Albemarle Trails the S&P 500 in 2026 Despite 12-Month Gain

Albemarle shares are underperforming the S&P 500 so far in 2026. As of September 22, ALB was down 20.2% year to date, while the index had gained 13.4%, according to Barchart.

The answer changes over a longer window: Albemarle gained 38% over the past 52 weeks, beating the S&P 500’s 16.5% return. That contrast shows how sharply the stock’s direction shifted after an earlier stretch of strength.

The more recent comparison is also weak. Over three months, ALB fell 29.6%, while the S&P 500 rose 3.5%, Barchart reported. On September 22, the shares closed at $116.80, up 3.4% that day, according to historical trading data.

Technical measures point to continued pressure: Barchart said the stock had traded below its 200-day moving average since late June and below its 50-day average since early September. Moving averages track a stock’s average price over time; they describe recent momentum, not future returns.

The slide comes despite a strong second quarter. Albemarle reported $1.7 billion in sales, up 31% from a year earlier, and $858 million in adjusted EBITDA, a measure of operating profit that rose 155%. The company linked the gains mainly to higher Energy Storage pricing, stronger Specialties pricing and volumes, and cost improvements.

That earnings rebound has not erased the performance gap. A quarterly report captures business results over a period, while the share price also reflects investors’ changing expectations for future earnings and the market as a whole.

For investors, the key distinction is the time frame: ALB has beaten the index over 12 months but lagged substantially in 2026 and the latest quarter. Future comparisons will turn in part on whether Albemarle can sustain earnings gains as lithium pricing and demand shift.