Alcoa Inc (AA): Today's Featured Basic Materials Loser

Alcoa (AA) pushed the Basic Materials sector lower today making it today's featured Basic Materials loser. The sector as a whole closed the day up 0.2%. By the end of trading, Alcoa fell 5 cents (-0.6%) to $8.35 on average volume. Throughout the day, 26.2 million shares of Alcoa exchanged hands as compared to its average daily volume of 21.5 million shares. The stock ranged in price between $8.30-$8.42 after having opened the day at $8.36 as compared to the previous trading day's close of $8.40. Other company's within the Basic Materials sector that declined today were: Exeter Resource Corporation (XRA), down 12.1%, North American Palladium (PAL), down 9.9%, Goldcorp (GG), down 9.7%, and Entree Gold (EGI), down 9.3%.

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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. Alcoa has a market cap of $9.34 billion and is part of the metals & mining industry. The company has a P/E ratio of 23.6, below the average metals & mining industry P/E ratio of 24.3 and above the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7. Shares are up 1.3% year to date as of the close of trading on Tuesday. Currently there are seven analysts that rate Alcoa a buy, three analysts rate it a sell, and six rate it a hold.

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.

On the positive front, GeoGlobal Resources (GGR), up 22.2%, Cubic Energy (QBC), up 14%, Cereplast (CERP), up 9.6%, and Polymet Mining (PLM), up 9.5%, were all gainers within the basic materials sector with EOG Resources (EOG) being today's featured basic materials sector winner.

• Use our basic materials section to find sector-relevant news.
• Or find some new ideas from our top rated stocks lists.

For investors not wanting singular stock exposure, ETFs may be of interest. Investors who are bullish on the basic materials sector could consider Materials Select Sector SPDR (XLB) while those bearish on the basic materials sector could consider ProShares Short Basic Materials Fd (SBM).

• Find other investment ideas from our top rated ETFs lists.

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