.00.</p>
<p>In the following chart, we are able to follow the development of volume and open interest of call and put options for Albemarle's big money trades within a strike price range of $115.0 to $140.0 over the last 30 days.</p>
<h3>Albemarle Call and Put Volume: 30-Day Overview</h3>
<p><img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1713196919_0.png" alt="Options Call Chart" /></p>
<h3>Largest Options Trades Observed:</h3>
<p>
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th><strong>Symbol</strong></th>
<th><strong>PUT/CALL</strong></th>
<th><strong>Trade Type</strong></th>
<th><strong>Sentiment</strong></th>
<th><strong>Exp. Date</strong></th>
<th><strong>Ask</strong></th>
<th><strong>Bid</strong></th>
<th><strong>Price</strong></th>
<th><strong>Strike Price</strong></th>
<th><strong>Total Trade Price</strong></th>
<th><strong>Open Interest</strong></th>
<th style="text-align: right;"><strong>Volume</strong></th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>ALB</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>06/21/24</td>
<td>$21.9</td>
<td>$21.7</td>
<td>$21.7</td>
<td>$140.00</td>
<td>$65.1K</td>
<td>4.8K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">30</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ALB</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>06/21/24</td>
<td>$12.05</td>
<td>$12.0</td>
<td>$12.0</td>
<td>$125.00</td>
<td>$54.0K</td>
<td>1.4K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">81</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ALB</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>06/21/24</td>
<td>$5.6</td>
<td>$5.45</td>
<td>$5.6</td>
<td>$140.00</td>
<td>$48.1K</td>
<td>1.5K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">92</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ALB</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$15.85</td>
<td>$15.65</td>
<td>$15.85</td>
<td>$115.00</td>
<td>$47.5K</td>
<td>7.9K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">30</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ALB</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>09/20/24</td>
<td>$23.2</td>
<td>$23.0</td>
<td>$23.2</td>
<td>$135.00</td>
<td>$46.4K</td>
<td>255</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">20</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</p>
<h3>About Albemarle</h3>
<p>Albemarle is one of the world's largest lithium producers. In the lithium industry, the majority of demand comes from batteries, where lithium is used as the energy storage material, particularly in electric vehicles. Albemarle is a fully integrated lithium producer. Its upstream resources include salt brine deposits in Chile and the U.S. and two hard rock mines in Australia, both of which are joint ventures. The company operates lithium refining plants in Chile, the U.S., Australia, and China. Albemarle is a global leader in the production of bromine, used in flame retardants. It is also a major producer of oil refining catalysts.</p>
<h3>Present Market Standing of Albemarle</h3>
<ul>
<li>Currently trading with a volume of 719,115, the ALB's price is up by 0.26%, now at $122.9. </li>
<li>RSI readings suggest the stock is currently may be approaching overbought.</li>
<li>Anticipated earnings release is in 16 days.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Expert Opinions on Albemarle</h3>
<p>Over the past month, 4 industry analysts have shared their insights on this stock, proposing an average target price of $149.0.</p>
<ul>
<li>An analyst from Berenberg upgraded its action to Buy with a price target of $160. </li>
<li>Maintaining their stance, an analyst from Wells Fargo continues to hold a Overweight rating for Albemarle, targeting a price of $145. </li>
<li>An analyst from B of A Securities has elevated its stance to Buy, setting a new price target at $156. </li>
<li>Consistent in their evaluation, an analyst from Citigroup keeps a Neutral rating on Albemarle with a target price of $135. </li>
</ul>
<p>Options trading presents higher risks and potential rewards. Astute traders manage these risks by continually educating themselves, adapting their strategies, monitoring multiple indicators, and keeping a close eye on market movements. Stay informed about the latest Albemarle options trades with real-time alerts from <a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/register174">Benzinga Pro</a>.</p>


Options

Spotlight on Albemarle: Analyzing the Surge in Options Activity

WIIM

Albemarle shares are trading lower amid weakness in lithium stocks.

<p>Deep-pocketed investors have adopted a bearish approach towards Albemarle (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ALB#NYSE">ALB</a>), and it's something market players shouldn't ignore. Our tracking of public options records at Benzinga unveiled this significant move today. The identity of these investors remains unknown, but such a substantial move in ALB usually suggests something big is about to happen.</p>
<p>We gleaned this information from our observations today when Benzinga's options scanner highlighted 16 extraordinary options activities for Albemarle. This level of activity is out of the ordinary.</p>
<p>The general mood among these heavyweight investors is divided, with 31% leaning bullish and 68% bearish. Among these notable options, 8 are puts, totaling $353,340, and 8 are calls, amounting to $406,720.</p>
<h3>Projected Price Targets</h3>
<p>Based on the trading activity, it appears that the significant investors are aiming for a price territory stretching from $75.0 to $137.0 for Albemarle over the recent three months. </p>
<h3>Volume &amp; Open Interest Trends</h3>
<p>Examining the volume and open interest provides crucial insights into stock research. This information is key in gauging liquidity and interest levels for Albemarle's options at certain strike prices. Below, we present a snapshot of the trends in volume and open interest for calls and puts across Albemarle's significant trades, within a strike price range of $75.0 to $137.0, over the past month.</p>
<h3>Albemarle Call and Put Volume: 30-Day Overview</h3>
<p><img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1712860275_0.png" alt="Options Call Chart" /></p>
<h3>Noteworthy Options Activity:</h3>
<p>
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th><strong>Symbol</strong></th>
<th><strong>PUT/CALL</strong></th>
<th><strong>Trade Type</strong></th>
<th><strong>Sentiment</strong></th>
<th><strong>Exp. Date</strong></th>
<th><strong>Ask</strong></th>
<th><strong>Bid</strong></th>
<th><strong>Price</strong></th>
<th><strong>Strike Price</strong></th>
<th><strong>Total Trade Price</strong></th>
<th><strong>Open Interest</strong></th>
<th><strong>Volume</strong></th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>ALB</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>09/20/24</td>
<td>$59.8</td>
<td>$56.05</td>
<td>$57.74</td>
<td>$75.00</td>
<td>$115.4K</td>
<td>54</td>
<td>0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ALB</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>03/21/25</td>
<td>$25.7</td>
<td>$25.1</td>
<td>$25.7</td>
<td>$135.00</td>
<td>$89.9K</td>
<td>129</td>
<td>44</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ALB</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>05/17/24</td>
<td>$7.2</td>
<td>$7.1</td>
<td>$7.1</td>
<td>$135.00</td>
<td>$80.9K</td>
<td>689</td>
<td>255</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ALB</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>05/17/24</td>
<td>$0.7</td>
<td>$0.5</td>
<td>$0.7</td>
<td>$95.00</td>
<td>$54.7K</td>
<td>8.1K</td>
<td>1.0K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ALB</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>09/20/24</td>
<td>$9.1</td>
<td>$8.9</td>
<td>$8.9</td>
<td>$110.00</td>
<td>$53.4K</td>
<td>1.1K</td>
<td>1</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</p>
<h3>About Albemarle</h3>
<p>Albemarle is one of the world's largest lithium producers. In the lithium industry, the majority of demand comes from batteries, where lithium is used as the energy storage material, particularly in electric vehicles. Albemarle is a fully integrated lithium producer. Its upstream resources include salt brine deposits in Chile and the U.S. and two hard rock mines in Australia, both of which are joint ventures. The company operates lithium refining plants in Chile, the U.S., Australia, and China. Albemarle is a global leader in the production of bromine, used in flame retardants. It is also a major producer of oil refining catalysts.</p>
<p>In light of the recent options history for Albemarle, it's now appropriate to focus on the company itself. We aim to explore its current performance.</p>
<h3>Albemarle's Current Market Status</h3>
<ul>
<li>Currently trading with a volume of 1,950,460, the ALB's price is up by 1.55%, now at $129.63. </li>
<li>RSI readings suggest the stock is currently may be approaching overbought.</li>
<li>Anticipated earnings release is in 20 days.</li>
</ul>
<h3>What Analysts Are Saying About Albemarle</h3>
<p>A total of 5 professional analysts have given their take on this stock in the last 30 days, setting an average price target of $151.6.</p>
<ul>
<li>In a positive move, an analyst from Berenberg has upgraded their rating to Buy and adjusted the price target to $160. </li>
<li>Consistent in their evaluation, an analyst from Loop Capital keeps a Buy rating on Albemarle with a target price of $162. </li>
<li>An analyst from Citigroup persists with their Neutral rating on Albemarle, maintaining a target price of $135. </li>
<li>An analyst from B of A Securities upgraded its action to Buy with a price target of $156. </li>
<li>An analyst from Wells Fargo has decided to maintain their Overweight rating on Albemarle, which currently sits at a price target of $145. </li>
</ul>
<p>Trading options involves greater risks but also offers the potential for higher profits. Savvy traders mitigate these risks through ongoing education, strategic trade adjustments, utilizing various indicators, and staying attuned to market dynamics. Keep up with the latest options trades for Albemarle with <a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/register174">Benzinga Pro</a> for real-time alerts.</p>


<p>Wells Fargo  analyst Michael Sison   maintains Albemarle (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ALB#NYSE">ALB</a>) with a Overweight and raises the price target from $135 to $145.</p>


