Aluminum producer Alcoa reported improved earnings, but they didn't match Wall Street estimates. Shares were lower in late trading.

Thursday evening, Alcoa announced adjusted second-quarter earnings per share of $2.12 and earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization, or Ebitda, of $901 million from sales of $4 billion.

Wall Street was looking for earnings per share of $2.55 and Ebitda of $943 million from sales of $4 billion, according to FactSet.

A year ago, Alcoa reported earnings per share of 39 cents and Ebitda of $313 million from sales of $3 billion. At that time, benchmark aluminum prices were about $2,600 per metric ton. Today, they are closer to $3,200.

Things were better, but didn't match Street expectations.

Alcoa stock was down 2.3% in after-hours trading at $45.78. Shares dropped 3.6% on Thursday, while the S&P 500 fell 0.5%. Through Thursday trading, Alcoa stock was down about 12% year to date, despite higher aluminum prices.

Shares were down 13% since the company announced plans to buy South32's bauxite, alumina, and aluminum assets for $4.1 billion in cash and stock on June 30. The deal means more debt on the balance sheet, equity dilution, and brings the new risk of asset integration, a few reasons for the negative share price reaction.

Bauxite is essentially an ore that is processed into alumina, which eventually becomes aluminum.

Write to Al Root at allen.root@dowjones.com

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July 16, 2026 16:57 ET (20:57 GMT)

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