Albemarle Corp (ALB): Today's Featured Chemicals Loser

Albemarle (ALB) pushed the Chemicals industry lower today making it today's featured Chemicals loser. The industry as a whole was unchanged today. By the end of trading, Albemarle fell $1.62 (-2.8%) to $55.61 on heavy volume. Throughout the day, 2.1 million shares of Albemarle exchanged hands as compared to its average daily volume of 913,300 shares. The stock ranged in price between $53.18-$56.02 after having opened the day at $55.24 as compared to the previous trading day's close of $57.23. Other company's within the Chemicals industry that declined today were: American Vanguard Corporation (AVD), down 9.7%, Lightbridge (LTBR), down 7%, Flexible Solutions International (FSI), down 6.2%, and Synthesis Energy Sys (SYMX), down 6%.

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Albemarle Corporation develops, manufactures, and markets engineered specialty chemicals. Albemarle has a market cap of $5.17 billion and is part of the basic materials sector. The company has a P/E ratio of 12, equal to the average chemicals industry P/E ratio and below the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7. Shares are up 11.3% year to date as of the close of trading on Tuesday. Currently there are seven analysts that rate Albemarle a buy, no analysts rate it a sell, and four rate it a hold.

TheStreet Ratings rates Albemarle as a buy. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its revenue growth, largely solid financial position with reasonable debt levels by most measures, attractive valuation levels, expanding profit margins and good cash flow from operations. We feel these strengths outweigh the fact that the company has had lackluster performance in the stock itself.

• You can view the full Albemarle Ratings Report.

On the positive front, Cereplast (CERP), up 7%, Innospec (IOSP), up 5.7%, Senomyx (SNMX), up 4.1%, and Agrium (AGU), up 3.5%, were all gainers within the chemicals industry with E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Company (DD) being today's featured chemicals industry winner.

• Use our chemicals section to find industry-relevant news.
• Or find some new ideas from our top rated stocks lists.

For investors not wanting singular stock exposure, ETFs may be of interest. Investors who are bullish on the chemicals industry could consider Materials Select Sector SPDR (XLB) while those bearish on the chemicals industry could consider ProShares Short Basic Materials Fd (SBM).

• Find other investment ideas from our top rated ETFs lists.

For more information on Albemarle Corp click any of the following:

• Albemarle Corp Stock Price

• Albemarle Corp Analyst Ratings

• Albemarle Corp Key Stats & Profile

• Albemarle Corp Earnings

• Albemarle Corp Ratio Comparison

• Albemarle Corp Growth Rates

• Albemarle Corp Balance Sheet

• Albemarle Corp Cash Flow

• Albemarle Corp Income Statement