Century Aluminum Company logo

Century Aluminum Company(CENX)

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EXPLORE ADVISORIES AND THEIR HISTORY
QUALITY SIGNAL
3-STAR RATING
PASS
LAST CLOSE
$31.42
10/23/2026
(24-hour delay)

Advisory History & Simulated Performance *

*as per simulation (see disclosures)
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  • 1Y
  • 1M
  • 1W
  • BUY Advisory
  • SELL Advisory (Profit)
  • SELL Advisory (Loss)
  • Profit
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  • PASS (Skip)
Upturn Stock price based on last close iconStock price based on last close
Simulated performance—not actual client returns. Excludes advisory subscription fees, trading commissions, and taxes, which would reduce returns. Results depend on calculation assumptions and do not guarantee future outcomes. See Disclosures for full methodology, assumptions, and limitations.

Advisory Performance History (Simulated)Advisory Performance History info

Simulated performance—not actual client returns. Excludes advisory subscription fees, trading commissions, and taxes, which would reduce returns. Results depend on calculation assumptions and do not guarantee future outcomes. See Disclosures for full methodology, assumptions, and limitations.

Upturn Advisory & Investor View for CENX

10/23/2026: CENX (3-star) is currently NOT-A-BUY. Pass it for now.

Century Aluminum Company is a primary U.S. producer of aluminum, serving industrial, automotive, and packaging markets. The company benefits from its domestic manufacturing footprint and a recent strategic pivot toward higher-margin value-added alloy products. Its primary growth opportunity lies in the rising demand for lightweight materials in electric vehicles, though it faces risks from significant energy cost exposure and global aluminum price volatility. As a cyclical commodity-based stock, Century is best suited for investors comfortable with high volatility and market-driven price swings. Investors should monitor power contract renewals and developments in low-carbon production processes, as these are critical to its long-term competitive standing.

How to Read the Upturn Advisory

The Upturn Star Rating and the current BUY, SELL, or PASS advisory are generated by Upturn’s AI advisory engine based on proprietary signal analysis, price behavior, advisory history, and historical signal performance.

Company fundamentals, valuation, risks, and news provide supporting context about the business.

Investor Fit

Investor styleFitWhy
Growth investorMixed fitThe company offers potential for cyclical growth but is heavily dependent on commodity market factors.
Momentum investorStrong fit while signal remains positiveThe stock often exhibits high sensitivity to metal price rallies, attracting momentum-based trading interest.
Value investorMixed fitValuation fluctuates significantly with market cycles, requiring careful entry timing.
Dividend investorWeak fitThe company does not provide a reliable dividend stream to income-focused investors.
Low-risk investorWeak fitThe stock's high volatility makes it unsuitable for those prioritizing capital preservation.

Risk Profile

Risk factorLevelWhy it matters
Price volatilityHighAluminum price swings directly dictate profit margins.
Valuation riskMedium / highThe stock price is often driven more by sentiment than stable book value.
Competition riskHighGlobal metal producers exert constant pressure on market share and pricing.
Business qualityMediumThe capital-intensive nature of smelting results in varying operational efficiencies.
Dividend incomeLow / noneInvestors should not rely on the company for regular cash distributions.
Execution riskMedium / highSuccessful operation depends on complex logistics and power supply reliability.

Price Behavior

Steep Decline
PRICE PATH

Steep Decline

The stock price has dropped sharply with strong downward pressure.

Choppy
PRICE STABILITY

Choppy

The stock has experienced frequent reversals and pronounced short-term price swings.

Analysis of Past Performance

Type Stock
Historic Profit 217.35%
Avg. Invested days 47
Today’s Advisory PASS
Upturn Advisory Rating upturn star rating icon
Upturn Advisory Performance Upturn Advisory Performance icon 4.0
Stock Returns Performance Upturn Returns Performance icon 5.0
Upturn Profits based on simulation icon Profits based on simulation
Upturn last close icon Last Close 10/23/2026

Upturn Scorecard

Upturn Star Rating

★★★★★
CENX receives a 3-star rating, supported by solid company fundamentals, and solid analyst coverage. The rating is constrained by weak price momentum.

Company Fundamentals

★★★★★
CENX has solid overall fundamentals (4 stars), with moderate financial health, moderate growth momentum, and strong ownership. In FY2025 versus FY2024, solid revenue growth (+13.9%) is partially offset by negative earnings growth (-87.6%), soft cash generation (FCF margin 3.4%), soft profitability (net margin 1.7%).

Financial Health Rating

★★★★★
CENX's financial health is supported by solid cash strength, including free-cash-flow generation (3.4% of revenue). Profitability is soft (2 stars), which helps explain the 3-star overall score.

Growth Momentum Score

★★★★★
Free-cash-flow growth is CENX's strongest growth driver at +179.3% FY2025 versus FY2024 (strong, 5 stars). By comparison, revenue growth (+13.9%, solid) is also solid, while earnings growth (-87.6%, negative) holds the profile back, so recent growth is not broad-based across the business.

Ownership

★★★★★
Institutional ownership is 77.9% and approximately 69.3% of outstanding shares are publicly tradable, supporting liquidity and institutional participation. Insider ownership of 30.89% supports management-shareholder alignment.

