Alcoa still has appeal after its big surge

Article Excerpt

Alcoa’s shares have shot up over 350% in the past year as automakers and other industrial users buy more aluminum. That follows last year’s COVID-19 shutdowns. Aluminum prices will probably remain elevated, particularly now that China, which relies on coal-fired power, is cutting its aluminum production to reduce air pollution. Alcoa’s recent cost cuts put it in a strong position to keep expanding its profits beyond 2021. ALCOA CORP. $46 is a buy. The company (New York symbol AA; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Resources sector; Shares outstanding: 186.9 million; Market cap: $8.6 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 0.8; Dividend yield: 0.9%; TSINetwork Rating: Extra Risk; www.alcoa.com) is a leading producer of bauxite ore with major mines in Australia, Brazil, Guinea (West Africa) and Saudi Arabia. Alcoa also operates refineries that convert bauxite into aluminum products. The company took its current form on November 1, 2016, when former parent company Alcoa Inc. (now called Arconic) spun it off as a separate firm. Investors received one Alcoa share for every…