Albemarle Corporation (ALB) Announced Q4 2025 Earnings, Reporting Net Sales of $1.4 Billion

Albemarle Corporation reported fourth-quarter "net sales of $1.4 billion, up 16% year over year" and "adjusted EBITDA of $269 million, up 7% year over year." For the full year, the company achieved "net sales of $5.1 billion" and "adjusted EBITDA of $1.1 billion." The company reported a "net loss of $3.87 per diluted share" for the quarter but generated "positive free cash flow of nearly $700 million" for the year.Management provided updates on strategic actions, including the "difficult but necessary decision to idle operations at our Kemerton lithium hydroxide plant" to "improve financial flexibility." Additionally, Albemarle closed the "sale of our stake in the Eurocat joint venture" and expects to close the "sale of a majority stake of Ketjen" in the first quarter, which together are "expected to generate approximately $660 million in pretax proceeds."Looking ahead, the company introduced "2026 global lithium demand expectations of 1.8-2.2 million tons, up 15%-40% year-over-year." Albemarle is "targeting an additional 100million−150 million in cost and productivity improvements in 2026" and sees the "potential for meaningful, positive free cash flow at current lithium pricing."