LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Leading plaintiffs' class action law firm Glancy Prongay & Murray LLP today announced that the Firm is changing its name to Glancy Prongay Wolke & Rotter LLP. The change reflects the substantial contributions that partners Kara Wolke, co-chair of the Firm's securities litigation group, and Jonathan Rotter, chair of the Firm's antitrust, consumer protection, and privacy groups, have made to the success of the Firm and the results that they have achieved for. ...

Core Insights - High-rolling investors are taking a bearish position on Alcoa (NYSE:AA), indicating potential insider knowledge or market sentiment shifts [1] - The sentiment among major traders is predominantly bearish, with 63% of options identified being bearish compared to 26% bullish [2] Options Activity - A total of 19 options trades for Alcoa were identified, with one put option valued at $29,875 and 18 call options totaling $2,321,041 [2] - The significant volume and open interest suggest that major players are targeting a price range for Alcoa between $35.0 and $70.0 over the past quarter [3][4] Recent Trading Metrics - The trading volume for Alcoa stands at 4,894,144, with the stock price currently at $58.2, reflecting a 1.5% increase [10] - Analysts have provided an average target price of $62.25 for Alcoa, with varying ratings from different firms, including a downgrade from Morgan Stanley to Equal-Weight with a target of $64 and a downgrade from JP Morgan to Underweight with a target of $50 [9][10] Company Overview - Alcoa is a vertically integrated aluminum company, recognized as the world's largest bauxite miner and alumina refiner by production volume, and the eighth-largest aluminum producer [8] - The company has a historical significance as the first mass producer of aluminum and has undergone strategic changes, including the spin-off of its automotive and aerospace segment in 2016 [8]

Core Insights - Aclaris Therapeutics announced positive preclinical results for ATI-2138, a potent ITK/JAK3 inhibitor, showing significant hair regrowth in a murine model of severe alopecia areata compared to ritlecitinib [1][2][3] Group 1: Drug Efficacy - ATI-2138 demonstrated rapid and near-complete hair regrowth in mice, achieving 87% regrowth at week 4 and 93% at week 6, compared to 48% and 78% for ritlecitinib respectively [3] - The study utilized a reversal model of alopecia universalis, indicating that ATI-2138 is effective even in older and more difficult-to-treat mice [2][3] Group 2: Mechanism of Action - ATI-2138 acts as a dual inhibitor of ITK and JAK3, affecting T cell receptor signaling and regulating T cell expansion and activation [2][7] - The drug is highly selective, being over 1,000-fold more potent against ITK and JAK3 than other JAK isoforms, which may lead to a strong anti-inflammatory response [2][7] Group 3: Future Development - Aclaris plans to initiate a Phase 2b trial for ATI-2138 in the first half of 2026, exploring its potential in treating various inflammatory and autoimmune diseases, including alopecias [6][10] - The company is assessing additional indications for ATI-2138, leveraging its unique pharmacological profile [6][10] Group 4: Company Overview - Aclaris Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing novel treatments for immuno-inflammatory diseases, with a robust R&D pipeline [8] - The company aims to address unmet medical needs in patients suffering from conditions that lack satisfactory treatment options [8]

Group 1 - The article discusses the potential benefits of subscribing to Beyond the Wall Investing for access to high-quality equity research reports, which can save investors thousands of dollars annually [1] - Alcoa Corporation (AA) stock has been under review for about 9 months, with a previous "Buy" rating maintained despite a continued correction in the stock price [1] - Oakoff Investments, a personal portfolio manager and quantitative research analyst, leads the investing group Beyond the Wall Investing, offering features such as a fundamentals-based portfolio and weekly analysis [1]

