greeksoup/ stock research

Alcoa Corp.: Q1 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q1 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 16 April 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 5 new, 4 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Net income rose on higher aluminum prices: The company reported net income of $425 million, or $1.60 per diluted share, against $213 million, or $0.80, in the fourth quarter 2025. Management cited higher aluminum prices among the sequential drivers. Source
  • Adjusted EPS of $1.40: Adjusted net income was $373 million, or $1.40 per share, after excluding net special items of $52 million. A mark-to-market gain on the Ma'aden shares of $88 million was a notable special item. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA up $68 million: Adjusted EBITDA excluding special items was $595 million, up from $527 million. Management attributed the increase mainly to higher aluminum prices, partly offset by lower shipments and unfavorable currency. Source
  • Aluminum segment EBITDA rose to $694 million: Aluminum segment Adjusted EBITDA was $694 million, against $520 million in the fourth quarter 2025. Average realized third-party aluminum price rose on the metal price, partly offset by lower shipments and energy contract impacts. Source
  • Middle East conflict and cyclone delayed shipments: Shipments in Australia were delayed by the Middle East conflict and Cyclone Narelle. Management said the team managed these impacts, which it expects to realize in the second quarter. Source
  • Cash balance of $1.4 billion: The company ended the quarter with a cash balance of $1.4 billion, compared with $1.6 billion at the end of 2025. Source
  • San Ciprián smelter restart completed: Management reported the San Ciprián smelter restart was safely completed in April 2026, after the company continued the restart through the quarter. Source

“Our experienced team performed very well managing the impacts from the Middle East conflict and Cyclone Narelle,”

Alcoa President and CEO William F. Oplinger

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Alumina segment production, 2026 SourceFull year 20269.7 to 9.9 million metric tonsKept
Alumina segment shipments, 2026 SourceFull year 202611.8 to 12.0 million metric tonsKept
Aluminum segment production, 2026 SourceFull year 20262.4 to 2.6 million metric tonsKept
Aluminum segment shipments, 2026 SourceFull year 20262.6 to 2.8 million metric tonsKept
Alumina segment Adjusted EBITDA, sequential change SourceSecond quarter 2026unfavorable approximately $15 millionNew
Aluminum segment Adjusted EBITDA, sequential change SourceSecond quarter 2026favorable approximately $55 millionNew
Section 232 tariff costs on aluminum from Canada, sequential change SourceSecond quarter 2026increase of approximately $35 millionNew
Alumina costs in Aluminum segment, sequential change SourceSecond quarter 2026favorable approximately $20 millionNew
Operational tax expense SourceSecond quarter 2026$110 million to $120 millionNew

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance kept: 2026 Alumina and Aluminum production and shipments projections were kept unchanged from the prior projection. Source
  • New guidance: Second quarter 2026 guidance replaces the first quarter 2026 guidance in the prior release, which gave operational tax expense of $65 million to $75 million for that quarter. Source
  • New: Management reported the safe completion of the San Ciprián smelter restart in Spain on April 8, 2026. Source
  • New: On April 14, 2026, a subsidiary issued notice to redeem the remaining $219 million of 6.125% notes due 2028 using cash on hand. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Net income rose on higher aluminum prices: The company reported net income of $425 million, or $1.60 per diluted share, against $213 million, or $0.80, in the fourth quarter 2025. Management cited higher aluminum prices among the sequential drivers. Source
  • Adjusted EPS of $1.40: Adjusted net income was $373 million, or $1.40 per share, after excluding net special items of $52 million. A mark-to-market gain on the Ma'aden shares of $88 million was a notable special item. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA up $68 million: Adjusted EBITDA excluding special items was $595 million, up from $527 million. Management attributed the increase mainly to higher aluminum prices, partly offset by lower shipments and unfavorable currency. Source
  • Revenue fell 7 percent sequentially: Third-party revenue was $3.2 billion, down 7 percent from the fourth quarter 2025. Alumina third-party revenue fell 33 percent, while Aluminum rose 3 percent on higher realized price. Source
  • Ma'aden mark-to-market and goodwill effects: Net income included a favorable $158 million mark-to-market change on the Ma'aden shares. The non-recurrence of a $144 million goodwill impairment from the fourth quarter 2025 also contributed. Source

Segments and regions

  • Alumina revenue and segment loss: Alumina segment Adjusted EBITDA was a loss of $40 million, against $12 million in the fourth quarter 2025. Alumina third-party revenue fell on lower shipments and bauxite offtake volumes and price. Source
  • Aluminum segment EBITDA rose to $694 million: Aluminum segment Adjusted EBITDA was $694 million, against $520 million in the fourth quarter 2025. Average realized third-party aluminum price rose on the metal price, partly offset by lower shipments and energy contract impacts. Source
  • Aluminum production held flat: Aluminum production was 607,000 metric tons, flat sequentially, with two fewer days in the period. Continued progress on the San Ciprián restart offset the shorter period. Source
  • Alumina production down 5 percent: Alumina production decreased to 2.4 million metric tons, mainly from lower output at the Australian refineries as seasonal maintenance cycles began. Source

“We delivered a solid quarter excluding shipment timing impacts, which we expect to realize in the second quarter of 2026.”

