One of the wealthiest countries in the world, and the richest in Asia in
GDP per capita terms, Australia is an unusual mix of a modern market
economy with a large commodities-driven export infrastructure. Despite
the influx of wealth created by its natural resources, Australia has
never been particularly successful in developing a large manufacturing
base. What’s more, the country has run large and persistent current
account deficits for over a half-century. Nevertheless, Australia has
very significant and efficient mining and agricultural sectors, and ranks highly in the world in many categories.
To read more, please click the link:
http://commodityhq.com/2012/a-deeper-look-at-australias-commodity-industry/
Showing posts with label aluminum. Show all posts
Showing posts with label aluminum. Show all posts
Friday, November 2, 2012
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Investopedia: Alcoa: It's All About China Now
In a market that still seems obsessed with finding "China plays", Alcoa (NYSE:AA) might not be the first name that comes to mind. The reality, though, is that China largely calls the tune these days and this giant aluminum company has little choice but to dance to it as best it can.
The Quarter That Was
Alcoa had a respectable fourth-quarter performance. Sales growth was not exactly robust, as the company produced sequential growth of 7% and annual growth of 4%, but it was good enough to more or less meet the average estimate. Within the numbers there was a relatively normal level of choppiness - Engineered Solutions revenue rose by 11%, while Alumina and Flat-Rolled were laggards with flat revenue and 1% growth, respectively.
To a certain extent, that sales profile worked in the company's favor. Although it is certainly the case that sales performance (both absolute and relative) impacts margins, the company saw the best top-line growth in its highest-margin segments. That helped fuel overall after-tax operating income growth of 14% on a sequential basis and 65% on a year-over-year basis, with Primary Metals leading on both an absolute and relative basis. (For more, see Zooming In On Operating Income.)
Trying to put that into a little more context, the profitability of Alcoa is still a good news / bad news proposition. Looking back through Alcoa's history and trying to craft a "normalized" run-rate, it looks like Alcoa is about 10% below normal in terms of flat-rolled production and maybe 20% below normal in engineered products. Here is why that really matters - the incremental costs involved in those two production profiles are quite small and Alcoa could probably double its profitability in each segment at a "normal" run rate. In other words, there is major positive profit leverage if Alcoa can get back to normal (without a major collapse in prices). (For more, see Alcoa Predicts Aluminum Boom.)
Read the full column at:
http://stocks.investopedia.
The Quarter That Was
Alcoa had a respectable fourth-quarter performance. Sales growth was not exactly robust, as the company produced sequential growth of 7% and annual growth of 4%, but it was good enough to more or less meet the average estimate. Within the numbers there was a relatively normal level of choppiness - Engineered Solutions revenue rose by 11%, while Alumina and Flat-Rolled were laggards with flat revenue and 1% growth, respectively.
To a certain extent, that sales profile worked in the company's favor. Although it is certainly the case that sales performance (both absolute and relative) impacts margins, the company saw the best top-line growth in its highest-margin segments. That helped fuel overall after-tax operating income growth of 14% on a sequential basis and 65% on a year-over-year basis, with Primary Metals leading on both an absolute and relative basis. (For more, see Zooming In On Operating Income.)
Trying to put that into a little more context, the profitability of Alcoa is still a good news / bad news proposition. Looking back through Alcoa's history and trying to craft a "normalized" run-rate, it looks like Alcoa is about 10% below normal in terms of flat-rolled production and maybe 20% below normal in engineered products. Here is why that really matters - the incremental costs involved in those two production profiles are quite small and Alcoa could probably double its profitability in each segment at a "normal" run rate. In other words, there is major positive profit leverage if Alcoa can get back to normal (without a major collapse in prices). (For more, see Alcoa Predicts Aluminum Boom.)
Read the full column at:
http://stocks.investopedia.
Friday, October 8, 2010
Will The Market Show Faith In An Aluminum Recovery?
In the metals market today, details matter. Iron ore giant Vale (Nasdaq:VALE) is near a 52-week high, as are major gold producers like AngloGold Ashanti (NYSE:AU) and Newmont Mining (NYSE:NEM); copper companies like Freeport-McMoRan (NYSE:FCX); and diversified mining giants like Rio Tinto (NYSE:RTP). (For background reading, see A Beginner's Guide To Precious Metals.)
Unfortunately, Aluminum companies are not feeling the love. Spot prices on the London Metal Exchange have recovered nicely from early summer lows, but aluminum giant Alcoa (NYSE:AA) is trading closer to the bottom of its range than the top. Will solid third-quarter results and improving underlying trends start a new move up in the stock, or will Wall Street stay in a "show me" mode a while longer?
Please click below to continue on to the full piece:
http://stocks.investopedia.com/stock-analysis/2010/Will-The-Market-Show-Faith-In-An-Aluminum-Recovery-AA-VALE-AU-NEM-FCX-RTP-BA1008.aspx
Unfortunately, Aluminum companies are not feeling the love. Spot prices on the London Metal Exchange have recovered nicely from early summer lows, but aluminum giant Alcoa (NYSE:AA) is trading closer to the bottom of its range than the top. Will solid third-quarter results and improving underlying trends start a new move up in the stock, or will Wall Street stay in a "show me" mode a while longer?
Please click below to continue on to the full piece:
http://stocks.investopedia.com/stock-analysis/2010/Will-The-Market-Show-Faith-In-An-Aluminum-Recovery-AA-VALE-AU-NEM-FCX-RTP-BA1008.aspx
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Alcoa Gives A Good Start To Earnings
American aluminum giant Alcoa (NYSE:AA) has long held the distinction of being the first major U.S.
The Quarter that Was
Alcoa reported that sales jumped 22% from last year and 6% from the prior quarter. Of that 6% growth, two-thirds came from increased shipments. Gross margins improved significantly from the year-ago period, and the company continued a strong resurgence to profitability from both the prior quarter and the year-ago period.
For the full piece, please go to:
http://stocks.investopedia.
The Quarter that Was
Alcoa reported that sales jumped 22% from last year and 6% from the prior quarter. Of that 6% growth, two-thirds came from increased shipments. Gross margins improved significantly from the year-ago period, and the company continued a strong resurgence to profitability from both the prior quarter and the year-ago period.
For the full piece, please go to:
http://stocks.investopedia.
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