Aluminum stocks are publicly traded companies that produce one of the world’s most widely used metals. Aluminum shows up everywhere, from beverage cans and building materials to airplanes and electric vehicles, making it a critical input for the modern economy.
That broad usefulness is expected to drive steady demand. The World Economic Forum projects global aluminum demand could rise roughly 40% by 2030, fueled by infrastructure spending and a push toward greater energy efficiency. For investors, that creates an opportunity worth a closer look. Below, we break down how aluminum stocks work and which companies stand out today.
Top aluminum stocks in 2026
Several companies focus on producing aluminum or using it to make higher-valued products. Among the industry leaders are:
| Name and ticker | Market cap | Dividend yield | Industry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alcoa (NYSE:AA) | $15.1 billion | 0.69% | Metals and Mining |
| Kaiser Aluminum (NASDAQ:KALU) | $2.2 billion | 2.23% | Metals and Mining |
| Century Aluminum (NASDAQ:CENX) | $4.4 billion | 0.00% | Metals and Mining |
| Rio Tinto Group (NYSE:RIO) | $121.0 billion | 3.87% | Metals and Mining |
Here's a closer look at these leading aluminum companies.
1. Alcoa
NYSE: AA
Key Data Points
Alcoa is an integrated aluminum producer and one of the world's largest mining companies of bauxite, the primary raw material used to make aluminum. The company owns interests in seven high-quality, low-cost bauxite mines in Australia, Brazil, Guinea, and Saudi Arabia.
Bauxite is refined into alumina at Alcoa refineries. The company operates one of the world's largest third-party alumina businesses, with six low-cost refineries in Australia, Brazil, and Spain.
Finally, Alcoa produces a variety of aluminum products through its smelting and casting operations. Alcoa also operates several energy assets to reduce the costs and carbon emissions of producing aluminum. About 86% of the electricity usage from its smelting portfolio comes from renewable energy.
Alcoa has a multipronged strategy to grow shareholder value. It made its first major acquisition in 2024, buying Australia's Alumina Limited. The deal further strengthened its market leadership as a pure-play, upstream aluminum company. The company is also investing capital to organically expand its capacity and reduce costs.
Alcoa also aims to strengthen its balance sheet while returning cash to investors via its dividend. In 2025, the company sold its 25.1% interest in a joint venture to partner Saudi Arabian Mining Company (Ma'aden) for $1.35 billion of stock (which it must hold for at least three years) and cash. Its capital allocation plan positions the company for value-creating growth in the coming years.
2. Kaiser Aluminum
NASDAQ: KALU
Key Data Points
Kaiser Aluminum is a leading producer of semi-fabricated aluminum products. The company produces value-added plate sheet, coil, extrusions, rod, bar, tube, and wire products from 13 North American manufacturing locations. The company's customers include those in the aerospace, packaging, general engineering, custom automotive, and other industrial applications sectors.
The company benefits from several growth catalysts. For example, the packaging industry is steadily shifting from plastic to aluminum beverage and food cans for sustainability purposes. Meanwhile, the aerospace industry is benefiting from growing global passenger air travel. Finally, automotive demand is rising, driven by the need to increase fuel economy and for electric vehicles (EVs).
Kaiser Aluminum's profitable aluminum business enables it to return cash to shareholders via dividends. It offered an almost 3% dividend yield in late 2025, putting it well above average (the S&P 500's was less than 1.2%).
3. Century Aluminum
NASDAQ: CENX
Key Data Points
Century Aluminum is a global aluminum producer. It operates three aluminum smelters in the U.S. and one in Iceland. The company also operates aluminum reduction facilities in both countries. Its facilities produce standard-grade and value-added primary aluminum products. Additionally, Century owns a 55% interest in the Jamalco Alumina Refinery in Jamaica.
The company is also restarting previously idled production at its Mount Holly, S.C., smelter, following the Trump administration's implementation of tariffs on aluminum imports. Century is investing $50 million to bring the plant's capacity back up to 100% for the first time in more than a decade (the plant had been operating at 75% of its capacity). This move will increase U.S. aluminum production by 10% when this capacity comes back online in the middle of 2026.
4. Rio Tinto
NYSE: RIO
Key Data Points
Rio Tinto is a diversified global mining company based in London. It produces a variety of metals, including iron ore, aluminum, and copper. In addition, it produces several minerals, including borates, lithium, diamonds, salt, and titanium dioxide.
Rio Tinto is an integrated aluminum producer. It has four bauxite mines, four aluminum refineries, and 14 aluminum smelters. It also operates seven hydroelectric plants to reduce its energy costs and carbon emissions.
While Rio Tinto has a leading aluminum business, it's not a pure play on aluminum like the other companies in this group. The mining giant makes the bulk of its money (55% of its operating cash flow during the first half of 2025) from producing iron ore. Aluminum contributed 23%, copper supplied 19%, and minerals provided 3%. As a result, it might not be the best option for an investor who is only seeking exposure to the aluminum market.
However, its diversification has its benefits. That includes exposure to other markets (copper and iron ore) that should see accelerating demand due to their importance in reducing carbon emissions.
Pros and cons of investing in aluminum stocks
Investing in aluminum stocks has its share of benefits and drawbacks. Some of the pros include:
- Growth potential: Aluminum demand could rise 40% by 2030, enabling aluminum companies to invest in growing their production to drive earnings growth.
- Dividend income: Many aluminum companies pay dividends, providing income for investors.
- Inflation hedge: Investing in an aluminum company can help hedge your portfolio against rising metals prices, especially aluminum.
Meanwhile, some of the cons include:
- Volatility: Aluminum prices can be volatile, which can reduce aluminum company stock prices.
- Underperformance: An aluminum stock investment can underperform the rise in aluminum pricing due to a number of factors, including cost overruns, debt issues, and mismanagement.
How to invest in aluminum stocks
Anyone can invest in aluminum stocks. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to add one to your portfolio:
- Open your brokerage app: Log in to your brokerage account where you handle your investments.
- Search for the stock: Enter the ticker or company name into the search bar to bring up the stock's trading page.
- Decide how many shares to buy: Consider your investment goals and how much of your portfolio you want to allocate to this stock.
- Select order type: Choose between a market order to buy at the current price or a limit order to specify the maximum price you're willing to pay.
- Submit your order: Confirm the details and submit your buy order.
- Review your purchase: Check your portfolio to ensure your order was filled as expected and adjust your investment strategy accordingly.
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