Kaiser Aluminum Corporation logo

Kaiser Aluminum Corporation(KALU)

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EXPLORE ADVISORIES AND THEIR HISTORY
QUALITY SIGNAL
2-STAR RATING
PASS
LAST CLOSE
$111.57
11/09/2026
(24-hour delay)

Advisory History & Simulated Performance *

*as per simulation (see disclosures)
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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 KALU

11/09/2026: KALU (2-star) is currently NOT-A-BUY. Pass it for now.

Kaiser Aluminum Corporation is a specialty aluminum producer that serves high-demand niches in aerospace, packaging, and automotive industries. The company differentiates itself through deep metallurgical expertise and long-term customer relationships, which helps support premium pricing compared to commodity producers. Its recent strategic acquisition of the Warrick facility has successfully diversified its revenue base into the more stable packaging market. Key risks include significant debt, exposure to industrial cycles, and fluctuations in raw material prices. The stock may suit investors seeking a mix of industrial growth and dividend income, provided they are comfortable with the inherent cyclical volatility of the materials sector.

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 fitGrowth is tied to cyclical aerospace and automotive markets rather than secular high-growth tech.
Momentum investorStrong fit while signal remains positiveStrong recent revenue growth and profitability metrics often attract momentum-based interest.
Value investorMixed fitValuation fluctuates based on cyclical demand and commodity price sensitivity.
Dividend investorStrong fitConsistent dividend payouts and a yield around 2% make it suitable for income-focused portfolios.
Low-risk investorWeak fitCyclical nature and exposure to commodity price volatility create inherent stock price risk.

Risk Profile

Risk factorLevelWhy it matters
Price volatilityHighFluctuations in raw metal prices directly impact margin management and hedging success.
Valuation riskMediumMarket price can deviate from intrinsic value based on cyclical sentiment.
Competition riskMedium / highIntense pressure from global aluminum producers like Alcoa and Constellium.
Business qualityMediumHigh-spec focus creates defensible niches but remains tied to industrial capital cycles.
Dividend incomeMediumWhile consistent, the dividend is subject to board approval and company cash flow health.
Execution riskMediumIntegration of assets and managing operational efficiencies at scale are critical.

Price Behavior

Rolling Over
PRICE PATH

Rolling Over

The price momentum is slowing down and beginning to turn downward.

Highly Choppy
PRICE STABILITY

Highly Choppy

The stock has experienced frequent, large price swings that make its near-term movement less predictable.

Analysis of Past Performance

Type Stock
Historic Profit 42.77%
Avg. Invested days 40
Today’s Advisory PASS
Upturn Advisory Rating upturn star rating icon
Upturn Advisory Performance Upturn Advisory Performance icon 3.0
Stock Returns Performance Upturn Returns Performance icon 3.0
Upturn Profits based on simulation icon Profits based on simulation
Upturn last close icon Last Close 11/09/2026

Upturn Scorecard

Upturn Star Rating

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

Company Fundamentals

★★★★★
KALU has solid overall fundamentals (4 stars), with moderate financial health, moderate growth momentum, and solid ownership. In FY2025 versus FY2024, strong earnings growth (+140.4%) and solid revenue growth (+11.5%) are partially offset by weak cash generation (FCF margin -0.8%), soft profitability (net margin 3.3%), modest insider ownership of 1.48%.

Financial Health Rating

★★★★★
KALU's financial health is supported by solid liquidity, including working-capital and asset support (WC/assets 32.5%). Profitability is soft (2 stars), which helps explain the 3-star overall score.

Growth Momentum Score

★★★★★
Earnings growth is KALU's strongest growth driver at +140.4% FY2025 versus FY2024 (strong, 5 stars). By comparison, revenue growth (+11.5%, solid) is also solid, while free-cash-flow growth (-86.1%, negative) holds the profile back, so recent growth is not broad-based across the business.

Ownership

★★★★★
Institutional ownership is 104.1% and approximately 97.8% of outstanding shares are publicly tradable, supporting liquidity and institutional participation. Insider ownership of 1.48% provides only moderate management-shareholder alignment.

Top 5 Institutional Investors

BlackRock Inc 17.56%
Vanguard Portfolio Management, LLC 8.64%
State Street Corp 8.06%
Dimensional Fund Advisors, Inc. 4.88%
Vanguard Capital Management, LLC 4.33%

Unit Economics (Per $1K Revenue)

★★★★★
KALU generates approximately $95 of gross profit, $57 of operating income, and $-8 of free cash flow for every $1,000 of revenue. Based on FY2025 results. Negative free cash flow explains the 1-star rating, with weak cash conversion and soft capital efficiency.

Economic Dimensions

★★★★★
Effective Tax Rate: 25.00%

Quantitative Style Profile

★★★★★
KALU 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 Small-Cap Stock
Market Capitalization 1.75B USD
Price to earnings Ratio 8.26
1Y Target Price 141
Price to earnings Ratio 8.26
1Y Target Price 141
Volume (30-day avg) 372.1K shares
Beta 1.71
52 Weeks Range 86.12 - 198.55
Updated Date 11/08/2026
52 Weeks Range 86.12 - 198.55
Updated Date 11/08/2026
Dividends yield (FY) 2.97%
Basic EPS (TTM) 12.93

How Company Makes Money

Business areaWhat it includesRetail investor read
Aerospace & High StrengthPlates, sheets, and extrusions for aircraft.The company’s most specialized and high-margin segment.
PackagingAluminum can sheet for food/beverage.Provides stable, volume-based demand anchored by the Warrick facility.
Automotive & General EngineeringExtruded shapes, rod, and bar products.Captures demand from automotive lightweighting trends.

Analyzing Revenue: Products, Geography and Growth

Revenue by Products

Product revenue - Year on Year

Revenue by Geography

Geography revenue - Year on Year

Earnings Date

Report Date 2026-10-21
When After Market
Estimate 2.08
Actual 1.89

Profitability

Profit Margin 4.85%
Operating Margin (TTM) 4.5%

Management Effectiveness

Return on Assets (TTM) 7.79%
Return on Equity (TTM) 24.53%

Valuation

Trailing PE 8.26
Forward PE 27.7
Enterprise Value 2.70B
Price to Sales(TTM) 0.39
Enterprise Value 2.70B
Price to Sales(TTM) 0.39
Enterprise Value to Revenue 0.6
Enterprise Value to EBITDA 5.76
Shares Outstanding 16.35M
Shares Floating 15.99M
Shares Outstanding 16.35M
Shares Floating 15.99M
Percent Insiders 1.48
Percent Institutions 104.13

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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