Wells Fargo Maintains Overweight on Albemarle, Raises Price Target to $145

<p>Top Wall Street analysts changed their outlook on these top names. For a complete view of all analyst rating changes, including upgrades and downgrades, please see our <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/">analyst ratings page</a>.</p>
<ul>
<li>JP Morgan raised the price target for <strong> F5, Inc.</strong> (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ffiv#NASDAQ">FFIV</a>) from $197 to $205. JP Morgan analyst Samik Chatterjee maintained a Neutral rating. F5 shares fell 2.5% to close at $191.13 on Wednesday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/FFIV/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock</a>.</li>
<li>BMO Capital boosted the price target for <strong> Gatos Silver, Inc. </strong> (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/gato#NYSE">GATO</a>) from $8 to $9. BMO Capital analyst Kevin O&#39;Halloran maintained a Market Perform rating. Gatos Silver shares gained 3.4% to close at $9.64 on Wednesday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/GATO/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock.</a></li>
<li>Wedbush cut <strong> Walker &amp; Dunlop, Inc. </strong> (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/wd#NYSE">WD</a>) price target from $130 to $95. Wedbush analyst Henry Coffey downgraded the stock from Outperform to Neutral. Walker &amp; Dunlop shares fell 4.3% to close at $92.64 on Wednesday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/WD/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock.</a></li>
<li>JP Morgan cut the price target for <strong> Apple Inc. </strong> (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/aapl#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) from $215 to $210. JP Morgan analyst Samik Chatterjee maintained an Overweight rating. Apple shares fell 1.1% to close at $167.78 on Wednesday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/AAPL/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock.</a></li>
<li>Barclays raised <strong> Atlassian Corporation </strong> (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/team#NASDAQ">TEAM</a>) price target from $235 to $275. Barclays analyst Ryan Macwilliams upgraded the stock from Equal-Weight to Overweight. Atlassian shares rose 0.9% to close at $204.74 on Wednesday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/TEAM/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock.</a></li>
<li>Mizuho boosted <strong> STAAR Surgical Company </strong> (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/staa#NASDAQ">STAA</a>) price target from $45 to $53. Mizuho analyst Anthony Petrone maintained a Buy rating. STAAR Surgical shares fell 2.2% to close at $51.08 on Wednesday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/STAA/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock.</a></li>
<li>B of A Securities cut the price target for <strong> The Boeing Company </strong> (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ba#NYSE">BA</a>) from $210 to $190. B of A Securities analyst Ronald Epstein maintained a Neutral rating. Boeing shares fell 2% to close at $174.63 on Wednesday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/BA/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock.</a></li>
<li>Berenberg raised <strong> Albemarle Corporation </strong> (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/alb#NYSE">ALB</a>) price target from $130 to $160. Berenberg analyst Andres Castanos Mollor upgraded the stock from Hold to Buy. Albemarle shares fell 1.2% to close at $127.65 on Wednesday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/ALB/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock.</a></li>
<li>Deutsche Bank raised <strong> Delta Air Lines, Inc. </strong> (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/dal#NYSE">DAL</a>) price target from $50 to $60. Deutsche Bank analyst Michael Linenberg maintained a Buy rating. Delta Air shares fell 2.3% to close at $46.24 on Wednesday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/DAL/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock.</a></li>
<li>B of A Securities increased <strong> NIKE, Inc. </strong> (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/nke#NYSE">NKE</a>) price target from $110 to $113. B of A Securities analyst Lorraine Hutchinson upgraded the stock from Neutral to Buy. NIKE shares fell 2.2% to close at $89.00 on Wednesday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/NKE/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock.</a></li>
</ul>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>Check This Out: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/04/38198816/top-3-financial-stocks-that-are-ticking-portfolio-bombs"><em> Top 3 Financial Stocks That Are Ticking Portfolio Bombs </em></a></p>


General

Albemarle shares are trading higher after Berenberg upgraded the stock from Hold to Buy and raised its price target from $130 to $160.

<p>Berenberg  analyst Andres Castanos Mollor   upgrades Albemarle (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ALB#NYSE">ALB</a>) from Hold to Buy and raises the price target from $130 to $160.</p>


Upgrades

Berenberg Upgrades Albemarle to Buy, Raises Price Target to $160

<p>Citigroup  analyst Patrick Cunningham   maintains Albemarle (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ALB#NYSE">ALB</a>) with a Neutral and raises the price target from $125 to $135.</p>


Citigroup Maintains Neutral on Albemarle, Raises Price Target to $135

<p>Albemarle (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ALB#NYSE">ALB</a>) has been analyzed by 17 analysts in the last three months, revealing a diverse range of perspectives from bullish to bearish.</p>
<p>The following table summarizes their recent ratings, shedding light on the changing sentiments within the past 30 days and comparing them to the preceding months.</p>
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th></th>
<th style="text-align: right;"><strong>Bullish</strong></th>
<th style="text-align: right;"><strong>Somewhat Bullish</strong></th>
<th style="text-align: right;"><strong>Indifferent</strong></th>
<th style="text-align: right;"><strong>Somewhat Bearish</strong></th>
<th style="text-align: right;"><strong>Bearish</strong></th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td><strong>Total Ratings</strong></td>
<td style="text-align: right;">2</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">6</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">8</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">1</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong>Last 30D</strong></td>
<td style="text-align: right;">1</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong>1M Ago</strong></td>
<td style="text-align: right;">1</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">1</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong>2M Ago</strong></td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">5</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">4</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong>3M Ago</strong></td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">1</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">4</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p>Analysts' evaluations of 12-month price targets offer additional insights, showcasing an average target of $141.29, with a high estimate of $191.00 and a low estimate of $81.00. A 10.84% drop is evident in the current average compared to the previous average price target of $158.47. </p>
<p><img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1712750448_0.png" alt="price target chart" /></p>
<h2>Exploring Analyst Ratings: An In-Depth Overview</h2>
<p>The standing of Albemarle among financial experts becomes clear with a thorough analysis of recent analyst actions. The summary below outlines key analysts, their recent evaluations, and adjustments to ratings and price targets.</p>
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Analyst</th>
<th>Analyst Firm</th>
<th>Action Taken</th>
<th>Rating</th>
<th>Current Price Target</th>
<th>Prior Price Target</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Matthew DeYoe</td>
<td>B of A Securities</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$156.00</td>
<td>$137.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Christopher Kapsch</td>
<td>Loop Capital</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$162.00</td>
<td>$168.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Vincent Andrews</td>
<td>Morgan Stanley</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Underweight</td>
<td>$81.00</td>
<td>$90.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Kevin McCarthy</td>
<td>Vertical Research</td>
<td>Announces</td>
<td>Hold</td>
<td>$145.00</td>
<td>-</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>John Roberts</td>
<td>Mizuho</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Neutral</td>
<td>$112.00</td>
<td>$115.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Aleksey Yefremov</td>
<td>Keybanc</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Overweight</td>
<td>$159.00</td>
<td>$178.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>John Roberts</td>
<td>Mizuho</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Neutral</td>
<td>$115.00</td>
<td>$105.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Michael Sison</td>
<td>Wells Fargo</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Overweight</td>
<td>$135.00</td>
<td>$140.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Arun Viswanathan</td>
<td>RBC Capital</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Outperform</td>
<td>$138.00</td>
<td>$140.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Colin Rusch</td>
<td>Oppenheimer</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Outperform</td>
<td>$188.00</td>
<td>$191.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Aleksey Yefremov</td>
<td>Keybanc</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Overweight</td>
<td>$178.00</td>
<td>$199.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Joshua Spector</td>
<td>UBS</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Neutral</td>
<td>$125.00</td>
<td>$137.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Patrick Cunningham</td>
<td>Citigroup</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Neutral</td>
<td>$120.00</td>
<td>$175.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Joshua Spector</td>
<td>UBS</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Neutral</td>
<td>$137.00</td>
<td>$142.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>David Deckelbaum</td>
<td>TD Cowen</td>
<td>Announces</td>
<td>Market Perform</td>
<td>$130.00</td>
<td>-</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Christopher Parkinson</td>
<td>Mizuho</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Neutral</td>
<td>$130.00</td>
<td>$152.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Colin Rusch</td>
<td>Oppenheimer</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Outperform</td>
<td>$191.00</td>
<td>$308.00</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h3>Key Insights:</h3>
<ul>
<li><strong>Action Taken:</strong> Analysts frequently update their recommendations based on evolving market conditions and company performance. Whether they 'Maintain', 'Raise' or 'Lower' their stance, it reflects their reaction to recent developments related to Albemarle. This information provides a snapshot of how analysts perceive the current state of the company.</li>
<li><strong>Rating:</strong> Gaining insights, analysts provide qualitative assessments, ranging from 'Outperform' to 'Underperform'. These ratings reflect expectations for the relative performance of Albemarle compared to the broader market.</li>
<li><strong>Price Targets:</strong> Analysts gauge the dynamics of price targets, providing estimates for the future value of Albemarle's stock. This comparison reveals trends in analysts' expectations over time.</li>
</ul>
<p>Considering these analyst evaluations in conjunction with other financial indicators can offer a comprehensive understanding of Albemarle's market position. Stay informed and make well-informed decisions with our Ratings Table.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/ALB/analyst-ratings?utm_source=Benzinga Insights"><strong>Stay up to date on Albemarle analyst ratings.</strong></a></p>
<h2>Discovering Albemarle: A Closer Look</h2>
<p>Albemarle is one of the world's largest lithium producers. In the lithium industry, the majority of demand comes from batteries, where lithium is used as the energy storage material, particularly in electric vehicles. Albemarle is a fully integrated lithium producer. Its upstream resources include salt brine deposits in Chile and the U.S. and two hard rock mines in Australia, both of which are joint ventures. The company operates lithium refining plants in Chile, the U.S., Australia, and China. Albemarle is a global leader in the production of bromine, used in flame retardants. It is also a major producer of oil refining catalysts.</p>
<h3>Albemarle: A Financial Overview</h3>
<p><strong>Market Capitalization:</strong> Surpassing industry standards, the company's market capitalization asserts its dominance in terms of size, suggesting a robust market position.</p>
<p><strong>Negative Revenue Trend:</strong> Examining Albemarle's financials over 3 months reveals challenges. As of 31 December, 2023, the company experienced a decline of approximately <strong>-10.1%</strong> in revenue growth, reflecting a decrease in top-line earnings. In comparison to its industry peers, the company trails behind with a growth rate lower than the average among peers in the Materials sector.</p>
<p><strong>Net Margin:</strong> Albemarle's net margin is below industry averages, indicating potential challenges in maintaining strong profitability. With a net margin of <strong>-26.22%,</strong> the company may face hurdles in effective cost management.</p>
<p><strong>Return on Equity (ROE):</strong> Albemarle's ROE falls below industry averages, indicating challenges in efficiently using equity capital. With an ROE of <strong>-6.4%,</strong> the company may face hurdles in generating optimal returns for shareholders.</p>
<p><strong>Return on Assets (ROA):</strong> Albemarle's ROA falls below industry averages, indicating challenges in efficiently utilizing assets. With an ROA of <strong>-3.33%,</strong> the company may face hurdles in generating optimal returns from its assets.</p>
<p><strong>Debt Management:</strong> With a below-average debt-to-equity ratio of <strong>0.45</strong>, Albemarle adopts a prudent financial strategy, indicating a balanced approach to debt management.</p>
<h2>Analyst Ratings: Simplified</h2>
<p>Benzinga tracks 150 analyst firms and reports on their stock expectations. Analysts typically arrive at their conclusions by predicting how much money a company will make in the future, usually the upcoming five years, and how risky or predictable that company's revenue streams are.</p>
<p>Analysts attend company conference calls and meetings, research company financial statements, and communicate with insiders to publish their ratings on stocks. Analysts typically rate each stock once per quarter or whenever the company has a major update.</p>
<p>Some analysts publish their predictions for metrics such as growth estimates, earnings, and revenue to provide additional guidance with their ratings. When using analyst ratings, it is important to keep in mind that stock and sector analysts are also human and are only offering their opinions to investors.</p>
<p>If you want to keep track of which analysts are outperforming others, you can view updated analyst ratings along withanalyst success scores in <a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/register174">Benzinga Pro</a>.</p>
<p>This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.</p>


What 17 Analyst Ratings Have To Say About Albemarle

Albemarle shares are up after B of A Securities upgraded the stock from Neutral to Buy and raised its price target from $137 to $156.

