Constellium NV (NYSE: CSTM) shares surged 5.04% in Thursday's pre-market trading following the release of the company's first quarter 2025 financial results, which exceeded expectations despite challenging market conditions.

The aluminum products manufacturer reported Q1 revenue of $2 billion, up 5% year-over-year, driven by higher metal prices. Net income rose to $38 million from $22 million in the same period last year. Adjusted EBITDA, excluding metal price lag, came in at $140 million, compared to $160 million in Q1 2024, reflecting the company's ability to navigate a tough operating environment.

CEO Jean-Marc Germain commented, "We delivered solid results this quarter, which was slightly ahead of our expectations, despite a very challenging environment, including demand weakness across most of our markets outside of packaging." He highlighted strong performance at the Muscle Shoals plant and progress on the Vision '25 cost reduction and operating efficiencies program as key drivers of the better-than-expected results.

Despite ongoing challenges in several end markets, particularly automotive, Constellium maintained its full-year 2025 guidance. The company is targeting adjusted EBITDA of $600 million to $630 million and free cash flow in excess of $120 million. This outlook, coupled with the company's continued share repurchase program, appears to have bolstered investor confidence.

Looking ahead, Constellium sees opportunities in aerospace and packaging markets, while remaining cautious on the automotive sector due to tariff-related uncertainties. The company's focus on cost control, free cash flow generation, and commercial discipline positions it well to navigate the current market environment and capitalize on long-term growth trends in sustainable aluminum solutions.