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

Editor's Note: TheStreet ratings do not represent the views of TheStreet's staff or its contributors. Ratings are established by computer based on metrics for performance (which includes growth, stock performance, efficiency and valuation) and risk (volatility and solvency). Companies with poor cash flow or high debt levels tend to earn lower ratings in our model.

Albemarle (ALB) pushed the Chemicals industry higher today making it today's featured chemicals winner. The industry as a whole was unchanged today. By the end of trading, Albemarle rose 85 cents (1.5%) to $56.18 on heavy volume. Throughout the day, 1.5 million shares of Albemarle exchanged hands as compared to its average daily volume of 920,700 shares. The stock ranged in a price between $55.13-$56.23 after having opened the day at $55.13 as compared to the previous trading day's close of $55.33. Other companies within the Chemicals industry that increased today were: Gulf Resources (GURE), up 19.1%, OM Group (OMG), up 6.3%, International Flavors & Fragrances (IFF), up 4.2%, and China Green Agriculture (CGA), up 4.1%.

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Albemarle Corporation develops, manufactures, and markets engineered specialty chemicals. Albemarle has a market cap of $4.99 billion and is part of the basic materials sector. The company has a P/E ratio of 12, below the average chemicals industry P/E ratio of 13.9 and below the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7. Shares are up 7.4% year to date as of the close of trading on Friday. Currently there are seven analysts that rate Albemarle a buy, no analysts rate it a sell, and five rate it a hold.

TheStreet Ratings rates Albemarle as a buy. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its largely solid financial position with reasonable debt levels by most measures, attractive valuation levels, increase in stock price during the past year and expanding profit margins. We feel these strengths outweigh the fact that the company has had sub par growth in net income.

• You can view the full Albemarle Ratings Report.

On the negative front, Cereplast (CERP), down 14.9%, Pure Bioscience (PURE), down 14.3%, BioFuel Energy Corporation (BIOF), down 5.6%, and American Pacific Corporation (APFC), down 5.1%, were all laggards within the chemicals industry with Air Products & Chemicals (APD) being today's chemicals industry laggard.

• Use our chemicals section to find industry-relevant news.
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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.

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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