<p>B of A Securities  analyst Matthew DeYoe   upgrades Albemarle (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ALB#NYSE">ALB</a>) from Neutral to Buy and raises the price target from $137 to $156.</p>


B of A Securities Upgrades Albemarle to Buy, Raises Price Target to $156

<p>Deep-pocketed investors have adopted a bullish approach towards Albemarle (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ALB#NYSE">ALB</a>), and it's something market players shouldn't ignore. Our tracking of public options records at Benzinga unveiled this significant move today. The identity of these investors remains unknown, but such a substantial move in ALB usually suggests something big is about to happen.</p>
<p>We gleaned this information from our observations today when Benzinga's options scanner highlighted 11 extraordinary options activities for Albemarle. This level of activity is out of the ordinary.</p>
<p>The general mood among these heavyweight investors is divided, with 72% leaning bullish and 27% bearish. Among these notable options, 2 are puts, totaling $91,290, and 9 are calls, amounting to $404,374.</p>
<h3>What's The Price Target?</h3>
<p>Analyzing the Volume and Open Interest in these contracts, it seems that the big players have been eyeing a price window from $90.0 to $135.0 for Albemarle during the past quarter. </p>
<h3>Analyzing Volume &amp; Open Interest</h3>
<p>Looking at the volume and open interest is a powerful move while trading options. This data can help you track the liquidity and interest for Albemarle's options for a given strike price. Below, we can observe the evolution of the volume and open interest of calls and puts, respectively, for all of Albemarle's whale trades within a strike price range from $90.0 to $135.0 in the last 30 days. </p>
<h3>Albemarle Option Volume And Open Interest Over Last 30 Days</h3>
<p><img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1712597462_0.png" alt="Options Call Chart" /></p>
<h3>Biggest Options Spotted:</h3>
<p>
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th><strong>Symbol</strong></th>
<th><strong>PUT/CALL</strong></th>
<th><strong>Trade Type</strong></th>
<th><strong>Sentiment</strong></th>
<th><strong>Exp. Date</strong></th>
<th><strong>Ask</strong></th>
<th><strong>Bid</strong></th>
<th><strong>Price</strong></th>
<th><strong>Strike Price</strong></th>
<th><strong>Total Trade Price</strong></th>
<th style="text-align: right;"><strong>Open Interest</strong></th>
<th style="text-align: right;"><strong>Volume</strong></th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>ALB</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>04/19/24</td>
<td>$6.35</td>
<td>$6.25</td>
<td>$6.35</td>
<td>$128.00</td>
<td>$85.7K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">262</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">14</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ALB</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>09/20/24</td>
<td>$11.8</td>
<td>$11.4</td>
<td>$11.55</td>
<td>$120.00</td>
<td>$48.5K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">841</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">46</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ALB</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>04/12/24</td>
<td>$3.3</td>
<td>$3.25</td>
<td>$3.25</td>
<td>$129.00</td>
<td>$47.7K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">230</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">382</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ALB</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>05/03/24</td>
<td>$9.5</td>
<td>$9.25</td>
<td>$9.25</td>
<td>$125.00</td>
<td>$45.3K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">92</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">13</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ALB</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>06/21/24</td>
<td>$22.5</td>
<td>$21.65</td>
<td>$22.5</td>
<td>$110.00</td>
<td>$45.0K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">397</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</p>
<h3>About Albemarle</h3>
<p>Albemarle is one of the world's largest lithium producers. In the lithium industry, the majority of demand comes from batteries, where lithium is used as the energy storage material, particularly in electric vehicles. Albemarle is a fully integrated lithium producer. Its upstream resources include salt brine deposits in Chile and the U.S. and two hard rock mines in Australia, both of which are joint ventures. The company operates lithium refining plants in Chile, the U.S., Australia, and China. Albemarle is a global leader in the production of bromine, used in flame retardants. It is also a major producer of oil refining catalysts.</p>
<p>After a thorough review of the options trading surrounding Albemarle, we move to examine the company in more detail. This includes an assessment of its current market status and performance.</p>
<h3>Current Position of Albemarle</h3>
<ul>
<li>Currently trading with a volume of 1,735,382, the ALB's price is up by 6.76%, now at $131.8. </li>
<li>RSI readings suggest the stock is currently may be approaching overbought.</li>
<li>Anticipated earnings release is in 23 days.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Professional Analyst Ratings for Albemarle</h3>
<p>A total of 2 professional analysts have given their take on this stock in the last 30 days, setting an average price target of $121.5.</p>
<ul>
<li>Maintaining their stance, an analyst from Loop Capital continues to hold a Buy rating for Albemarle, targeting a price of $162. </li>
<li>An analyst from Morgan Stanley has decided to maintain their Underweight rating on Albemarle, which currently sits at a price target of $81. </li>
</ul>
<p>Options are a riskier asset compared to just trading the stock, but they have higher profit potential. Serious options traders manage this risk by educating themselves daily, scaling in and out of trades, following more than one indicator, and following the markets closely.</p>
<p>If you want to stay updated on the latest options trades for Albemarle, <a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/register174">Benzinga Pro</a> gives you real-time options trades alerts.</p>


Albemarle Options Trading: A Deep Dive into Market Sentiment

<p>Albemarle (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ALB#NYSE">ALB</a>) has outperformed the market over the past 20 years by 3.56% on an annualized basis producing an average annual return of 11.51%. Currently, Albemarle has a market capitalization of $15.33 billion. </p>
<p><strong>Buying $100 In ALB:</strong> If an investor had bought $100 of ALB stock 20 years ago, it would be worth <strong>$866.53</strong> today based on a price of $130.40 for ALB at the time of writing.</p>
<h3>Albemarle's Performance Over Last 20 Years</h3>
<p><img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1712244674_0.png" alt="comp_fig" /></p>
<p>Finally -- what's the point of all this? The key insight to take from this article is to note how much of a difference compounded returns can make in your cash growth over a period of time.</p>
<p><em>This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.</em></p>


Here's How Much $100 Invested In Albemarle 20 Years Ago Would Be Worth Today

<p>The Chilean government has unveiled an ambitious plan to double its lithium output over the next decade. </p>
<p>The motivation behind this push lies in the nation&#8217;s recognition of the potential risks posed by lithium shortages, which could lead to significant economic repercussions for the second-largest producer of this metal critical for <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/clean-energy">clean energy transition</a>.</p>
<p>"Production needs to increase so that it remains profitable and attractive to manufacture lithium batteries for electro-mobility," Chilean Finance Minister <strong>Mario Marcel</strong> said in an interview <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-03-28/chile-lithium-output-to-grow-to-avert-risk-of-substitution-in-batteries">for</a> Bloomberg.</p>
<p>The Chilean government&#8217;s strategy involves opening up 26 new salt flats for lithium extraction. Among these salt flats, the <strong>Atacama</strong> and <strong>Maricunga salars</strong> stand out as the largest and most strategically significant, with a combined lithium potential of 10.8 million tonnes, representing 64% of global reserves.</p>
<p><em>Now Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/commodities/24/03/37855851/argentinas-lithium-mining-sector-gets-350m-boost-with-rio-tinto-investment">Argentina&#8217;s Lithium Mining Sector Gets $350M Boost With Rio Tinto Investment</a></em></p>
<p>While <strong>Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile S.A</strong>. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SQM#NYSE">SQM</a>) and <strong>Albemarle Corporation </strong>(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ALB#NYSE">ALB</a>) currently dominate lithium extraction in Chile, the government&#8217;s projections indicate a quadrupling of global demand by 2030, reaching 1.8 million tonnes. </p>
<p>To meet this anticipated surge in demand, Chilean authorities are facilitating partnerships between state-owned entities and private firms, ensuring a balance between government control and private sector participation.</p>
<p><strong>President Gabriel Boric&#8217;s</strong> administration has a comprehensive lithium policy, delineating state control and private investment areas. This plan includes creating protected salt flats to preserve environmentally sensitive areas while promoting sustainable lithium extraction practices.</p>
<p>Despite having water supply issues in its lithium-rich northern regions, Chile is not yet including new extraction technologies as a requirement in a new contract, as <strong>Marcel</strong> characterized them as "a desirable variable" rather than a requirement.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, the lithium plans in the U.S. need to be revised due to bureaucracy and outdated laws.</p>
<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t even know where to start in terms of working with the local authorities to get brine mineral rights in Texas. It&#8217;s confusing,&#8221; said <strong>Brady Murphy</strong>, CEO of <strong>Tetra Technologies</strong>, in an interview <a href="https://www.reuters.com/markets/commodities/exxon-mobil-expands-lithium-bet-with-tetra-technologies-deal-2023-06-28/">for</a> Reuters.</p>
<p>Tetra, an industry leader with patented technology for bromine production, has over 40,000 acres of <a href="https://tetratec.com/low-carbon-solutions/lithium-and-bromine-resources/">brine</a> leases in Arkansas, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/large-cap/24/02/37182798/exxons-lithium-experiment-could-be-winner-for-oil-company-state-of-arkansas">collaborating on lithium extraction</a> with <strong>Exxon Mobil</strong> (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XOM#NYSE">XOM</a>). However, per Murphy's words, owing to legal uncertainty opted not to do business in Texas, where potential lithium reserves remain largely untapped.</p>
<p>Similar challenges persist in other mineral-rich states, underscoring the need for streamlined regulations to foster investment and innovation in lithium extraction. By resolving that situation, policymakers could create value on multiple fronts: new domestic jobs, higher lithium supply and a boost in exports by licensing extraction technology to foreign producers.</p>
<p><em>Benzinga Mining is the bridge between mining companies and retail investors. Reach out to <a href="mailto:licensing@benzinga.com">licensing@benzinga.com</a> to get started!</em></p>
<p><em>Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/commodities/24/03/37744623/lithium-market-signals-potential-turnaround-with-pilbara-minerals-direct-sales-move">Lithium Market Signals Potential Turnaround With Pilbara Minerals&#8217; Direct Sales Move</a></em></p>
<p><em>Photo: Shutterstock</em></p>


Chile's Lithium Vision: Ambitious Plans Shine While US Market Tries To Overcome Fragmentation

Shares of lithium stocks are trading higher. Chile opened 26 lithium salt flats for investment.