Top 5 Institutional Investors

Glencore PLC 29.99%
BlackRock Inc 10.41%
State Street Corp 5.60%
Vanguard Portfolio Management, LLC 4.82%
Assenagon Asset Management SA 3.09%

Unit Economics (Per $1K Revenue)

★★★★★
CENX generates approximately $101 of gross profit, $63 of operating income, and $34 of free cash flow for every $1,000 of revenue. Based on FY2025 results. Weak margins and moderate cash conversion support a 3-star rating, while capital efficiency is strong.

Economic Dimensions

★★★★★
Effective Tax Rate: -485.19% (Tax Credit)

Quantitative Style Profile

★★★★★
CENX has a high-quality, liquid profile. Weak momentum is the primary drawback, while elevated volatility.

Style Classification

Quality Focused

Value-OrientedQuality TiltHigh VolatilitySmall / Mid Cap RiskShort Squeeze RiskHighly Liquid / Institution-Friendly

Key Highlights

Company Size Mid-Cap Stock
Market Capitalization 3.11B USD
Price to earnings Ratio 5.43
1Y Target Price 60.2
Price to earnings Ratio 5.43
1Y Target Price 60.2
Volume (30-day avg) 2.0M shares
Beta 2.08
52 Weeks Range 25.40 - 70.43
Updated Date 10/25/2026
52 Weeks Range 25.40 - 70.43
Updated Date 10/25/2026
Dividends yield (FY) -
Basic EPS (TTM) 5.79

How Company Makes Money

Business areaWhat it includesRetail investor read
Primary Aluminum ProductionStandard-grade aluminum sales to industrial, automotive, and packaging customers.The company makes money by turning raw materials into metal and selling it at market-based prices.
Value-Added ProductsSpecialty alloys and shapes designed for specific technical applications.Selling customized, higher-margin products helps the company capture value beyond simple commodity prices.

Analyzing Revenue: Products, Geography and Growth

Revenue by Products

Product revenue - Year on Year

Revenue by Geography

Geography revenue - Year on Year

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Valuation

Trailing PE 5.43
Forward PE 6.48
Enterprise Value 3.23B
Price to Sales(TTM) 1.17
Enterprise Value 3.23B
Price to Sales(TTM) 1.17
Enterprise Value to Revenue 1.33
Enterprise Value to EBITDA 14.03
Shares Outstanding 98.99M
Shares Floating 68.61M
Shares Outstanding 98.99M
Shares Floating 68.61M
Percent Insiders 30.89
Percent Institutions 77.94

Financial Metrics

🧭 Investment Snapshot

Total Revenue (Scale)

Information icon Total money earned from selling products or services before any costs. It is needed to understand the scale of the business and its ability to generate income.

Net Income (Profit)

Information icon Final profit after all expenses, interest, and taxes are deducted. It is needed to determine the overall profitability available to shareholders.

Free Cash Flow (Cash Strength)

Information icon Cash remaining after operating activities and capital expenditures, showing cash available for growth. It is needed to evaluate the company’s ability to invest, pay dividends, or reduce debt.

📈 Growth & Strength

Operating Income (Core Profit)

Information icon Profit from core operations after deducting all operating expenses. It is needed to measure how efficiently the company runs its primary business activities.

EBITDA (Cash Earnings)

Information icon Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization, indicating operating cash potential. It is needed to compare operating performance across companies without accounting or financing differences.

Gross Profit (Unit Profitability)

Information icon Revenue minus cost of revenue, showing profit after direct production costs. It is needed to evaluate core business profitability before overhead expenses.

🛡️ Financial Safety

Cash (Liquidity Buffer)

Information icon Total cash and cash equivalents on hand. It is needed to evaluate immediate liquidity and financial flexibility.

Total Debt (Leverage Risk)

Information icon Total debt including both short-term and long-term components. It is needed to assess the company’s leverage and financial risk.

Net Working Capital (Short-Term Health)

Information icon Current assets minus current liabilities, indicating short-term liquidity strength. It is needed to assess whether the company can meet its short-term obligations.

🧱 Balance Sheet Strength

Stockholder Equity (Net Worth)

Information icon Total equity value held by shareholders. It is needed to understand the net worth of the company from the owners’ perspective.

Total Assets (Asset Base)

Information icon The full value of everything the company owns, including cash, inventory, equipment, and investments. It is needed to understand the resource base used to generate revenue.

Income Before Tax (Pre-Tax Earnings)

Information icon Income before provision for income taxes. It is needed to analyze profitability independent of tax structures.

⚙️ Cost & Drag Factors

Cost of Revenue (Production Cost)

Information icon Direct costs required to produce and deliver the products or services sold. It is needed to assess efficiency in production and service delivery.

Total Operating Expenses (Operating Cost)

Information icon Indirect costs of running the business such as salaries, marketing, and administration. It is needed to understand how much it costs to sustain ongoing business operations.

Income Tax Expense (Tax Drag)

Information icon Amount of taxes paid or payable to the government. It is needed to evaluate the impact of taxation on overall profitability.

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