Compare Albemarle Corp. (ALB) vs Materials Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLB) Price & Performance
Price performance
Price movement over the last 24 hours
Key statistics
Key statistics
Albemarle Corp. vs Materials Select Sector SPDR Fund — how do they compare? Albemarle Corp. trades at $128.07 (market cap $15.22B), while Materials Select Sector SPDR Fund trades at $50.3. The key difference: Albemarle Corp. pays a 1.26% dividend while Materials Select Sector SPDR Fund pays none, and Materials Select Sector SPDR Fund is trading nearer its 52-week high, Albemarle Corp. nearer its low. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| ALB | XLB | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $15.22B | — |
Sector | Basic Materials | — |
52-Week High | $215.62 | $53.62 |
52-Week Low | $67.30 | $42.23 |
Enterprise Value | $18.24B | — |
Dividend Yield | 1.26% | — |
Aura AI Summary
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Aura AI Summary
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.
XLB, the State Street Materials Select Sector SPDR ETF, trades at $51.98, down slightly by 0.06% today. Technical indicators show a bullish trend with strong moving average support, while oscillators are neutral. The ETF, which provides broad exposure to the U.S. materials sector, lacks disclosed fundamental ratios like P/E and P/S in the provided data. Recent news highlights sector interest, with family offices investing $4.8 billion in materials as of May 23, 2026 (Barron's).
The outlook for XLB is supported by sector rotation into materials amid geopolitical shifts and earnings growth potential, but risks include sensitivity to macroeconomic factors and inflation. Analyst sentiment is mixed, with some viewing valuations as less compelling after recent gains. The ETF's performance will hinge on broader industrial and economic trends.
Returns comparison
Trailing returns across standard periods
Returns comparison
Trailing returns across standard periods
Top news
Latest headlines on both assets
Top news
Latest headlines on both assets
About Albemarle Corp.
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 →About Materials Select Sector SPDR Fund
In seeking to track the performance of the index, the fund employs a replication strategy. It generally invests substantially all, but at least 95%, of its total assets in the securities comprising the index. The index includes securities of companies from the following industries: chemicals; metals and mining; paper and forest products; containers and packaging; and construction materials. The fund is non-diversified.
Read more on XLB →
