Alcoa finds a partner for smelter

Article Excerpt

ALCOA CORP. $37 is a buy. The company (New York symbol AA; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Resources sector; Shares outstanding: 258.3 million; Market cap: $9.6 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 0.7; Dividend yield: 1.1%; TSINetwork Rating: Extra Risk; www.alcoa.com) is a leading producer of bauxite ore, with mines in Australia, Brazil and West Africa. It also operates refineries that convert bauxite into bulk aluminum and alumina (used to make aluminum metal products). Alcoa has agreed to sell a 25% stake in its San Ciprian smelter in Spain to IGNIS Equity Holdings, SL. Under the terms of the deal, IGNIS will invest 25 million euros (about $27.2 million U.S.) in the facility. Alcoa will also invest 75 million euros in the plant. The company will probably earn just $1.02 a share in 2024, but earnings could rebound to $3.88 in 2025. The stock trades at a reasonable 9.5 times that forecast. The $0.40 dividend yields 1.1%. Alcoa is a buy. buy…