<p>Deep-pocketed investors have adopted a bearish approach towards Albemarle (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ALB#NYSE">ALB</a>), and it's something market players shouldn't ignore. Our tracking of public options records at Benzinga unveiled this significant move today. The identity of these investors remains unknown, but such a substantial move in ALB usually suggests something big is about to happen.</p>
<p>We gleaned this information from our observations today when Benzinga's options scanner highlighted 8 extraordinary options activities for Albemarle. This level of activity is out of the ordinary.</p>
<p>The general mood among these heavyweight investors is divided, with 25% leaning bullish and 75% bearish. Among these notable options, 3 are puts, totaling $129,218, and 5 are calls, amounting to $222,596.</p>
<h3>What's The Price Target?</h3>
<p>Taking into account the Volume and Open Interest on these contracts, it appears that whales have been targeting a price range from $120.0 to $190.0 for Albemarle over the last 3 months. </p>
<h3>Insights into Volume &amp; Open Interest</h3>
<p>Assessing the volume and open interest is a strategic step in options trading. These metrics shed light on the liquidity and investor interest in Albemarle's options at specified strike prices. The forthcoming data visualizes the fluctuation in volume and open interest for both calls and puts, linked to Albemarle's substantial trades, within a strike price spectrum from $120.0 to $190.0 over the preceding 30 days.</p>
<h3>Albemarle Call and Put Volume: 30-Day Overview</h3>
<p><img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1711555250_0.png" alt="Options Call Chart" /></p>
<h3>Significant Options Trades Detected:</h3>
<p>
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th><strong>Symbol</strong></th>
<th><strong>PUT/CALL</strong></th>
<th><strong>Trade Type</strong></th>
<th><strong>Sentiment</strong></th>
<th><strong>Exp. Date</strong></th>
<th><strong>Strike Price</strong></th>
<th><strong>Total Trade Price</strong></th>
<th><strong>Open Interest</strong></th>
<th style="text-align: right;"><strong>Volume</strong></th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>ALB</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>06/21/24</td>
<td>$120.00</td>
<td>$54.4K</td>
<td>1.3K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">2</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ALB</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>04/05/24</td>
<td>$122.00</td>
<td>$49.1K</td>
<td>196</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">127</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ALB</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>05/17/24</td>
<td>$130.00</td>
<td>$49.1K</td>
<td>43</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">39</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ALB</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>04/05/24</td>
<td>$122.00</td>
<td>$45.0K</td>
<td>196</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ALB</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$155.00</td>
<td>$40.1K</td>
<td>483</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">10</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</p>
<h3>About Albemarle</h3>
<p>Albemarle is one of the world's largest lithium producers. In the lithium industry, the majority of demand comes from batteries, where lithium is used as the energy storage material, particularly in electric vehicles. Albemarle is a fully integrated lithium producer. Its upstream resources include salt brine deposits in Chile and the U.S. and two hard rock mines in Australia, both of which are joint ventures. The company operates lithium refining plants in Chile, the U.S., Australia, and China. Albemarle is a global leader in the production of bromine, used in flame retardants. It is also a major producer of oil refining catalysts.</p>
<p>Having examined the options trading patterns of Albemarle, our attention now turns directly to the company. This shift allows us to delve into its present market position and performance</p>
<h3>Present Market Standing of Albemarle</h3>
<ul>
<li>With a volume of 1,738,118, the price of ALB is up 1.48% at $120.77. </li>
<li>RSI indicators hint that the underlying stock may be approaching overbought.</li>
<li>Next earnings are expected to be released in 35 days.</li>
</ul>
<p>Trading options involves greater risks but also offers the potential for higher profits. Savvy traders mitigate these risks through ongoing education, strategic trade adjustments, utilizing various indicators, and staying attuned to market dynamics. Keep up with the latest options trades for Albemarle with <a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/register174">Benzinga Pro</a> for real-time alerts.</p>


<p>Whales with a lot of money to spend have taken a noticeably bullish stance on <strong>Albemarle</strong>.</p>
<p>Looking at options history for Albemarle (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ALB#NYSE">ALB</a>) we detected 14 trades.</p>
<p>If we consider the specifics of each trade, it is accurate to state that 57% of the investors opened trades with bullish expectations and 42% with bearish.</p>
<p>From the overall spotted trades, 9 are puts, for a total amount of $1,075,344 and 5, calls, for a total amount of $219,760.</p>
<h3>Predicted Price Range</h3>
<p>Taking into account the Volume and Open Interest on these contracts, it appears that whales have been targeting a price range from $100.0 to $170.0 for Albemarle over the last 3 months. </p>
<h3>Analyzing Volume &amp; Open Interest</h3>
<p>Looking at the volume and open interest is an insightful way to conduct due diligence on a stock.</p>
<p>This data can help you track the liquidity and interest for Albemarle's options for a given strike price.</p>
<p>Below, we can observe the evolution of the volume and open interest of calls and puts, respectively, for all of Albemarle's whale activity within a strike price range from $100.0 to $170.0 in the last 30 days. </p>
<h3>Albemarle Option Activity Analysis: Last 30 Days</h3>
<p><img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1711391481_0.png" alt="Options Call Chart" /></p>
<h3>Significant Options Trades Detected:</h3>
<p>
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th><strong>Symbol</strong></th>
<th><strong>PUT/CALL</strong></th>
<th><strong>Trade Type</strong></th>
<th><strong>Sentiment</strong></th>
<th><strong>Exp. Date</strong></th>
<th><strong>Strike Price</strong></th>
<th><strong>Total Trade Price</strong></th>
<th><strong>Open Interest</strong></th>
<th style="text-align: right;"><strong>Volume</strong></th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>ALB</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$170.00</td>
<td>$538.0K</td>
<td>1.8K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">100</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ALB</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$100.00</td>
<td>$215.0K</td>
<td>1.2K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">215</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ALB</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/16/26</td>
<td>$110.00</td>
<td>$84.7K</td>
<td>867</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">41</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ALB</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>05/17/24</td>
<td>$120.00</td>
<td>$65.2K</td>
<td>88</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">86</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ALB</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>03/21/25</td>
<td>$125.00</td>
<td>$57.7K</td>
<td>5</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">40</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</p>
<h3>About Albemarle</h3>
<p>Albemarle is one of the world's largest lithium producers. In the lithium industry, the majority of demand comes from batteries, where lithium is used as the energy storage material, particularly in electric vehicles. Albemarle is a fully integrated lithium producer. Its upstream resources include salt brine deposits in Chile and the U.S. and two hard rock mines in Australia, both of which are joint ventures. The company operates lithium refining plants in Chile, the U.S., Australia, and China. Albemarle is a global leader in the production of bromine, used in flame retardants. It is also a major producer of oil refining catalysts.</p>
<p>Having examined the options trading patterns of Albemarle, our attention now turns directly to the company. This shift allows us to delve into its present market position and performance</p>
<h3>Where Is Albemarle Standing Right Now?</h3>
<ul>
<li>Currently trading with a volume of 1,163,162, the ALB's price is down by -0.5%, now at $120.25. </li>
<li>RSI readings suggest the stock is currently is currently neutral between overbought and oversold.</li>
<li>Anticipated earnings release is in 37 days.</li>
</ul>
<p>Options are a riskier asset compared to just trading the stock, but they have higher profit potential. Serious options traders manage this risk by educating themselves daily, scaling in and out of trades, following more than one indicator, and following the markets closely.</p>
<p>If you want to stay updated on the latest options trades for Albemarle, <a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/register174">Benzinga Pro</a> gives you real-time options trades alerts.</p>


This Is What Whales Are Betting On Albemarle

Lithium demand is expected to increase in the coming years. Here are five undervalued U.S. lithium stocks to play that recovery.

5 Undervalued U.S. Lithium Stocks To Buy For Long-Term Returns

My Optimism About Albemarle Has Taken A Hit

<p><a href="https://investorplace.com">InvestorPlace - Stock Market News, Stock Advice &amp; Trading Tips</a></p>
<p>Lithium prices may be bottoming out, creating a big opportunity for some of the top <a href="https://investorplace.com/industries/energy/renewable-energy/battery/lithium/">lithium stocks</a> to buy now. For one, analysts at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-03-13/lithium-shorts-on-alb-pls-get-dangerous-on-lower-supply-outlook">UBS and Goldman Sachs</a>&nbsp;just cut their 2024 supply estimates by 33% and 26%, respectively, says Mining.com. Meanwhile, Morgan Stanley just warned about lower inventories in China.</p>



<p>In addition, &ldquo;Double-digit capacity has already been taken out of the lithium market and that usually is a sign that the commodity price is bottoming,&rdquo; added Jun Bei Liu, a hedge fund manager at Tribeca Investment Partners,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-03-13/lithium-shorts-on-alb-pls-get-dangerous-on-lower-supply-outlook?embedded-checkout=true">as quoted by Bloomerg</a>.</p>



<p>Bank of America analysts also say lithium prices could average about $14,000 per metric ton this year. That&rsquo;s up nicely from a prior call for $10,000 a ton. And, as I noted on Jan. 21, &ldquo;With some lithium mines shutting down or reducing production&nbsp;<a href="https://seekingalpha.com/article/4663102-top-10-lithium-companies-to-consider-potentially-approach-lithium-price-bottom">we could see less supply</a>. This could help stabilize prices and send lithium prices higher with demand.&rdquo;&nbsp;</p>



<p>That being said, it&rsquo;s time to buy the blood in the streets with top lithium stocks to buy now.</p>



<h2><strong>Piedmont Lithium (PLL)</strong></h2>



<div><img width="300" height="169" src="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/pll1600-300x169.png" alt="Person holding cellphone with logo of US mining company Piedmont Lithium Inc. (PLL) on screen in front of business webpage. Focus on phone display. Unmodified photo."><div>Source: T. Schneider / Shutterstock.com</div></div><p>One of the top lithium stocks to buy now is&nbsp;<strong>Piedmont Lithium</strong>&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/pll-stock-quote/" target="_blank"><strong>PLL</strong></a>).</p>



<p>Granted, its chart is ugly. But the company just received approval for a permit for the construction and operation of its proposed Caroline Lithium project from North Carolina.</p>



