# Mizuho Upgrades Albemarle as Battery Storage Demand Shifts Lithium Balance

By John Kim

Canonical URL: https://www.tokenpost.com/news/business/31756
Published: 2026-10-14T11:55:48.000Z
Updated: 2026-10-14T11:55:48.000Z
Section: Business

> The bank raised its rating to outperform from neutral and set a $130 price target, 33% above Tuesday’s close.

Mizuho upgraded lithium miner Albemarle to outperform from neutral on Oct. 14, citing strong demand for battery energy stationary storage systems and a shift in lithium market balance to favorable territory.

The bank set a $130 price target, 33% above Albemarle’s closing price Tuesday. Shares had fallen 31% year to date through the report, partly amid weakness in lithium prices.

Lithium carbonate is expected to rise from $18,375 to $22,500 per metric ton by the end of 2027. A delay to the resumption of upstream production at Contemporary Amperex Technology, if regulatory roadblocks persist, could further intensify lithium demand.

Mizuho analyst John Roberts described lithium as volatile and capital-intensive. He also pointed to demand exceeding expectations, constrained new supply and long project lead times as factors tightening the near-term supply-demand outlook.