Albemarle CorpCEO notes stationary storage demand 'off the charts' and global lithium consumption up 45%, but US EV sales fell 36% after credits expired, creating mixed demand signals.

A CNBC segment highlighted that the Department of Energy's $500 million in grants to seven US battery companies is insufficient to challenge China's dominance, with experts saying catching up will take decades and hundreds of billions of dollars. Albemarle, the largest US lithium producer, trades at $129.57, up 60% over the past year but down 7.94% year to date. China controls 85% of cathode and over 90% of anode production, plus 80% of battery cells and 70% of EVs, while $24 billion in US battery projects were canceled between January 2025 and August 2026 due to policy whiplash. Albemarle's CEO Kent Masters noted stationary storage demand is "off the charts," with global lithium consumption up 45% year-over-year through May, but US EV sales fell 36% after purchase credits expired. The company beat Q2 estimates with adjusted EPS of $3.75 on $1.74 billion revenue, and analysts are 59% bullish with an average target of $172.56.
Albemarle CorpCEO notes stationary storage demand 'off the charts' and global lithium consumption up 45%, but US EV sales fell 36% after credits expired, creating mixed demand signals.