Albemarle Corp. vs Southern Copper Corp — how do they compare? Albemarle Corp. trades at $129.59 (market cap $15.27B), while Southern Copper Corp trades at $195.15 (market cap $164.21B). The key difference: Southern Copper Corp is far larger — about 10.8× Albemarle Corp.'s market cap, and Southern Copper Corp pays the higher dividend (2.26%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| ALB | SCCO | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $15.27B | $164.21B |
Sector | Basic Materials | Basic Materials |
52-Week High | $215.62 | $218.85 |
52-Week Low | $72.58 | $93.70 |
Enterprise Value | $17.75B | $165.50B |
Dividend Yield | 1.27% | 2.26% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Albemarle (ALB) trades at $131.21, up 0.08% on the day, showing a bullish technical trend with strong support at $129 and resistance at $133. The company reported robust Q2 2026 results, beating EPS estimates with $3.75 versus $3.20 expected, driven by improved lithium pricing and specialties growth. However, net income remains negative for 2025 at -$510.63M, and the P/E ratio is elevated at 479.11, indicating high valuation expectations. Analyst sentiment is mixed with a consensus price target of $184.50 but only 42% buy ratings.
Outlook: ALB benefits from strong lithium demand and cost controls, but faces risks from volatile lithium prices and sequential margin pressure in Q3. The stock offers growth potential if execution continues, yet high valuation and earnings inconsistency warrant caution. Near-term price action hinges on Q3 results and lithium market trends.
SCCO trades at $200.11, up 0.53% today, near its pivot point of $201. The stock exhibits strong profitability with a 35.87% net income margin and has beaten EPS estimates for three consecutive quarters. Recent news highlights its rally fueled by strong H1 results and higher copper prices, though production declines and premium valuations are noted concerns (Zacks Investment Research, 2026-08-11).
Outlook is mixed; robust earnings growth and AI-driven copper demand present upside, but high valuation ratios and analyst skepticism pose risks. The consensus price target of $153.64 suggests significant downside from current levels, indicating caution is warranted despite positive technical and fundamental trends.
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 →Southern Copper Corp is an integrated producer of copper and other minerals and operates the mining, smelting, and refining facilities in Peru and Mexico. Its production includes copper, molybdenum, zinc, and silver. The company operates through the following segments: Peruvian operations, Mexican open-pit operations, and Mexican underground mining operations. Southern Copper generates the majority of its revenue from the sale of copper and the rest from the sale of non-copper products, such as molybdenum, silver, zinc, lead, and gold. Its geographical segments are The Americas, Europe, and Asia.
Read more on SCCO →