Market Movers: Albemarle Exploding on Lithium Supply-Demand Story

By Ian Cooper Published Jan 21, 11:38AM EST

Quick Read

AMD and Intel both report server CPU supply nearly fully booked through 2026 amid strong demand.
AMD evaluates price increases of 10% to 15% with server CPU capacity locked by major cloud customers.
Albemarle received three analyst upgrades with targets from $185 to $210 on improving lithium fundamentals.

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Market Movers: Albemarle Exploding on Lithium Supply-Demand Story — © 24/7 Wall St.

With the lithium supply-demand story heating up again, Albemarle (NYSE: ALB | ALB Price Prediction) is still exploding higher. In fact, since Friday, ALB ran from about $162 to $179 and could see higher highs.

Helping, Deutsche Bank upgraded ALB to a buy rating with a $185 price target. Analysts at Baird also upgraded ALB to a buy with a price target of $210.

“We are incrementally positive given the recent increase in lithium prices… and our view that demand strength stemming from stationary storage will continue to propel ALB higher,” Baird analysts wrote, as noted by Seeking Alpha.

Analysts at Truist also just upgraded ALB to a buy rating with a price target of $205. “The upgrade reflects Truist’s positive outlook on lithium pricing fundamentals, which the firm believes are improving due to better industry-wide production discipline and strong demand in key markets, including energy storage systems and electric vehicles,” added Investing.com.

Advanced Micro Devices

Shares of Advanced Micro Devices (NASDAQ: AMD) are up about $18.60 a share, or by 8%.

Helping, the company has just appointed former Accenture CFO KC McClure to its board. That move is seen as strengthening financial oversight and strategic direction. Additionally, analysts at KeyBanc reiterated an “overweight” rating on the stock, accompanied by a $270 price target.

The firm believes AMD will deliver results and guidance above market expectations, largely due to strong momentum in server CPU demand and solid uptake of its latest Turin processors. KeyBanc also says that major cloud customers are already locking in capacity for 2026, with AMD’s server CPU supply nearly fully booked through the end of that year and the company evaluating possible price increases in the 10% to 15% range.

Intel

Intel (NASDAQ: INTC) continues to explode higher.

After bottoming out at around $35, Intel is now up to $53.92 and could rally higher. Today alone, it’s up 11%, or by $5.40 ahead of earnings.

Intel is expected to post adjusted EPS of eight cents a share on revenue of $13.42 billion. Granted, that would be down from EPS of 13 cents a share on revenue of $14.26 billion year over year.

However, analysts are bullish.

“We expect Intel to report better results and slightly higher guidance, supported by strong server CPU demand as customers upgrade to Granite Rapids, and visibility that server CPU supply is nearly sold out through 2026,” wrote KeyBanc analysts, as quoted by Barron’s.