Alcoa President and CEO William F. Oplinger

Shipments and disruptions

  • Third-party alumina shipments fell 31 percent: Third-party alumina shipments declined mainly because the company sold less externally sourced alumina to fulfill customer commitments, with seasonally lower first quarter shipments also contributing. Source
  • Aluminum shipments fell on inventory moves: Total Aluminum shipments decreased 8 percent, mainly from proactive inventory repositioning within North America and decreased trading, partly offset by shipments tied to the San Ciprián restart. Source
  • Middle East conflict and cyclone delayed shipments: Shipments in Australia were delayed by the Middle East conflict and Cyclone Narelle. Management said the team managed these impacts, which it expects to realize in the second quarter. Source

Costs, margins and pricing

  • Aluminum realized price rose sharply: Average realized third-party aluminum price was $4,209 per metric ton, up from $3,749 in the fourth quarter 2025 and $3,213 in the first quarter 2025. Source
  • Alumina realized price lower: Average realized third-party alumina price was $324 per metric ton, down from $341 in the fourth quarter 2025. Adjusted operating cost per metric ton of produced alumina rose to $334 from $314. Source
  • Carbon dioxide compensation did not recur: The non-recurrence of carbon dioxide compensation recognized in the fourth quarter 2025 reduced results sequentially. Source
  • Currency impacts net favorable: Net currency impacts were favorable, mainly from gains recognized in Other income. Source

Working capital and cash

  • Cash used for operations; borrowings added: Cash used for operations was $179 million. Financing provided $60 million, mainly from $100 million of net short-term borrowings linked to inventory repositioning. Source
  • Working capital days rose to 48: Days working capital rose 13 days to 48, mainly from inventory on delayed Alumina shipments and receivable days on higher aluminum prices. Source
  • Cash balance of $1.4 billion: The company ended the quarter with a cash balance of $1.4 billion, compared with $1.6 billion at the end of 2025. Source

Capital, debt and returns

  • Capital expenditures of $119 million: Investing activities used $129 million, mainly capital expenditures of $119 million, down from $243 million in the fourth quarter 2025. Source
  • Remaining 2028 notes to be redeemed: The company will redeem the remaining $219 million of 6.125% notes due 2028 on May 15, 2026, at par plus accrued interest, using cash on hand. Source
  • Adjusted net debt rose to $1.8 billion: Net debt was $1,198 million, up from $851 million. Adjusted net debt, including the net pension and OPEB liability, was $1,792 million. Source

Strategy and investment

  • San Ciprián smelter restart completed: Management reported the San Ciprián smelter restart was safely completed in April 2026, after the company continued the restart through the quarter. Source
  • Restart completion lowers production costs: Management expects lower production costs in the second quarter from completion of the San Ciprián restart. Source

Coming up, as management said on 16 April 2026

  • Notes redemption on May 15: The remaining 6.125% notes due 2028 are scheduled for redemption on May 15, 2026. Source
  • Shipment timing realized in second quarter: Management expects the shipment timing impacts from this quarter to be realized in the second quarter of 2026. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Alumina production Source2.4 million metric tons
Aluminum production Source607,000 metric tons
Third-party alumina shipments Source1,611 kmt
Total aluminum shipments Source613 kmt
Bauxite production Source9.1 million dry metric tons

Risks management discussed

  • Operational: Shipments in Australia were delayed by the Middle East conflict and Cyclone Narelle. Source
  • External: Management cited higher energy prices, primarily diesel, linked to the Middle East conflict as a second quarter headwind for Alumina. Source
  • Regulatory: Section 232 tariff costs on U.S. imports of aluminum from Canada are expected to rise sequentially. Source
  • Financial: Management cited unfavorable tax impacts from the non-recurrence of a fourth quarter 2025 valuation allowance reversal. Source
  • Demand: Results were lowered by lower volumes and price from bauxite offtake and supply agreements. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Met: Management said the company continued the restart and achieved safe completion in April 2026. Source
  • Not stated: Management said it expects the shipment timing impacts from this quarter to be realized in the second quarter of 2026. Source
  • Not stated: Management said the 2026 Alumina and Aluminum production and shipments projections remain unchanged from the prior projection. Source

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.