Albemarle upgraded to Buy from Neutral at UBS

UBS upgraded Albemarle (ALB) to Buy from Neutral with a price target of $185, up from $107. The firm sees higher energy storage demand and years of slower western capacity additions pushing the lithium markets into deficit in 2026. Lithium prices should move up through the year, which should be a positive driver for Albemarle shares, the analyst tells investors in a research note. UBS now sees a lithium supply deficit in the second half of 2026.