Albemarle’s 348th-Ranked $280M Volume Reflects Lithium Market Volatility and Beta-Driven Trading Patterns

On August 14, 2025, Albemarle Corporation (ALB) closed at $81.43, down 0.29%, with a daily trading volume of $280 million, ranking 348th in the market. The lithium and specialty chemicals producer has seen mixed performance over recent periods, with a 0.27% gain in the last six months but a 5.4% decline year-to-date. Analysts note its exposure to energy storage and industrial markets remains a key focus amid sector volatility.

Recent data highlights ALB’s elevated beta of 1.64, indicating higher sensitivity to market movements compared to peers. Despite a 13.3% rise in the past month, its 5-year return of -11.86% underscores long-term challenges in profitability, with a net margin of -18.61% and negative returns on equity. The company’s reliance on lithium recycling and technical services faces headwinds from fluctuating commodity prices and global demand shifts.

A backtested strategy involving holding the top 500 volume stocks for one day from 2022 to 2025 yielded a 31.52% total return over 365 days, averaging 0.98% per day. The approach showed a 7.02% peak in June 2023 but a -4.20% trough in September 2022, reflecting market-driven momentum and risks. This suggests ALB’s short-term performance remains tied to broader trading patterns rather than fundamental catalysts.