<p>For one,&nbsp;&ldquo;Technical studies have demonstrated that Carolina Lithium could be a low-cost producer of spodumene concentrate and lithium hydroxide, benefitting from exceptional infrastructure, minimal transportation distances, low energy costs, a deep local talent pool, and proximity to cathode and battery customers,&rdquo;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240415485352/en/Piedmont-Lithium-Receives-Mining-Permit-Approval-for-Carolina-Lithium">the company said</a>.</p>



<p>Two, the company says its mine could be one of North America&rsquo;s biggest sources of lithium for electric vehicle batteries. Plus, it also holds all permits for its project in Tennessee, where it expects to start construction soon. Piedmont also partnered with&nbsp;Vinland Lithium&nbsp;to advance a project in Newfoundland, Canada.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Analysts at&nbsp;<a href="https://news.fintel.io/news/bmo-capital-initiates-coverage-of-piedmont-lithium-pll-with-market-perform-recommendation-229">BMO Capital recently initiated coverage</a>&nbsp;of Piedmont Lithium with a market perform rating, with a price target of $20 a share.</p>



<h2><strong>Sociedad Quimica y Minera (SQM)</strong></h2>



<div><img width="300" height="169" src="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/lithium1600f-300x169.jpg" alt="a pile of lithium. lithium stocks"><div>Source: Bjoern Wylezich/ShutterStock.com</div></div><p>Another one of the top lithium stocks to buy now is&nbsp;<strong>Sociedad Quimica y Minera</strong>&nbsp;(NYSE:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/sqm-stock-quote/"><strong>SQM</strong></a>), which currently yields about 11%.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Technically, it&rsquo;s been stuck in a channel between $45.70 and about $52 a share since the start of May. The good news is that SQM now trades at the lower range of that channel, where it has now bounced from two times prior.</p>



<p>Earnings haven&rsquo;t been too hot. But that&rsquo;s to be expected in the current environment. In its most recent quarter,&nbsp;SQM said&nbsp;<a href="https://investorplace.com/2024/01/why-these-3-lithium-stocks-should-be-on-your-radar-in-2024/" target="_blank">revenue slipped 38% year-over-year</a>&nbsp;to $1.84 billion. Net income came in 56% lower year over year to $479.9 million, as earnings per share (<span>EPS</span>) crumbled 56% to $1.68 year over year. However, a good amount of negativity has been priced in. Helping,&nbsp;Loop Capital&nbsp;<a href="https://thefly.com/news.php?symbol=SQM">recently raised its price target</a>&nbsp;on SQM to $62, with a hold rating.</p>



<p>Analysts at Jefferies also upgraded SQM to a buy rating, with a price target of $62.80. &ldquo;Jefferies sees SQM as an attractive investment due to several factors. These include the company&rsquo;s competitive advantage in low cash cost for lithium production and the anticipated value boost from the extension of its Chilean lithium concession,&rdquo; as noted by Investing.com.</p>



<h2><strong>Amplify Lithium &amp; Battery Technology ETF (BATT)</strong></h2>



<div><img width="300" height="169" src="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/lithium1600d-300x169.jpg" alt="Graphic of Lithium scientific symbol (Li) in the shape of a big white gear with construction equipment and mountain around it. favorite Lithium stocks"><div>Source: GrAl / Shutterstock.com</div></div><p>Or, we can jump into an exchange-traded fund (ETF), like the&nbsp;<strong>Amplify Lithium &amp; Battery Technology ETF</strong>&nbsp;(NYSEARCA:<span><a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/batt-stock-quote/"><strong>BATT</strong></a></span>).</p>



<p>With an expense ratio of 0.59%, the BATT ETF provides exposure to global companies that develop, produce and use lithium battery technology &mdash; all for less than $10 a share. BATT ETF has 89 holdings, including&nbsp;<strong>Tesla</strong>&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<span><a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/tsla-stock-quote/"><strong>TSLA</strong></a></span>),&nbsp;<strong>Albemarle</strong>&nbsp;(NYSE:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/alb-stock-quote/"><strong>ALB</strong></a>) and Sociedad Quimica.</p>



<p>Just recently, the BATT ETF ran from about $8.56 to a recent high of $9.60. From there, it did slide back to $8.97, where it again caught support. Near term, I&rsquo;d like to see the ETF initially challenge $9.60 again. From there, I&rsquo;d like to see it rally back to $10.60.</p>



<p>This is another hot ETF that could double, even triple, when lithium prices and related stocks start to push well off their low. While simplistic to say, it&rsquo;s only a matter of time before lithium recovers and takes the BATT ETF along for the ride.</p>



<p><em>On the date of publication, Ian Cooper did not hold (either directly or indirectly) any positions in the securities mentioned. The opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer, subject to the InvestorPlace.com&nbsp;<a href="https://investorplace.com/corporate/investorplace-publishing-guidelines/" target="_blank">Publishing Guidelines.</a></em></p>
<div><p>Ian Cooper, a contributor to InvestorPlace.com, has been analyzing stocks and options for web-based advisories since 1999.</p></div><h3>More From InvestorPlace</h3>
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<p>The post <a href="https://investorplace.com/2024/04/3-lithium-stocks-to-buy-now-q2-edition/">3 Lithium Stocks to Buy Now: Q2 Edition</a> appeared first on <a href="https://investorplace.com">InvestorPlace</a>.</p>

3 Lithium Stocks to Buy Now: Q2 Edition

Top high growth investment ratio stocks from each sector - GS

<p><a href="https://investorplace.com">InvestorPlace - Stock Market News, Stock Advice &amp; Trading Tips</a></p>
<p>The demand for batteries has seen a significant surge in recent times, leading to a rise in the valuation of <a href="https://investorplace.com/industries/energy/renewable-energy/battery/"></a>battery stocks. With governments worldwide implementing stricter emissions regulations and consumers increasingly choosing electric over traditional combustion engines, the future for EV battery stocks looks exceptionally bright.</p>



<p>The electric vehicle battery market is projected to grow significantly from 2024 to 2029. As per <a href="https://www.mordorintelligence.com/industry-reports/global-electric-vehicle-battery-market-industry">Mordor Intelligence,</a> the market could reach $178 billion by 2029, growing at an impressive CAGR of 23.5%. The demand for batteries <a href="https://www.iea.org/reports/global-ev-outlook-2023/trends-in-batteries">increased</a> by 65% to 550 GWh in 2022, as per IEA. The rising sales of electric passenger cars, particularly in China and the United States, mainly drive that growth.</p>



<p>Amidst this backdrop, certain EV battery makers stand out for their innovative approaches, strategic partnerships and robust financial performance. These companies are strategically positioned to capitalize on the increasing demand from major automakers. Thus, here are three battery stocks well-positioned to provide solid returns to investors.</p>



<h2><strong>Enovix (ENVX)</strong></h2>



<div><img width="300" height="169" src="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/lithium1600b-300x169.jpg" alt="a group of connected batteries"><div>Source: Shutterstock</div></div><p>With its innovative approach to lithium-ion batteries, <strong>Enovix</strong> (NASDAQ:<span><a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/envx-stock-quote/"><strong>ENVX</strong></a></span>) is at the forefront of the battery technology industry. The company employs a proprietary 3D silicon cell structure and silicon anodes in its batteries. This technological enhancement leads to a higher energy density and positions Enovix as a leading player in the industry.</p>



<p>The company reported strong growth in its revenues in Q4 2023, with <a href="https://seekingalpha.com/filing/8373173">sales</a> of $7.4 million in the quarter, up from $1.1 million in Q4 2022. The company anticipates starting battery <a href="https://seekingalpha.com/article/4671764-enovix-corporation-envx-q4-2023-earnings-call-transcript">production</a> at its Fab-2 facility in Malaysia in April 2024, indicating a swift move toward commercial-scale manufacturing.</p>



<p>Although the stock has not done well in 2024, Wall Street analysts are still bullish on the company and have an average <a href="https://finance.yahoo.com/quote/ENVX/">price target</a> of $29.73 on the stock. That translates into a massive 374% potential upside in the near term.</p>



<h2><strong>Albemarle (ALB)</strong></h2>



<div><img width="300" height="169" src="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/alb1600a-300x169.jpg" alt="Albemarle (ALB) logo on a mobile phone screen"><div>Source: IgorGolovniov/Shutterstock.com</div></div><p><strong>Albemarle&rsquo;s </strong>(NYSE:<span><a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/alb-stock-quote/"><strong>ALB</strong></a></span>) position as a low-cost lithium producer provides it with a competitive edge in the industry. That advantage is crucial in periods of low lithium prices, as it allows the company to sustain operations more effectively than higher-cost producers.</p>



<p>In 2023, Albemarle experienced a tumultuous period characterized by fluctuating lithium prices. The impact was notably <a href="https://www.reuters.com/markets/commodities/despite-weak-lithium-prices-albemarle-beats-cost-cuts-2024-02-14/">reflected</a> in its Q4 earnings, where revenue declined by 10% year-over-year (YoY), attributed to the stark decrease in lithium prices. In response to the challenging market environment, Albemarle has strategically adjusted its capital expenditure and operational strategies.</p>



<p>Albemarle&rsquo;s management remains optimistic about the long-term demand for lithium, projecting significant growth <a href="https://seekingalpha.com/article/4670623-albemarle-corporation-alb-q4-2023-earnings-call-transcript">driven</a> by the global shift towards electric vehicles. The company anticipates a demand surge that could nearly triple by 2030, reinforcing the strategic importance of maintaining a strong position in the lithium market.</p>



<p>ALB&rsquo;s stock is down 22% in 2024. However, Wall Street analysts remain bullish on the stock and have an average <a href="https://finance.yahoo.com/quote/ALB/">price target</a> of $149.34 on the stock. That provides a near-term potential upside of 33%.</p>



<h2><strong>Lithium Americas (LAC)</strong></h2>



<div><img width="300" height="169" src="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/lithium-americas-lac-1600-300x169.jpg" alt="smartphone with logo of Canadian company Lithium Americas Corp on screen"><div>Source: Wirestock Creators / Shutterstock.com</div></div><p><strong>Lithium Americas</strong> (NYSE:<span><a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/lac-stock-quote/"><strong>LAC</strong></a></span>) stands out with its Thacker Pass <a href="https://lithiumamericas.com/thacker-pass/overview/default.aspx">project,</a> poised to become a critical asset in the North American lithium market. The project has gained strategic importance due to its scale and location in the United States. The U.S. is keen on bolstering domestic supply chains for critical minerals.</p>



<p>Lithium Americas has demonstrated prudent financial management amidst challenging market conditions. The company has secured a conditional commitment from the U.S. Department of Energy for a <a href="https://www.reuters.com/markets/commodities/lithium-americas-get-226-bln-us-doe-loan-nevada-mine-2024-03-14/">loan</a> of $2.26 billion. That underscores government support and confidence in the project&rsquo;s viability and strategic relevance. That financing is pivotal in ensuring the project&rsquo;s completion without financial strain on the company&rsquo;s resources.</p>



