KALU

Based on Kaiser Aluminum Corporation's historical closing prices, adjusted for stock splits and dividend reinvestment. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is for informational purposes only and is not financial advice.

What does Kaiser Aluminum do?

Kaiser Aluminum manufactures semi-fabricated specialty aluminum products including rolled sheet, extruded shapes, and drawn tubes. Its customers span aerospace and defense, automotive, beverage and food packaging, and general engineering industries. The company sells directly through its own sales teams in North America and Europe and via independent agents elsewhere.

Does KALU pay dividends?

Yes, Kaiser Aluminum pays a regular dividend. This positions it as an income-generating option within the cyclical basic materials sector. Investors should review the company's investor relations page for the current dividend rate and payment schedule, as payouts can be influenced by aluminum market conditions.

When does KALU report earnings?

Kaiser Aluminum reports on a quarterly cadence, as is standard for US-listed companies. Specific dates are published in advance on the company's investor relations page. UQS does not publish forward earnings dates — check the official IR site for the most current schedule.

Is KALU a good stock to buy?

The UQS Score rates KALU as Below Average overall. While the Growth and Valuation pillars offer some relative positives, the Weak Quality and Moat ratings reflect meaningful concerns about business durability and capital efficiency. Investors should weigh these factors against their own risk tolerance and time horizon.

Is KALU overvalued?

KALU's Valuation pillar is rated Good within the UQS framework, suggesting the stock is not carrying an elevated premium relative to its fundamentals. That said, valuation alone does not determine investment merit — the full five-pillar profile provides important context. Pro members can view the complete valuation metrics behind this rating.

How does KALU compare to its competitors?

Compared to peers like Alcoa, Constellium, and Century Aluminum, Kaiser Aluminum occupies a specialty fabrication niche rather than competing as a primary smelter or fully integrated producer. Its focus on value-added mill products for aerospace, automotive, and packaging markets differentiates it, though its Weak Moat rating suggests limited structural competitive advantages.

What is KALU's market cap bracket?

Kaiser Aluminum is classified as a mid-cap company. This places it in a tier that typically offers more liquidity than small-caps while remaining more sensitive to sector cycles than large-cap peers. Mid-cap industrials and materials companies can experience amplified volatility during commodity downturns.

Who founded Kaiser Aluminum?

Kaiser Aluminum traces its origins to 1946, founded as part of the broader Kaiser industrial empire built by Henry J. Kaiser. The company was reorganized and reincorporated in its current public form in 2006. Full historical context is widely available through the company's official corporate history.

Is KALU a long-term quality indicator?

From a long-term quality perspective, KALU's Below Average UQS Score — driven by Weak Quality and Moat pillars — raises questions about sustained competitive advantage and capital returns over time. The Good Growth pillar offers some optimism, but durable long-term quality typically requires stronger moat and quality foundations.

What is the main competitive advantage of Kaiser Aluminum?

Kaiser Aluminum's primary differentiation lies in its specialty product mix and long-standing customer relationships in technically demanding end markets like aerospace and automotive. However, the UQS Moat pillar rates as Weak, indicating these advantages may not translate into durable pricing power or above-average returns on capital relative to peers.

What sector does KALU belong to?

KALU belongs to the Basic Materials sector, specifically within aluminum manufacturing and processing. This sector is inherently cyclical, with profitability tied to commodity pricing, global industrial demand, and input cost dynamics. Investors in this sector should be comfortable with earnings variability across economic cycles.

Kaiser Aluminum Corporation currently shows below-average quality metrics, suggesting challenges with profitability.

Kaiser Aluminum Corporation demonstrates healthy growth trends across revenue and earnings.

Kaiser Aluminum Corporation has some risk factors including moderate leverage or solvency concerns.

Kaiser Aluminum Corporation trades at a reasonable valuation with decent earnings yield and FCF multiples.

Kaiser Aluminum Corporation operates in a highly competitive environment with limited sustainable advantages. The Moat pillar evaluates competitive advantages across five dimensions: Switching Costs, Network Effects, Cost Advantage, Intangible Assets, and Scale & Ecosystem. Sign in to customize moat ratings for KALU.

The UQS (Unified Quality Score) for Kaiser Aluminum Corporation is calculated using a proprietary 6-pillar framework with 29 financial metrics. Each pillar evaluates a different dimension on a 0–100 scale, then combines into a single weighted score. Scoring thresholds are calibrated per sector. Momentum is an optional Pro toggle — without it, you get the 5-pillar / 25-metric core shown below.

Quality (25%) measures profitability and capital efficiency — ROIC, ROE, margins, GP/Assets, and FCF Yield.

Moat (25%) assesses Kaiser Aluminum Corporation's competitive advantages across switching costs, network effects, cost advantages, intangible assets, and ecosystem scale.

Growth (20%) tracks revenue trajectory and earnings momentum, combining historical results with analyst forward estimates.

Risk (15%) is inversely scored — lower leverage and strong balance sheet health result in higher scores.

Valuation (15%) measures whether Kaiser Aluminum Corporation is fairly priced using earnings yield, price-to-FCF, PEG ratio, and EV/EBITDA relative to sector peers.

Six investor-inspired presets are available, each with different pillar weights: Balanced, Buffett, Munger, Lynch, Cathie Wood, and Graham. The public score shown here uses the Balanced preset. Learn more in our FAQ.