ModernGraham Valuation: Alcoa Inc. (AA)
Company Profile (obtained from Google Finance): Alcoa Inc. (Alcoa) is engaged in the production and management of primary aluminum, fabricated aluminum, and alumina combined, through its participation in technology, mining, refining, smelting, fabricating, and recycling. Alcoa’s products are used worldwide in aircraft, automobiles, commercial transportation, packaging, building and construction, oil and gas, defense, consumer electronics, and industrial applications. Alcoa is a global company operating in 31 countries. Alcoa’s operations consist of four worldwide reportable segments: Alumina, Primary Metals, Flat-Rolled Products, and Engineered Products and Solutions. On March 9, 2011, Alcoa completed an acquisition of the aerospace fastener business of TransDigm Group Inc.
Defensive and Enterprising Investor Tests (What is the significance of these tests, and what is PEmg ratio?):
Defensive Investor – must pass at least 6 of the following 7 tests: Score = 3/7
- Adequate Size of Enterprise – market capitalization of at least $2 billion – PASS
- Sufficiently Strong Financial Condition – current ratio greater than 2 – FAIL
- Earnings Stability – positive earnings per share for at least 10 straight years – FAIL
- Dividend Record – has paid a dividend for at least 10 straight years – PASS
- Earnings Growth – earnings per share has increased by at least 1/3 over the last 10 years using 3 year averages at beginning and end of period – FAIL
- Moderate PEmg ratio – PEmg is less than 20 – FAIL
- Moderate Price to Assets – PB ratio is less than 2.5 or PB x PEmg is less than 50 – PASS
Enterprising Investor – must pass at least 4 of the following 5 tests or be suitable for a defensive investor: Score = 1/5
- Sufficiently Strong Financial Condition, Part 1 – current ratio greater than 1.5 – FAIL
- Sufficiently Strong Financial Condition, Part 2 – Debt to Net Current Assets ratio less than 1.1 – FAIL
- Earnings Stability – positive earnings per share for at least 5 years – FAIL
- Dividend Record – currently pays a dividend – PASS
- Earnings growth – EPSmg greater than 5 years ago – FAIL
Valuation Summary (Explanation of the ModernGraham Valuation Model)
Key Data:
| MG Value | $0.00 Â ** See conclusion. |
| MG Opinion | Overvalued |
| Value Based on 3% Growth | $1.94 |
| Value Based on 0% Growth | $1.14 |
| Market Implied Growth Rate | 35.04% |
| Net Current Asset Value (NCAV) | -$17.13 |
| PEmg | 78.58 |
| Current Ratio | 1.17 |
| PB Ratio | 0.88 |
Balance Sheet – 9/30/2013Â
| Current Assets | $7,049,000,000 |
| Current Liabilities | $6,040,000,000 |
| Total Debt | $7,630,000,000 |
| Total Assets | $38,229,000,000 |
| Intangible Assets | $5,144,000,000 |
| Total Liabilities | $25,373,000,000 |
| Outstanding Shares | 1,069,600,000 |
Earnings Per Share
| 2013 (estimate) | $0.04 |
| 2012 | $0.18 |
| 2011 | $0.55 |
| 2010 | $0.25 |
| 2009 | -$1.06 |
| 2008 | $0.28 |
| 2007 | $2.95 |
| 2006 | $2.47 |
| 2005 | $1.40 |
| 2004 | $1.60 |
| 2003 | $1.20 |
| 2002 | $0.61 |
Earnings Per Share – ModernGrahamÂ
| 2013 (estimate) | $0.13 |
| 2012 | $0.13 |
| 2011 | $0.27 |
| 2010 | $0.41 |
| 2009 | $0.73 |
| 2008 | $1.67 |
Conclusion:
Alcoa Inc. is a company that has seen better days and currently has a very poor valuation.  The company passes only three of the tests of the Defensive Investor and only one of the requirements of the Enterprising Investor.  The company has a poor current ratio, lacks earnings stability, has demonstrated no growth in earnings, and is trading at a high PEmg ratio.  Investors seeking to use a value investing approach as is used by ModernGraham would do better by looking at some companies that pass the requirements set forth by Benjamin Graham.  From a valuation perspective, Alcoa’s EPSmg (normalized earnings) have gone from $1.67 in 2008 to an estimated $0.13 for 2013.  This shrinking of earnings leads the ModernGraham valuation model to return an intrinsic value of $0.  There may be some value, but any method of calculating value that does not rely solely on the fundamentals of the company includes some level of speculation.  Intelligent Investors avoid speculation as much as possible, so they may be better served with a different company at this time. Â
What do you think?  Do you agree that Alcoa Inc. is overvalued?  What would be your assessment?  Is the company not suitable for Defensive Investors or Enterprising Investors?  Leave a comment on our Facebook page or mention @ModernGraham on Twitter to discuss.
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Disclaimer: Â The author did not hold a position in Alcoa Inc. (AA) at the time of publication and had no intention of changing that position within the next 72 hours.
Photo Credit: Â Andrew Magill