<p>The strategic <a href="https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/gm-and-lithium-americas-to-develop-us-sourced-lithium-production-through-650-million-equity-investment-and-supply-agreement-301734300.html">partnership</a> with <strong>General Motors</strong> (NYSE:<span><a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/gm-stock-quote/"><strong>GM</strong></a></span>), which includes a commitment to purchase significant quantities of lithium, provides additional financial stability and revenue visibility.</p>



<p>Although LAC&rsquo;s stock is down 26% in 2024, Wall Street analysts are currently bullish on the company, giving the stock an average <a href="https://finance.yahoo.com/quote/LAC/">price target</a> of $10.21. That provides a potential upside of 116% in the near term.</p>



<p><em>On the date of publication, Mohammed Saqib did not hold (either directly or indirectly) any positions in the securities mentioned in this article.</em> <em>The opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer, subject to the InvestorPlace.com </em><a href="https://investorplace.com/corporate/investorplace-publishing-guidelines/"><em>Publishing Guidelines</em>.</a></p>
<div><p>Mohammed Saqib is a research analyst with experience in equity research and financial modeling. He has extensively covered stocks listed in the tech sector using fundamental analysis as the cornerstone of his approach. Currently pursuing a master&rsquo;s degree in finance, Saqib is dedicated to obtaining the CFA charter to augment his expertise in the field further.</p></div><h3>More From InvestorPlace</h3>
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<p>The post <a href="https://investorplace.com/2024/04/the-top-3-battery-stocks-to-buy-in-april-2024/">The Top 3 Battery Stocks to Buy in April 2024</a> appeared first on <a href="https://investorplace.com">InvestorPlace</a>.</p>

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<p>When you look at the technology, it&rsquo;s hard not to be bullish on the future of electric vehicles. The environmental impact alone should be enough to realize that EV adoption will continue to rise as time goes on. As cars move away from being automobiles and more towards computerized vehicles, the benefits of EV technology far outweigh the benefits of traditional internal combustion engines (<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/ice-stock-quote/"><strong>ICE</strong></a>).&nbsp;</p>



<p>So if you&rsquo;re bullish on EV technology, one way to play the sector is to invest in <a href="https://investorplace.com/industries/energy/renewable-energy/battery/">battery stocks</a>. Batteries are like the picks and shovels of the industry. Without a fast charge and a long range, it will be difficult to convince most people to consider buying an electric vehicle. While the sector is in a lull, load up on these battery stocks for when EV demand rebounds in the future.</p>



<h2><strong>BYD (BYDDY)</strong></h2>



<div><img width="300" height="169" src="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/byd-1600-300x169.png" alt="BYD Company Limited logo in front of their website. BYDDY stock."><div>Source: T. Schneider / Shutterstock</div></div><p><strong>BYD </strong>(OTCMKTS:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/byddy-stock-quote/"><strong>BYDDY</strong></a>) is the leading electric vehicle maker in the Chinese market. Despite being a Chinese company, U.S. investors can buy shares of the American Depository Receipt or ADR on the Over-the-Counter markets. The stock does not receive much coverage from American analysts, but the ones that do have an average <a href="https://finance.yahoo.com/quote/BYDDY/analysis">price target</a> of $51.30 and a Wall Street high target of $69.00.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The stock was once a preferred investment of Warren Buffet who chose China&rsquo;s EV market over domestic companies like <strong>Tesla</strong> (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>). The two companies are head-to-head in global <a href="https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/byd-may-hand-back-top-ev-seller-title-tesla-after-q1-sales-decline-2024-04-02/">EV sales</a> with BYD narrowly trailing Tesla in the first quarter of 2024. One thing that may surprise you is that Tesla uses BYD batteries for its Model Y, so the two companies are as much partners as they are rivals.&nbsp;</p>



<p>One look at BYD&rsquo;s valuation and it might be easy to see why Buffett chose BYD over Tesla. BYDDY trades at <a href="https://finance.yahoo.com/quote/BYDDY/key-statistics">16x forward earnings</a> and 0.9x sales. This is compared to 49.7x forward earnings and 5.2x sales for TSLA. With BYD&rsquo;s five-year <a href="https://www.alphaspread.com/security/szse/002594/financials/income-statement/revenue">revenue</a> CAGR of 36%, this stock has plenty of room to rise in the future.&nbsp;</p>



<h2><strong>Albemarle (ALB)&nbsp;</strong></h2>



<div><img width="300" height="169" src="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/alb1600a-300x169.jpg" alt="Albemarle (ALB) logo on a mobile phone screen"><div>Source: IgorGolovniov/Shutterstock.com</div></div><p><strong>Albemarle </strong>(NYSE:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/alb-stock-quote/"><strong>ALB</strong></a>) is an American chemical manufacturer that was founded in 1994 in Charlotte, NC. This stock has a wide range of opinions from analysts on Wall Street as the one-year <a href="https://finance.yahoo.com/quote/ALB/analysis">price target</a> range is as low as $81.00 and as high as $216.00. The average price target of $149.34 implies a 25% upside from its current price.&nbsp;</p>



<p>This company is the world&rsquo;s largest lithium provider for EV battery production. Albemarle already has standing partnerships with electric vehicle manufacturers. While lithium production continues to rise, prices have dropped off a cliff as demand for EVs has waned in this high-interest rate environment.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Because of the decline in lithium prices, Albemarle and the entire lithium sector have seen stock prices plunge. Shares of ALB are down by nearly 25% since the start of 2024 and are now trading at just <a href="https://finance.yahoo.com/quote/ALB/key-statistics">1.3x sales</a>. Wall Street certainly thinks Albemarle&rsquo;s stock will rise so it is one to target before demand for EVs returns.&nbsp;</p>



<h2><strong>Piedmont Lithium (PLL)</strong></h2>



<div><img width="300" height="169" src="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/pll1600-300x169.png" alt="Person holding cellphone with logo of US mining company Piedmont Lithium Inc. (PLL) on screen in front of business webpage. Focus on phone display. Unmodified photo."><div>Source: T. Schneider / Shutterstock.com</div></div><p><strong>Piedmont Lithium </strong>(NASDAQ:<span><a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/pll-stock-quote/"><strong>PLL</strong></a></span>) is an American mining company that was founded in 1983. Anyone looking to buy low on lithium will certainly want to add Piedmont to their watchlist. PLL has an average analyst <a href="https://finance.yahoo.com/quote/PLL/analysis">price target</a> of $43.00 with a street-high target of $65.00. Shares of PLL have fallen by more than 80% over the past 52 weeks and are currently trading at just under $12.00.&nbsp;</p>



<p>This lithium company is much smaller than Albemarle but has a lot of similarities. Both are based in the North Carolina area and both have operations overseas in major lithium projects. Piedmont is also a major supplier to Tesla of both lithium and spodumene concentrate SC6 which is a lithium-aluminium pyroxene mineral. SC6 is a critical component for EV batteries as well as smartphones and medications.&nbsp;</p>



<p>As you might have guessed, the significant drawdown in PLL&rsquo;s price has led to a rock bottom multiple. Shares of PLL are trading at just 5.7x forward earnings and <a href="https://finance.yahoo.com/quote/PLL/key-statistics">5.5x sales</a>. Piedmont is another company that will rise and fall with the demand for EVs. While demand is at a near-term low, Piedmont is worth considering before the EV industry rises again.&nbsp;</p>



<p><em>On the date of publication, Ian Hartana and Vayun Chugh did not hold (either directly or indirectly) any positions in the securities mentioned in this article. The opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer, subject to the InvestorPlace.com&nbsp;<a href="https://investorplace.com/corporate/investorplace-publishing-guidelines/">Publishing Guidelines</a></em>.</p>
<div><p>Chandler Capital is the work of Ian Hartana and Vayun Chugh. 

Ian Hartana and Vayun Chugh are both self-taught investors whose work has been featured in Seeking Alpha. Their research primarily revolves around GARP stocks with a long-term investment perspective encompassing diverse sectors such as technology, energy, and healthcare.</p></div><h3>More From InvestorPlace</h3>
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<p>The post <a href="https://investorplace.com/2024/04/prepare-for-a-charge-3-battery-stocks-to-buy-before-an-ev-rebound/">Prepare for a Charge: 3 Battery Stocks to Buy Before an EV Rebound</a> appeared first on <a href="https://investorplace.com">InvestorPlace</a>.</p>

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<p><a href="https://investorplace.com">InvestorPlace - Stock Market News, Stock Advice &amp; Trading Tips</a></p>
<p>Longtime chip analyst Stacy Rasgon recently told <em>Investor&rsquo;s Business Daily </em> that the development of AI infrastructure would still be occurring <a href="https://www.investors.com/news/technology/ai-stocks-artificial-intelligence-nvidia-stock-analyst/">five or ten years from now</a>. Moreover, Rasgon stated that <strong>Nvidia</strong> (NASDAQ:<span><a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/nvda-stock-quote/"><strong>NVDA</strong></a></span>) is still benefiting from strong demand for its products, and he thinks that those who believe that the company will experience any sort of downturn soon are mistaken. Rasgon&rsquo;s comments are certainly positive for AI hardware stocks other than Nvidia which are benefiting a great deal from the AI boom. Here are three such AI hardware stocks that are well-positioned to generate high profits for investors. </p>



<h2>Astera Labs (ALAB)</h2>



<div><img width="300" height="169" src="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/alab1600-1-300x169.png" alt="Person holding smartphone with logo of U.S. semiconductor company Astera Labs Inc. (ALAB) on screen in front of website. Focus on phone display. Unmodified photo."><div>Source: T. Schneider / Shutterstock.com</div></div><p><strong>Astera Labs</strong> (NASDAQ:<span><a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/alab-stock-quote/"><strong>ALAB</strong></a></span>) <a href="https://www.investors.com/news/technology/astera-labs-stock-alab-gets-bullish-initial-coverage/">develops connectivity</a> chips for cloud and artificial intelligence data centers. </p>



<p>Investment bank <strong>Barclays</strong> contended that Astera was poised to benefit from the ongoing proliferation of AI. The bank believes that the firm is ahead of the competition when it comes to providing data centers with the connectivity products that facilitate certain uses of AI which are likely to become much more prevalent over the long-term. Barclays started overage of ALAB with an $85 price target and an &ldquo;overweight&rdquo; rating. </p>



