Global Alpha Capital Management Ltd. Cuts Stake in Alcoa Co. (NYSE:AA)

Global Alpha Capital Management Ltd. cut its holdings in Alcoa Co. (NYSE:AA) by 12.8% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 817,210 shares of the industrial products company’s stock after selling 120,200 shares during the period. Alcoa accounts for 2.2% of Global Alpha Capital Management Ltd.’s holdings, making the stock its 21st biggest holding. Global Alpha Capital Management Ltd. owned 0.32% of Alcoa worth $30,874,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other large investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. SBI Securities Co. Ltd. bought a new position in shares of Alcoa during the 4th quarter valued at about $29,000. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC lifted its position in shares of Alcoa by 59.7% in the fourth quarter. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC now owns 1,051 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $39,000 after buying an additional 393 shares in the last quarter. Quarry LP bought a new position in Alcoa during the third quarter valued at approximately $43,000. Continuum Advisory LLC grew its holdings in Alcoa by 1,945.5% during the 3rd quarter. Continuum Advisory LLC now owns 1,125 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $46,000 after buying an additional 1,070 shares in the last quarter. Finally, UMB Bank n.a. increased its stake in Alcoa by 78.5% in the 4th quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 1,360 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $51,000 after acquiring an additional 598 shares during the last quarter. 82.39% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research firms have recently commented on AA. Jefferies Financial Group lowered their target price on Alcoa from $50.00 to $45.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Monday, January 6th. B. Riley upgraded shares of Alcoa to a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 21st. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their target price on shares of Alcoa from $38.00 to $40.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a report on Thursday, January 16th. Morgan Stanley decreased their target price on shares of Alcoa from $55.00 to $51.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, January 28th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets lifted their price target on Alcoa to $43.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a research report on Friday, January 17th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, seven have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, Alcoa currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $46.55.

Alcoa Stock Performance

Alcoa stock opened at $32.84 on Friday. Alcoa Co. has a 1-year low of $27.12 and a 1-year high of $47.77. The company’s 50-day moving average is $36.02 and its 200 day moving average is $37.94. The firm has a market capitalization of $8.50 billion, a P/E ratio of -205.27, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.19 and a beta of 2.55. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.48, a current ratio of 1.45 and a quick ratio of 0.86.

Alcoa (NYSE:AA) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, January 22nd. The industrial products company reported $1.04 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.91 by $0.13. Alcoa had a return on equity of 5.54% and a net margin of 0.50%. Research analysts forecast that Alcoa Co. will post 4.43 EPS for the current year.

Alcoa Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 20th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, March 4th will be paid a dividend of $0.10 per share. This represents a $0.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.22%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, March 4th. Alcoa’s dividend payout ratio is currently -250.00%.

Alcoa Company Profile

Alcoa Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, produces and sells bauxite, alumina, and aluminum products in the United States, Spain, Australia, Iceland, Norway, Brazil, Canada, and internationally. The company operates through two segments, Alumina and Aluminum. It engages in bauxite mining operations; and processes bauxite into alumina and sells it to customers who process it into industrial chemical products, as well as aluminum smelting and casting businesses.