I wonder if the executives at Alcoa
As you probably recall, the north-of-the-border company went to London-based Rio Tinto
On the stock side, and after recently laying off 15,000 employees, the company will shrink its payout to $0.03 a share, from the previous $0.17. The cut represents the first time in more than a quarter-century that Alcoa has reduced its payout. The savings from the reduction are expected to amount to $400 million annually. There is also the possibility that another round of layoffs could be in the company's future.
Beyond that, once-proud Alcoa is targeting a series of cost-cutting efforts that it hopes will retain another $2.4 billion in its cash kitty. And the company's capex is targeted for a reduction to $850 million from $1.8 billion -- or about 53% less than it spent last year.
On the security issuance front, management has visions of selling at least 150 million shares of common stock, with the possibility that another 22.5 million could be added. Beyond that, the offering could include $250 million in convertible notes. (The company's shares closed Monday at $6.12 and were down about another $0.50, or more than 8%, at midday on Tuesday.)
However, as Alcoa emerges from its multi-faceted approach to cutting costs and raising funds, the aluminum business clearly isn't the place to hang your hat these days. Century Aluminum
The obvious message here for my Foolish friends: Stay as far removed from the aluminum business (and investments therein) as your legs will carry you.
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