<p>The bank expects over 80% of ALAB&rsquo;s revenue to be generated from products related to AI in 2024. As a result, I expect the firm to benefit tremendously from the continued, rapid proliferation of the technology. And in my view, that makes ALAB one of the best AI hardware stocks to buy now. </p>



<h2>Broadcom (AVGO)</h2>



<div><img width="300" height="169" src="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/AVGO1600-300x169.jpg" alt="broadcom (AVGO) logo outside office building"><div>Source: Sasima / Shutterstock.com</div></div><p><strong>Broadcom</strong> (NASDAQ:<span><a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/avgo-stock-quote/"><strong>AVGO</strong></a></span>) provides many types of top-notch AI hardware and AI chips, including a new ethernet switch. AVGO also offers a chip whose neural network helps it avoid AI workloads from getting too dense and slowing down. Further, the <a href="https://www.nextplatform.com/2023/04/26/broadcom-takes-on-infiniband-with-jericho3-ai-switch-chips/">company launched</a> Jericho3-AI switch chips last year which are competitive with the more commonly used AI switch chips. Finally, Broadcom is selling custom AI chips to the large cloud infrastructure players.</p>



<p>The firm&rsquo;s strategy <a href="https://seekingalpha.com/pr/19648660-broadcom-inc-announces-first-quarter-fiscal-year-2024-financial-results-and-quarterly?hasComeFromMpArticle=false">appears to be working</a> as its revenue jumped 34% versus the same period a year earlier. Meanwhile, its earnings per share advanced 6% year-over-year to $10.99. Moreover, the firm says <a href="https://seekingalpha.com/news/4077621-broadcom-looks-to-ai-networking-offerings-to-grow-2024-revenue">that it expects</a> AI products to represent 35% of its sales this year. And it expects its financial results to be significantly boosted by higher demand for its AI products. </p>



<p>Also noteworthy is that Broadcom has reported that it has recruited a second major customer for its AI ASIC chips. According to Japanese bank <strong>Mizuho</strong>, that customer is <strong>Meta </strong>(NASDAQ:<span><a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/meta-stock-quote/"><strong>META</strong></a></span>).</p>



<h2>Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (TSM)</h2>



<div><img width="300" height="169" src="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/shutterstock_1610901103-300x169.jpg" alt="TSM stock: the Taiwan Semiconductor logo on the side of its facility in Taiwan"><div>Source: ToyW / Shutterstock</div></div><p>Despite the market&rsquo;s poor reaction to <strong>Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing&rsquo;s</strong> (NYSE:<span><a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/tsm-stock-quote/"><strong>TSM</strong></a></span>) first-quarter results, they were actually quite good. The firm&rsquo;s <a href="https://seekingalpha.com/news/4090797-taiwan-semiconductor-rises-after-q1-beat-upbeat-q2-outlook-on-ai-demand">top-line jumped </a>13% versus the same period a year earlier to $18.87 billion. Plus, its net income increased 9% year-over-year to $6.9 billion. Moreover, the chip maker expects its top-line to rise by an impressive total of 20% to 25% this year.</p>



<p>TSM <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2024/04/18/tsmc-q1-2024-earnings-on-strong-ai-chip-demand.html">reported that it was benefiting</a> from strong sales of its high-performance computing chips which are used to create AI. According to CEO C.C. Wei, almost all the AI innovators are working with TSMC to address their demands for energy efficient computing power.</p>



<p>In the wake of TSM stock&rsquo;s recent pullback, its enterprise value/EBITDA ratio <a href="https://finance.yahoo.com/quote/TSM/key-statistics">is a very low </a>0.56 times. </p>



<p><em>On the date of publication, Larry Ramer did not have (either directly or indirectly) any positions in the securities mentioned in this article.&nbsp;The opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer, subject to the InvestorPlace.com&nbsp;<a href="https://investorplace.com/corporate/investorplace-publishing-guidelines/" target="_blank">Publishing Guidelines</a></em>.</p>
<div><p>Larry Ramer has conducted research and written articles on U.S. stocks for 15 years. He has been employed by The Fly and Israel&rsquo;s largest business newspaper, Globes. Larry began writing columns for InvestorPlace in 2015. Among his highly successful, contrarian picks have been SMCI, INTC, and MGM. You can reach him on Stocktwits at @larryramer.</p></div><h3>More From InvestorPlace</h3>
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<p>The post <a href="https://investorplace.com/2024/04/chip-champs-3-ai-hardware-picks-to-supercharge-your-investment-portfolio/">Chip Champs: 3 AI Hardware Picks to Supercharge Your Investment Portfolio</a> appeared first on <a href="https://investorplace.com">InvestorPlace</a>.</p>

Chip Champs: 3 AI Hardware Picks to Supercharge Your Investment Portfolio

<p><a href="https://investorplace.com">InvestorPlace - Stock Market News, Stock Advice &amp; Trading Tips</a></p>
<p>Many investors are focusing their metals and mining focus on gold and silver in 2024. And <a href="https://investorplace.com/industries/energy/renewable-energy/battery/lithium/">lithium stocks</a> took a beating in 2023 which continues into 2024. However, this may be a time to look for lithium stocks to buy on the dip.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Primarily, lithium is a core metal needed for the ongoing transition to electric vehicles (<strong>EV</strong>s). But it&rsquo;s also going to be needed for many current and next-gen applications, including flying cars and smartphones. &nbsp;</p>



<p>Investing in commodities is not for risk-averse investors. Oversupply crushed the lithium market, and miners are cutting back. But this <a href="https://www.morningstar.com/news/marketwatch/20230920269/lithium-supply-may-tighten-in-the-years-ahead-driving-prices-higher-along-with-it" target="_blank">tightening of the lithium supply</a> is likely to provide a boost to lithium prices. EV makers, for example, can get through their inventory glut. &nbsp;</p>



<p>Even if turnaround time in lithium prices doesn&rsquo;t happen soon, many lithium stocks to buy on the dip are trading near 52-week lows. And some pay a dividend which can help protect your investment if the market moves against you. &nbsp;</p>



<h2>Albemarle (ALB)</h2>



<div><img width="300" height="169" src="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/alb1600a-300x169.jpg" alt="Albemarle (ALB) logo on a mobile phone screen"><div>Source: IgorGolovniov/Shutterstock.com</div></div><p>You can&rsquo;t blame investors for wanting to throw in the towel on <strong>Albemarle</strong> (NYSE:<span><a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/alb-stock-quote/"><strong>ALB</strong></a></span>). At several points in 2023 and 2024, investors may have chosen to get involved, thinking the bottom was in, only to see it fall further. &nbsp;</p>



<p>The good news is that in the last six months, ALB stock looks to have found a floor. The bad news is that it continues to trade at or near that floor. It&rsquo;s a stock that&rsquo;s in need of a catalyst. &nbsp;</p>



<p>Albemarle won&rsquo;t report earnings until May 1, 2024. However, analysts have been upgrading and/or <a href="https://investorplace.com/2024/04/wall-street-favorites-3-lithium-stocks-with-strong-buy-ratings-for-april-2024/" target="_blank">boosting their price targets</a> for the stock in April. <strong>Bank of America</strong> (NYSE:<span><a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/bac-stock-quote/"><strong>BAC</strong></a></span>) upgraded the stock to a buy while increasing the price target from $137 to $156. <strong>Wells Fargo</strong> (NYSE:<span><a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/wfc-stock-quote/"><strong>WFC</strong></a></span>) retained its buy rating on ALB stock while raising its price target to $145 from $135. &nbsp;</p>



<h2>Frontier Lithium (LITOF)&nbsp;</h2>



<div><img width="300" height="169" src="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/lithium1600d-300x169.jpg" alt="Graphic of Lithium scientific symbol (Li) in the shape of a big white gear with construction equipment and mountain around it. favorite Lithium stocks"><div>Source: GrAl / Shutterstock.com</div></div><p>For investors with more appetite for risk,<strong> Frontier Lithium</strong> (OTCMKTS:<span><a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/litof-stock-quote/"><strong>LITOF</strong></a></span>) is an attractive choice. As of this writing, Frontier Lithium is a penny stock&#x2A; at just 57 cents. The company&rsquo;s goal is to be the first fully integrated lithium operation in Ontario. &nbsp;</p>



<p>One important fact for investors to consider is that Frontier Lithium is still a pre-production company that isn&rsquo;t expected to begin production of any sort at its <a href="https://www.frontierlithium.com/_files/ugd/dec7de_99bda7b89f0e44bea74e272f967144d9.pdf" target="_blank">PAK Lithium Project until 2027</a>. And, Frontier won&rsquo;t begin lithium chemical production until 2029. &nbsp;</p>



<p>However, the company has a <a href="https://mailchi.mp/frontierlithium/jv0324" target="_blank">joint venture partnership with Mitsubishi</a> that will help ensure the PAK Lithium Project is funded until production starts. Initially, Mitsubishi will have a 5% stake in the project, which could grow as high as 25%.&nbsp;</p>



<h2>WisdomTree Battery Value Chain and Innovation Fund (WBAT)&nbsp;</h2>



<div><img width="300" height="169" src="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/etf-up-arrow-300x169.jpg" alt="graphic of the phrase ETF sitting on a computer in front of an increasing line graph on top of a bar graph. Best Funds for Aggressive Investors. Best Growth ETFs"><div>Source: Shutterstock</div></div><p>The <strong>WisdomTree Battery Value Chain and Innovation Fund</strong> (NYSEARCA:<span><a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/wbat-stock-quote/"><strong>WBAT</strong></a></span>) is a choice for investors looking to get exposure to lithium without picking one or more individual stocks. This is a relatively new exchange-traded fund that launched in February 2022. &nbsp;</p>



<p>The fund invests nearly equally in China, the U.S. and Japan, with about 16% of the fund&rsquo;s geographic exposure concentrated in those three countries. As you can see from the name of the fund, it is not a pure-play lithium ETF. You will get exposure to other sectors, including electric vertical take-off and landing (<strong>eVTOL</strong>) companies (i.e. flying cars) and <a href="https://investorplace.com/industries/energy/renewable-energy/hydrogen/">hydrogen stocks</a>.&nbsp;</p>



<p>That may make the fund too broad for some investors. However, the fund is down 10.68% in 2024, which is better (or less bad) than other ETFs that have a heavier lithium focus. The WBAT fund has $4.08 billion of assets under management (<strong>AUM</strong>) and carries a 2.63% dividend yield.&nbsp;</p>



