Albemarle Corp. vs Noble Corporation plc — how do they compare? Albemarle Corp. trades at $127.7 (market cap $15.27B), while Noble Corporation plc trades at $44.15 (market cap $7.10B). The key difference: Albemarle Corp. is far larger — about 2.2× Noble Corporation plc's market cap, and Noble Corporation plc pays the higher dividend (4.5%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| ALB | NE | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $15.27B | $7.10B |
Sector | Basic Materials | Technology |
52-Week High | $215.62 | $54.37 |
52-Week Low | $72.58 | $26.61 |
Enterprise Value | $17.75B | $8.53B |
Dividend Yield | 1.27% | 4.5% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
ALB trades at $128.21, down 2.29% today, amid a mixed technical picture with bullish moving averages but overbought RSI signals. The company reported strong Q2 2026 earnings, beating estimates with EPS of $3.75, driven by improved lithium pricing and cost savings. Revenue for 2025 was $5.14B, though net income remained negative at -$510.63M. Analyst consensus is a Buy with a $184.50 price target, reflecting optimism for recovery.
Outlook is cautiously optimistic as lithium demand supports earnings growth, but Q3 guidance warns of sequential declines. Key risks include volatile lithium prices and execution challenges. The stock offers potential upside to analyst targets if operational improvements continue, but investors face margin pressure and macroeconomic headwinds.
Noble Corporation (NE) trades at $44.48, up 2.14% today, with a bullish technical signal driven by moving averages. The stock shows mixed earnings performance, with a Q1 2026 beat but a Q2 2026 miss, while revenue and net income have declined year-over-year. Recent news highlights multiple law firm investigations into the company, adding uncertainty. The consensus price target is $46.00, slightly above the current price, with analysts divided between Buy (31%) and Hold (43%) ratings.
The outlook is cautious due to earnings volatility and legal scrutiny, though positive cash flow and a solid backlog of $6.8 billion provide some stability. Key risks include operational suspensions and investor litigation, while potential upside hinges on execution improvements and contract wins. The stock's valuation appears stretched with a P/E of 47.32, demanding strong future growth to justify current levels.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Albemarle is the world's largest lithium producer. Our outlook for robust lithium demand is predicated upon increased demand for electric vehicle batteries. Albemarle produces lithium from its salt brine deposits in Chile and the U.S. and its hard rock joint venture mines in Australia. Albemarle is also a global leader in the production of bromine, used in flame retardants. The company is also a major producer of oil refining catalysts.
Read more on ALB →Noble Corporation plc is a leading offshore drilling contractor for the oil and gas industry. The company owns and operates a high-specification fleet of mobile offshore drilling units, including drillships and semi-submersibles, that are used for exploration and production activities in deepwater and harsh environments worldwide. Noble focuses on providing safe, efficient, and reliable drilling services to major and independent oil and gas companies globally.
Read more on NE →