Albemarle Corporation (NYSE: ALB) saw a 6.84% increase in share prices on Thursday, closing at $84.18 per share ahead of its second quarter earnings announcement on July 31. The company reported a 1,620% rise in net income to $41.3 million in the first quarter, despite a 20.9% decline in net sales to $1.077 billion.

Albemarle’s board approved a quarterly dividend of $0.405 per common share, with an annualized rate of $1.62, payable on October 1 to shareholders as of the September 12 record date. While ALB shows investment potential, some believe AI stocks offer higher returns with less downside risk. For a report on a promising AI stock, visit the link provided.

Read more at Yahoo Finance: Albemarle (ALB) Rises Ahead of Earnings