<p>&#x2A;<strong><em>On <a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-types/penny-stocks/">Penny Stocks</a> and Low-Volume Stocks:</em></strong><em>&nbsp;With only the rarest exceptions, InvestorPlace does not publish commentary about companies that have a market cap of less than $100 million or trade less than 100,000 shares each day. That&rsquo;s because these &ldquo;penny stocks&rdquo; are frequently the playground for scam artists and market manipulators. If we ever do publish commentary on a low-volume stock that may be affected by our commentary, we demand that&nbsp;</em><a href="http://investorplace.com/"><em>InvestorPlace.com</em></a><em>&rsquo;s writers disclose this fact and warn readers of the risks.</em></p>



<p><em>Read More:&nbsp;Penny Stocks &mdash;&nbsp;</em><a href="https://investorplace.com/2014/05/fraud-penny-stocks-scams/"><em>How to Profit Without Getting Scammed</em></a></p>



<p><em>On the date of publication, Chris Markoch did not have (either directly or indirectly) any positions in the securities mentioned in this article. The opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer, subject to the InvestorPlace.com<a href="https://investorplace.com/corporate/investorplace-publishing-guidelines/" target="_blank"> Publishing Guidelines</a>.</em>&nbsp;</p>
<div><p>Chris Markoch is a freelance financial copywriter who has been covering the market for over five years. He has been writing for InvestorPlace since 2019.</p></div><h3>More From InvestorPlace</h3>
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<p>The post <a href="https://investorplace.com/2024/04/3-lithium-stocks-to-buy-on-the-dip-april-2024/">3 Lithium Stocks to Buy on the Dip: April 2024</a> appeared first on <a href="https://investorplace.com">InvestorPlace</a>.</p>

3 Lithium Stocks to Buy on the Dip: April 2024

<p><a href="https://investorplace.com">InvestorPlace - Stock Market News, Stock Advice &amp; Trading Tips</a></p>
<p>Last year, lithium carbonate, the rare earth mineral needed to make lithium-ion batteries that power electric vehicles and smartphones, had seen quite some price pressure. High interest rates coupled with commodity saturation led to falling prices for the top <a href="https://investorplace.com/industries/energy/renewable-energy/battery/lithium/">lithium stocks</a>. Looking at lithium prices today, the story looks a bit different. In particular, the rare earth mineral has seen an uptick in its price. Lithium carbonate prices have increased more than 14% on a year-to-date perspective.</p>



<p>Given how the market has hammered some of the top lithium stocks lately, there are bound to be investing opportunities in the space. Here are the three top lithium stocks to consider buying in April.</p>



<h2>Pilbara Minerals (PILBF)</h2>



<div><img width="300" height="169" src="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/lithium-300x169.jpg" alt="a lithium mine, ATLX stock. Lithium Stocks to Buy"><div>Source: Shutterstock</div></div><p><strong>Pilbara Minerals</strong>&nbsp;(OTCMKTS:<strong><a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/pilbf-stock-quote/">PILBF</a></strong>) is an Australian lithium miner that maintains a 100% ownership and management of the <a href="https://pilbaraminerals.com.au/our-company/our-projects/pilgangoora-operation/">Pilgangoora mine project</a> in Western Australia. While this company&rsquo;s operations might sound far away for U.S. investors, this particular mine is one of the world&rsquo;s largest hard-rock lithium-tantalum deposits and allows PILBF to <a href="https://pilbaraminerals.com.au/our-company/our-projects/pilgangoora-operation/">produce</a> 640,000 to 680,000 tons of spodumene concentrate per year. </p>



<p>In 2024, Pilbara has continued to sign and extend off-take agreements, and not just ones related to powering EV batteries. Specifically, Pilbara and <strong>Chengxin Lithium</strong>, a lithium-based chemicals producer, <a href="https://www.mining.com/pilbara-minerals-upgrades-offtake-deal-with-chengxin-lithium/">extended</a> their off-take agreement to 2026 that will ensure spodumene concentrate supplies for the Chinese chemicals company. Similarly, Pilbara <a href="https://www.mining.com/pilbara-minerals-expands-offtake-deal-with-ganfeng/">expanded its spodumene off-take agreement</a> with Chinese lithium producer <strong>Ganfeng Lithium</strong> (OTCMKTS:<span><a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/gnenf-stock-quote/"><strong>GNENF</strong></a></span>).</p>



<p>These developments point to a positive future for PILBF as its boosts mining production in the short and medium terms.   </p>



<h2>Albemarle (ALB)</h2>



<div><img width="300" height="169" src="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/alb1600a-300x169.jpg" alt="Albemarle (ALB) logo on a mobile phone screen"><div>Source: IgorGolovniov/Shutterstock.com</div></div><p><strong>Albemarle&rsquo;s&nbsp;</strong>(NYSE:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/alb-stock-quote/"><strong>ALB</strong></a>) assets include brine operations in Chile and Argentina, hard rock mines in Australia as well as joint ventures in China and the U.S.</p>



<p>ALB shares have been hard hit since 2023. Falling lithium prices are, of course, to blame. The miner&rsquo;s fourth quarter 2023 report showed how much lithium prices had a toll on Albemarle&rsquo;s financial figures. Revenue&nbsp;<a href="https://s201.q4cdn.com/960975307/files/doc_earnings/2023/q4/earnings-result/Q42023_pressrelease.pdf">declined</a>&nbsp;by 10.1%, while EPS declined by 160%. The lithium producer&rsquo;s stock price has&nbsp;fallen&nbsp;around 22% on a year-to-date basis.</p>



<p>Current EV market conditions are not helping to comfort investor sentiment either.  Still, like I&rsquo;ve maintained in the past, despite the ongoing market slump, electric vehicles are likely here to stay. China&rsquo;s EV market still appears to be <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-04-02/chinese-ev-makers-post-strong-showing-in-march-after-slow-start?sref=a6OYFmE3">dynamic</a>, which means lithium is still in demand in the world&rsquo;s second largest economy and bolsters the argument for investing into a stock like ALB.</p>



<p>Wall Street appears to agree. <strong>Bank of America</strong>, <strong>UBS</strong>, and <strong>Berenberg</strong> have recently <a href="https://www.marketbeat.com/instant-alerts/nyse-alb-upgrade-2024-04-10/">increased their price targets</a> for ALB as well as upgraded the company&rsquo;s ratings. ALB&rsquo;s 12-month average price target of $152.40 implies a 36% return at its current share price. </p>



<p>Albemarle&rsquo;s stock trades at around 29.6x forward earning. Further selling pressure could make ALB shares even more attractive.</p>



<h2>Ganfeng Lithium (GNENF)</h2>



<div><img width="300" height="169" src="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/gnenf1600-300x169.png" alt="Person holding mobile phone with logo of Chinese company Jiangxi Ganfeng Lithium Co. Ltd. (GNENF) on screen in front of web page. Focus on phone display. Unmodified photo."><div>Source:  T. Schneider / Shutterstock.com</div></div><p><strong>Ganfeng Lithium&nbsp;</strong>(OTCMKTS:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/gnenf-stock-quote/"><strong>GNENF</strong></a>) is a lithium miner based in China, the world&rsquo;s second largest economy. Excess inventories and waning demand from the EV market have severely hurt GNENF&rsquo;s share price. Shares have dipped nearly 25% as of the end of trading on Tuesday of this week. </p>



<p>The bright spot in Ganfeng&rsquo;s future is related to the resilience of China&rsquo;s EV industry. Electric vehicle makers including <strong>BYD</strong> (OTCMKTS:<span><a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/byddy-stock-quote/"><strong>BYDDY</strong></a></span>), <strong>Li Auto</strong> (NASDAQ:<span><a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/li-stock-quote/"><strong>LI</strong></a></span>), and <strong>Nio</strong> (NASDAQ:<span><a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/nio-stock-quote/"><strong>NIO</strong></a></span>) all posted solid growth figures at the end of the first quarter. This signals lithium demand is still out there, and Ganfeng will likely be a beneficiary of this. Korean automaker <strong>Hyundai</strong> (OTCMKTS:<span><a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/hymtf-stock-quote/"><strong>HYMTF</strong></a></span>) signed a <a href="https://www.kedglobal.com/batteries/newsView/ked202401190003">4-year supply agreement</a> with Ganfeng earlier in the year, underscoring lithium customers are planning for the long-term and are not so worried about short-term slumps. Investors should take some cues. </p>



<p>Ganfeng Lithium shares are trading at 21.5x forward earnings, and additional selling pressure could put GNENF stock into a real sweet spot.</p>



<p><em>On the date of publication, Tyrik Torres&nbsp;did not have (either directly or indirectly) any positions in the securities mentioned in this article.&nbsp;The opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer, subject to the InvestorPlace.com&nbsp;<a href="https://investorplace.com/corporate/investorplace-publishing-guidelines/" target="_blank">Publishing Guidelines</a>.</em></p>
<div><p>Tyrik Torres has been studying and participating in financial markets since he was in college, and he has particular passion for helping people understand complex systems. His areas of expertise are semiconductor and enterprise software equities. He has work experience in both investing (public and private markets) and investment banking.</p></div><h3>More From InvestorPlace</h3>
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<p>The post <a href="https://investorplace.com/2024/04/the-top-3-lithium-stocks-to-buy-in-april-2024/">The Top 3 Lithium Stocks to Buy in April 2024</a> appeared first on <a href="https://investorplace.com">InvestorPlace</a>.</p>

The Top 3 Lithium Stocks to Buy in April 2024

ADSK

AMZN

APTV

ATLX

AVGO

AXON

BATT

BIIB

BYDDY

CDNS

DLTR

DXCM

ENVX

FANG

FSLR

GNENF

GOOGL

GRMN

ILMN

INCY

INTC

JNPR

KEYS

LITOF

MPWR

MRNA

MTCH

NTAP

NVDA

ORCL

PILBF

PODD

QCOM

SNPS

TRMB

UBER

WBAT

ZBRA

Press Releases

Global Business Reports Magazine Features Lithium & Nickel Exploration Company with Stock Dividend Spin-Out, Serving the Emerging EV Industry: Grid Battery Metals Inc. (Stock Symbol: EVKRF)

Offerings

ALBEMARLE ANNOUNCES PROPOSED PUBLIC OFFERING OF DEPOSITARY SHARES

ALBEMARLE ANNOUNCES UPSIZE AND PRICING OF PUBLIC OFFERING OF DEPOSITARY SHARES

Grid Battery Metals Files NI 43-101 Technical Report on its Clayton Valley Lithium Project in Nevada

Key Technical Report Filed for Booming EV Industry Lithium & Nickel Exploration Company with Upcoming Stock Dividend: Grid Battery Metals Inc. (Stock Symbol: EVKRF)