AA vs KALU

For growth investors, Kaiser Aluminum Corporation (KALU) is the stronger pick with 11.

5% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 4. 5% for Alcoa Corporation (AA). Alcoa Corporation (AA) offers the better valuation at 14. 2x trailing P/E (9. 1x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Alcoa Corporation (AA) a "Buy" — based on 42 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.

On trailing P/E, Alcoa Corporation (AA) is the cheapest at 14.

2x versus Kaiser Aluminum Corporation at 26. 6x. On forward P/E, Alcoa Corporation is actually cheaper at 9. 1x.

Over the past 5 years, Alcoa Corporation (AA) delivered a total return of +63.

1%, compared to +42. 2% for Kaiser Aluminum Corporation (KALU). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: AA returned +188. 8% versus KALU's +128. 7%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Kaiser Aluminum Corporation (KALU) is the lower-risk stock at 1.

71β versus Alcoa Corporation's 1. 77β — meaning AA is approximately 4% more volatile than KALU relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Alcoa Corporation (AA) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 0% versus 136% for Kaiser Aluminum Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Kaiser Aluminum Corporation (KALU) is pulling ahead at 11.

5% versus 4. 5% for Alcoa Corporation (AA). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Alcoa Corporation grew EPS 1486% year-over-year, compared to 135. 9% for Kaiser Aluminum Corporation. Over a 3-year CAGR, AA leads at -0. 1% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.

Alcoa Corporation (AA) is the more profitable company, earning 9.

0% net margin versus 3. 3% for Kaiser Aluminum Corporation — meaning it keeps 9. 0% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: AA leads at 7. 6% versus 5. 7% for KALU. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — AA leads at 13. 6%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.

On forward earnings alone, Alcoa Corporation (AA) trades at 9.

1x forward P/E versus 19. 2x for Kaiser Aluminum Corporation — 10. 1x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for AA: 8. 8% to $68. 80.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Kaiser Aluminum Corporation (KALU) offers the highest yield at 1. 7%, versus 0. 6% for Alcoa Corporation (AA).

For long-horizon retirement investors, Kaiser Aluminum Corporation (KALU) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (1.

7% yield, +128. 7% 10Y return). Alcoa Corporation (AA) carries a higher beta of 1. 77 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (KALU: +128. 7%, AA: +188. 8%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.

Both stocks operate in the Basic Materials sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.

In terms of investment character: AA is a mid-cap deep-value stock; KALU is a small-cap quality compounder stock. These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.