ALCOA INC. $12 - New York symbol AA

ALCOA INC. $12 (New York symbol AA; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Resources sector; Shares outstanding: 974.4 million; Market cap: $11.7 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 0.6; WSSF Rating: Average) is one of the world’s largest aluminum producers. Its customers are mainly in the aerospace, automotive and construction industries, all of which have struggled lately. Aluminum prices fell 49% in the second quarter of 2009 from a year earlier, but are 9% higher than they were in the first quarter. In response to the lower prices, The company will lay off 16% of its 87,000 employees by the end of this year. This should save it $2.4 billion a year. As well, Alcoa cut its quarterly dividend to $0.03 a share from $0.17. It now yields 1.0%. This will save an additional $430 million a year. Alcoa lost $256 million, or $0.26 a share, in the second quarter of 2009, excluding severance costs. A year earlier, it earned $553 million, or $0.67 a share. Revenue fell 41.4%, to $4.2 billion from $7.2 billion. Even with the cost cuts, Alcoa will probably lose $1.10 a share in 2009. However, it could earn $0.20 a share in 2010. Alcoa is a buy.

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