Alcoa Teams Up With a Chinese Partner

Article Excerpt

ALCOA INC. $39 (New York symbol AA; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Resources sector; Shares outstanding: 814.4 million; Market cap: $31.8 billion; WSSF Rating: Above average) has teamed up with Aluminum Corporation of China to buy 12% of UK-based mining company Rio Tinto plc. Alcoa contributed $1.2 billion of the $14 billion cost of this investment. To put that in context, Alcoa earned $2.6 billion in 2007, up 18.2% from $2.2 billion in 2006. Per-share earnings rose 19.4%, to $2.95 from $2.47, on fewer shares outstanding. Revenue grew just 1.0%, to $30.7 billion from $30.4 billion. Higher aluminum prices offset lower production. Rio Tinto is now the target of a hostile takeover offer from rival BHP Billiton Ltd. It’s possible Alcoa and its Chinese partner could make a counter offer for Rio Tinto. That would expand Alcoa’s exposure to base metals besides aluminum, as well as gold. In any event, Alcoa should realize a profit on this investment. Alcoa is a buy. buy…