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Alcoa Corp.: Q3 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 15 October 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 1 raised, 4 new, 4 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Net income rose on mark-to-market gains: Net income attributable to Alcoa was $483 million, or $1.81 per share, up from $407 million in the second quarter. Management cited mark-to-market gains, improved production costs and higher alumina prices, partly offset by lower aluminum prices and shipments. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA down $112 million: Adjusted EBITDA excluding special items was $789 million, down $112 million sequentially. Lower aluminum prices and shipments more than offset better production costs and higher alumina prices. Source
  • Alumina production rose 11 percent: Alumina production rose 11 percent to 2.5 million metric tons, mainly from improved stability at the Pinjarra refinery in Australia. Source
  • Cash from operations $643 million: Cash from operations was $643 million and free cash flow was $472 million, against $422 million in the second quarter, after capital expenditures of $171 million. Source
  • AliGroup approved by South32 shareholders: South32 shareholders approved the AliGroup acquisition on October 15, 2026. Regulatory approvals and transition and integration planning progressed through the third quarter. Source
  • Production and shipments expected higher: Management expects higher production and shipments in both segments in the fourth quarter, citing maintained refining stability and incremental smelter output. Source

“During the third quarter, we advanced the AliGroup acquisition, delivered improved refinery performance, and increased production across our smelting portfolio,”

William F. Oplinger, Alcoa President and CEO

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Alumina segment production Source2026 full year9.5 to 9.6 million metric tonsKept
Alumina segment shipments Source2026 full year11.5 to 11.6 million metric tonsKept
Aluminum segment production Source2026 full year2.4 to 2.6 million metric tonsKept
Aluminum segment shipments Source2026 full year2.6 to 2.8 million metric tonsKept
Aluminum segment Adjusted EBITDA Sourcefourth quarter 2026unfavorable impact of approximately $30 million sequentiallyNew
Alumina costs in Aluminum segment Sourcefourth quarter 2026unfavorable by approximately $30 million sequentiallyNew
Other income Sourcefourth quarter 2026increase of approximately $20 millionNew
Interest expense Source2026 full yearapproximately $185 millionRaised
Operational tax expense Sourcefourth quarter 2026$65 million to $75 millionNew

What changed from last quarter

  • New: Definitive agreements signed to sell portions of the Massena East, New York site. Source
  • New: Senior notes issued to fund AliGroup cash consideration: $1.5 billion due 2034 and $1.1 billion due 2036. Source
  • Ended: Bridge financing commitments for AliGroup terminated after the debt offerings. Source
  • Guidance raised: 2026 interest expense projection raised because of the Notes issuance. Source
  • Guidance kept: 2026 alumina and aluminum production and shipment projections reaffirmed, unchanged from the prior projection. Source
  • New guidance: Segment and cost guidance now covers the fourth quarter 2026. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Net income rose on mark-to-market gains: Net income attributable to Alcoa was $483 million, or $1.81 per share, up from $407 million in the second quarter. Management cited mark-to-market gains, improved production costs and higher alumina prices, partly offset by lower aluminum prices and shipments. Source
  • Revenue fell 7 percent sequentially: Third-party revenue was $3.7 billion, down from $4.0 billion in the second quarter, with alumina revenue higher and aluminum revenue lower on shipments and realized prices. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA down $112 million: Adjusted EBITDA excluding special items was $789 million, down $112 million sequentially. Lower aluminum prices and shipments more than offset better production costs and higher alumina prices. Source
  • Adjusted EPS $1.82 after small special items: Adjusted net income was $485 million, or $1.82 per share, after net special items of $2 million, compared with $2.12 per share in the second quarter. Source

Segments and regions

  • Alumina production rose 11 percent: Alumina production rose 11 percent to 2.5 million metric tons, mainly from improved stability at the Pinjarra refinery in Australia. Source
  • Alumina segment revenue up 7 percent: Alumina segment third-party revenue rose 7 percent on higher realized alumina prices and higher shipments. Source
  • Alumina segment EBITDA near breakeven: Alumina segment Adjusted EBITDA was $(1) million in the third quarter, against $(96) million in the second quarter, with the company citing improved production costs and higher alumina prices. Source
  • Aluminum production rose 2 percent: Aluminum production rose 2 percent to 649,000 metric tons, the sixth consecutive quarter of increase, and year-to-date production records were set at five smelters and one refinery. Source
  • Aluminum revenue down 9 percent: Aluminum segment third-party revenue fell 9 percent on lower shipments and lower average realized prices. Source

“As we look ahead, we remain focused on strengthening safety performance, sustaining operational stability, and building on this momentum as we work toward closing the AliGroup acquisition in the first half of 2027.”

