Price movement over the last 24 hours
Albemarle Corp. vs Northrop Grumman Corporation — how do they compare? Albemarle Corp. trades at $128.46 (market cap $15.22B), while Northrop Grumman Corporation trades at $542.87 (market cap $77.98B). The key difference: Northrop Grumman Corporation is far larger — about 5.1× Albemarle Corp.'s market cap, and Northrop Grumman Corporation pays the higher dividend (1.71%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| ALB | NOC | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $15.22B | $77.98B |
Sector | Basic Materials | Industrials |
52-Week High | $215.62 | $768.02 |
52-Week Low | $67.30 | $496.02 |
Enterprise Value | $18.24B | $92.21B |
Dividend Yield | 1.26% | 1.71% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Albemarle (ALB) is trading at $129.02, down 4.82% over the past 24 hours amid bearish technical signals. The stock shows mixed fundamentals with a low P/E of 5.12 and negative net income margin of -4.24% for 2025, though Q1 2026 earnings beat expectations. Recent news highlights a focus on debt reduction and energy storage system demand as lithium prices rebound. Cash flow improved in 2025 with net cash flow of $425.77 million, while the balance sheet reflects a debt-to-asset ratio of 19.8%.
The outlook for ALB hinges on lithium price recovery and execution in energy storage markets. Analyst consensus is mixed with a $227.10 price target suggesting significant upside, but risks include volatile lithium markets and ongoing profitability challenges. The stock's current level near key support at $128 may attract value investors, though macroeconomic and commodity pressures remain headwinds.
Northrop Grumman (NOC) trades at $549.04, showing minimal daily movement. The stock exhibits a bullish technical trend, supported by strong fundamentals including a 10.8% net income margin and consistent earnings beats. Recent news highlights contract wins and positive defense sector sentiment. Analyst consensus is strongly bullish with a $694.40 price target, indicating significant upside potential from current levels.
The outlook remains positive given the company's $95.61B backlog and stable cash flow generation. Key risks include political budget uncertainty and execution challenges. With solid institutional support and improving profitability metrics, NOC presents a compelling opportunity for investors seeking defense sector exposure, though geopolitical developments require monitoring.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Latest headlines on both assets
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 →Northrop Grumman is a defense contractor that is diversified across short-cycle and long-cycle businesses. The firm's segments include aeronautics, mission systems, defense services, and space systems. The company's aerospace segment creates the fuselage for the massive F-35 program and produces various piloted and autonomous flight systems. Mission systems creates a variety of sensors and processors for defense hardware. The defense systems segment is a long-range missile manufacturer. Finally, the company's space systems segment produces various space structures, sensors, and satellites.
Read more on NOC →