Price movement over the last 24 hours
Albemarle Corp. vs Ulta Beauty Inc — how do they compare? Albemarle Corp. trades at $129.93 (market cap $15.22B), while Ulta Beauty Inc trades at $456.34 (market cap $19.51B). The key difference: Ulta Beauty Inc is the larger of the two by market cap, and Albemarle Corp. pays a 1.26% dividend while Ulta Beauty Inc pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| ALB | ULTA | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $15.22B | $19.51B |
Sector | Basic Materials | Consumer Cyclical |
52-Week High | $215.62 | $706.82 |
52-Week Low | $67.30 | $450.75 |
Enterprise Value | $18.24B | $21.59B |
Dividend Yield | 1.26% | — |
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.
ULTA Beauty trades at $453.78, down 1.64% recently, with a bearish technical signal from moving averages but oversold RSI near 29. The stock shows strong profitability with a 9.36% net margin and 47.45% ROE, though revenue growth slowed to $11.3B in 2025. Recent news highlights partnerships with Bath & Body Works and AI-driven loyalty initiatives to boost engagement.
Analysts remain bullish with a $623.73 consensus target, citing valuation discounts and market share gains. Risks include competitive pressures and margin compression, but the current P/E of 16.96 offers value if execution improves. The stock presents a contrarian opportunity amid negative sentiment.
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 →With more than 1,300 stores and a partnership with Target, Ulta Beauty is the largest specialized beauty retailer in the U.S. The firm offers makeup (43% of 2021 sales), fragrances, skin care, and hair care products (20% of 2021 sales), and bath and body items. Ulta offers private-label products and merchandise from more than 500 vendors. It also offers salon services, including hair, makeup, skin, and brow services, in all stores. Most Ulta stores are approximately 10,000 square feet and are in suburban strip centers. Ulta was founded in 1990 and is based in Bolingbrook, Illinois.
Read more on ULTA →