William F. Oplinger, Alcoa President and CEO

Costs, margins and pricing

  • Alumina cost per ton fell: Adjusted operating cost of produced alumina shipped was $354 per metric ton, down from $368 in the second quarter. Source
  • Aluminum cost per ton rose: Adjusted operating cost of produced aluminum shipped was $2,584 per metric ton, up from $2,481 in the second quarter. Source
  • Realized prices moved in opposite directions: Average realized third-party alumina price was $353 per metric ton, up from $334. Aluminum was $4,527 per metric ton, down from $4,752. Source
  • Aluminum segment EBITDA $862 million: Aluminum segment Adjusted EBITDA was $862 million, against $1,073 million in the second quarter and $694 million in the first quarter. Source
  • Special items for closed sites and AliGroup: Special items included $25 million of demolition and remediation costs at closed locations and $14 million of external costs for the AliGroup acquisition. Source

Demand, shipments and working capital

  • Alumina third-party shipments up 2 percent: Third-party alumina shipments rose 2 percent sequentially on higher production. Source
  • Aluminum total shipments fell 5 percent: Total aluminum shipments fell 5 percent after elevated second-quarter volumes that followed first-quarter inventory repositioning. Source
  • Working capital days rose by four: Days working capital reached 50, up 4 days mainly on higher inventory days from larger aluminum volumes, and consistent with the third quarter 2025. Source
  • Receivables and inventory at quarter end: Receivables from customers were $1.3 billion, inventories $2.6 billion and trade payables $1.9 billion at quarter end. Source

Cash, capital and debt

  • Cash from operations $643 million: Cash from operations was $643 million and free cash flow was $472 million, against $422 million in the second quarter, after capital expenditures of $171 million. Source
  • Cash balance reached $4.4 billion: Cash ended the quarter at $4.4 billion, including $2.6 billion of financing obtained for the AliGroup acquisition, up from $1.4 billion in the second quarter. Source
  • Net debt rose with new notes: Net debt was $414 million and adjusted net debt $969 million at September 30, 2026, against $851 million and $1,464 million at December 31, 2025. Source
  • Investing outflow of $183 million: Cash used for investing was $183 million, including capital expenditures of $171 million. Source

Strategy and the AliGroup acquisition

  • AliGroup approved by South32 shareholders: South32 shareholders approved the AliGroup acquisition on October 15, 2026. Regulatory approvals and transition and integration planning progressed through the third quarter. Source
  • Massena East sale agreements: Definitive agreements cover portions of the Massena East site, with approximately $50 million to $65 million expected at closing, depending on approved data center capacity. Source
  • Sale proceeds tied to data center build: Proceeds depend on the buyer developing approved data center capacity, so the timing and amount of cash received depend on that build. Source

Fourth quarter expectations

  • Production and shipments expected higher: Management expects higher production and shipments in both segments in the fourth quarter, citing maintained refining stability and incremental smelter output. Source
  • Aluminum segment cost pressure named: Management attributes expected Aluminum segment cost pressure in the fourth quarter to raw material costs and planned maintenance, which it says support operational stability. Source
  • Other income linked to AliGroup cash: Other income is expected to rise on interest earned on cash held for the AliGroup acquisition, while operational tax depends on market conditions and jurisdictional profitability. Source

Coming up, as management said on 15 October 2026

  • Massena East closing within six months: Closing of the Massena East sale is expected within the next six months, subject to permitting, regulatory approvals and other customary conditions. Source
  • Further Massena payments over seven years: Up to about $60 million to $250 million more may be received for approved capacity expansions and installments, mostly within the first five years after closing. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Alumina production Source2.5 million metric tons
Aluminum production Source649,000 metric tons
Bauxite production Source9.3 million dry metric tons
Third-party alumina shipments Source1,652 kmt
Total aluminum shipments Source693 kmt

Risks management discussed

  • Regulatory: Massena East sale closing depends on permitting, regulatory approvals and conditions required before construction can begin. Source
  • Demand: Lower aluminum prices and shipments offset gains from production costs and alumina prices in the quarter's adjusted EBITDA. Source
  • Financial: Reported income includes mark-to-market gains on energy contracts and Ma'aden shares that the company treats as special items, so reported results can move with market prices. Source
  • Operational: Management names safety performance and sustaining operational stability as areas that still need focus. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • On track: Earlier plan to close the AliGroup acquisition in the first half of 2027 is reported as on track. Source
  • Met: The Alumar smelter restart, under way in the second quarter, was completed in the third quarter. 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.