Albemarle Corp. (NYSE: ALB) is a developer, manufacturer and marketer of highly-engineered specialty chemicals. The specialty products enhance the value of customers’ end-products by improving performance, providing essential product attributes, lowering cost and simplifying processing. The products are sold to a wide range of customers, including manufacturers of electronics, building and construction materials, automotive parts, packaging, pharmachemicals, agrichemicals and to petroleum refiners.

Albemarle operates under three business  segments: Polymer Additives, Catalysts and Fine Chemicals. The Polymer Additives segment consists of two product categories: flame retardants and stabilizers and curatives. The Catalysts segment includes refinery catalysts and polyolefin catalysts. The Fine Chemicals segment consists of two product categories: performance chemicals and fine chemistry services and intermediates.

The Stock's price gained 27.8% over the past 3 months; 37.7% over the past 6 months; and 77.7% over the past 12 months. Albemarle is classified as a mid-cap value company. The Company has a  market capitalization of $3,136.79 million. The Company was incorporated in Virginia in 1993.  Albemarle's principal executive office is located in Richmond, Virginia. The company has 3,700 employees.

Sector: Basic Materials; Industry: Chemicals - Plastic & Rubber; Ticker: ALB;  Exch: NYSE;  11/10/06 Closing Price: $66.06)