Dow Today: Coca-Cola (KO) Leads The Day Higher, Alcoa (AA) Lags

The Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI) closed up 94 points (+0.8%) at 12,554. During the day, 621.6 million shares of the 30 Dow components have changed hands vs. an average daily trading volume of 731.3 million. The NYSE advances/declines ratio closed at 2,115 issues advancing vs. 881 declining with 107 unchanged.

The Dow component that led the way higher today was Coca-Cola (NYSE:KO), which sported a 97-cent gain (+1.3%) bringing the stock to $75.25. This single gain is lifting the Dow Jones Industrial Average by 7.34 points or roughly accounting for 7.8% of the Dow's overall gain. Volume for Coca-Cola ended the day at 5.1 million shares traded vs. an average daily trading volume of 7.9 million shares.

Coca-Cola has a market cap of $168.32 billion and is part of the consumer goods sector and food & beverage industry. Shares are up 4.7% year to date as of Thursday's close. The stock's dividend yield sits at 2.7%.

The Coca-Cola Company, a beverage company, engages in the manufacture, marketing, and sale of nonalcoholic beverages worldwide. The company primarily offers sparkling beverages and still beverages. The company has a P/E ratio of 19.8, equal to the average food & beverage industry P/E ratio and above the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7.

TheStreet Ratings rates Coca-Cola as a buy. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its revenue growth, solid stock price performance, good cash flow from operations, growth in earnings per share and increase in net income. Although no company is perfect, currently we do not see any significant weaknesses which are likely to detract from the generally positive outlook.

• You can view the full Coca-Cola Ratings Report.

Holding the Dow back today was Alcoa (NYSE:AA), which lagged the broader Dow index with a three-cent decline (-0.3%) bringing the stock to $8.52. Volume for Alcoa ended the day at 16.6 million shares traded vs. an average daily trading volume of 24.5 million shares.

• See our dividend calendar or top-yielding stocks list.

Alcoa has a market cap of $9.21 billion and is part of the basic materials sector and metals & mining industry. Shares are down 2.3% year to date as of Thursday's close. The stock's dividend yield sits at 1.4%.

Alcoa, Inc. engages in the production and management of primary aluminum, fabricated aluminum, and alumina. The company operates in four segments: Alumina, Primary Metals, Flat-Rolled Products, and Engineered Products and Solutions. The company has a P/E ratio of 23.3, below the average metals & mining industry P/E ratio of 24 and above the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7.

TheStreet Ratings rates Alcoa as a hold. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its revenue growth and good cash flow from operations. However, as a counter to these strengths, we also find weaknesses including a generally disappointing performance in the stock itself, deteriorating net income and disappointing return on equity.

• You can view the full Alcoa Ratings Report.

For more information on Alcoa Inc click any of the following:

• Alcoa Inc Stock Price

• Alcoa Inc Analyst Ratings

• Alcoa Inc Key Stats & Profile

• Alcoa Inc Earnings

• Alcoa Inc Ratio Comparison

• Alcoa Inc Growth Rates

• Alcoa Inc Balance Sheet

• Alcoa Inc Cash Flow

• Alcoa Inc Income Statement