Is It Safe? Alcoa's Mettle Tested Abroad

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Alcoa(AA Quote), the largest U.S. aluminum producer, posted a first-quarter net loss that was about seven times that of the whole of 2008.

The loss was $497 million as sales plunged 36% to $4.1 billion. The global economic recession took its toll on commodities companies as demand for cars, planes and other goods that require metals slumped.

Alcoa, of course, will eventually climb back to profitability. The questions are when and at what growth rate? ...