Investment Rating - Industry Rating: Recommended [4] Core Insights - In Q4 2025, the production of alumina increased by 1.1% quarter-on-quarter to 2.481 million tons, while the production of primary aluminum rose by 4.3% to 604,000 tons, primarily due to the successful restart of the San Ciprián electrolytic aluminum plant in Spain [2][3] - The average realized price for third-party sales of alumina decreased by 46.4% year-on-year to $341 per ton, while the average price for primary aluminum increased by 24.7% year-on-year to $3,749 per ton [3][9] - The company's total revenue for Q4 2025 was $3.449 billion, reflecting a 15.2% increase quarter-on-quarter but a 1.1% decrease year-on-year [9][11] Summary by Sections Production and Operations - In Q4 2025, bauxite production was 9.4 million tons, with third-party bauxite shipments at 2.4 million tons, showing a 41.2% increase quarter-on-quarter [2][5] - The total alumina production for 2025 was 9.640 million tons, a decrease of 3.9% year-on-year, while the total primary aluminum production for 2025 was 2.319 million tons, an increase of 4.7% year-on-year [6][8] Financial Performance - For Q4 2025, the net profit attributable to Alcoa was $226 million, a decrease of 2.6% quarter-on-quarter but an increase of 11.9% year-on-year [11][27] - The adjusted EBITDA for Q4 2025 was $546 million, reflecting a significant increase due to rising aluminum prices and the absence of certain one-time charges from the previous quarter [12][20] Future Outlook - For 2026, the alumina business is expected to produce between 9.7 million and 9.9 million tons, with aluminum production projected to be between 240,000 and 260,000 tons [23][24] - The first quarter of 2026 is anticipated to face challenges, including a $30 million negative impact on adjusted EBITDA due to routine maintenance and price declines in bauxite procurement agreements [23][24]

Core Viewpoint - Alcoa Corp. reported strong fourth-quarter earnings, exceeding expectations in both earnings per share and revenue, but the stock experienced a decline due to cautious near-term guidance [3][4]. Financial Performance - Alcoa achieved earnings per share (EPS) of $1.26, surpassing estimates of 95 cents, and reported revenue of $3.45 billion, exceeding expectations of $3.28 billion [3]. - The company demonstrated significant improvements in profitability, with adjusted EBITDA rising sharply due to higher aluminum prices, better shipment mix, and effective cost management [6]. Stock Market Reaction - Despite the strong earnings report, Alcoa's stock dropped approximately 5% at market open following the earnings announcement, attributed to a sell-the-news reaction and cautious guidance regarding near-term earnings and free cash flow [4][9]. Operational Strength - Alcoa highlighted record production levels at several smelters and a key refinery, indicating that the strong results were driven by operational performance rather than one-time items [6]. - The company generated robust operating cash flow and free cash flow, enhancing its balance sheet and providing flexibility for growth projects and capital returns to shareholders [7]. Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence that favorable aluminum fundamentals, tariff-related pricing support, and ongoing productivity initiatives will sustain healthy margins into 2026, despite mixed alumina market conditions [8]. - The quarter reinforced the view that Alcoa is operating from a position of strength, moving beyond merely recovering from previous downturns [9].

Core Viewpoint - Alcoa Corporation is a leading player in the aluminum industry, with a strong market position and positive financial performance indicators, despite facing slight revenue declines [1][6]. Financial Performance - Alcoa reported Q4 2025 revenue of $3.45 billion, a decrease of 1.1% year-over-year, but exceeded the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $3.24 billion, resulting in a positive surprise of 6.34% [3][6]. - The company's earnings per share (EPS) for Q4 2025 were $1.26, up from $1.04 the previous year, and significantly above the consensus estimate of $0.95, delivering a surprise of 32.63% [4][6]. - Alcoa's fourth-quarter profit increased to $226 million, compared to $202 million in the same period the previous year, driven by gains in alumina and aluminum sales [5][6]. Market Position and Ratings - B. Riley maintained a "Buy" rating for Alcoa and raised its price target from $44 to $78, indicating confidence in the company's future performance [2][6]. - The current stock price of Alcoa is $63.14, reflecting a slight decrease of 1.14%, with a market capitalization of approximately $16.35 billion [5].

Core Insights - Alcoa Corporation (AA) and Ryerson Holding Corporation (RYI) are key players in the aluminum sector, with high aluminum prices driven by global economic uncertainties and trade tensions [2] - The demand for aluminum is increasing due to its applications in electric vehicles, recycled materials, and the aerospace industry [3] Alcoa Corporation (AA) - Alcoa benefits from increased aluminum demand and a 50% tariff on imported aluminum, which has raised domestic prices [5] - In 2025, Alcoa's Aluminum segment production rose 5% year-over-year to 2,319 kilometric tons, with third-party revenues increasing by 15.6% [6][7] - The Alumina segment faced a 3.9% production decline to 9,640 kilometric tons in 2025, but is expected to recover in 2026 [8] - Alcoa's acquisition of Alumina Limited in August 2024 enhances its position in the market and is expected to create long-term value [9] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Alcoa's 2026 sales indicates a 7% growth, with EPS expected to rise by 18.3% [16] - Alcoa's stock has increased by 68.7% over the past year, and it trades at a forward P/E ratio of 13.16X, below its three-year median [20][22] Ryerson Holding Corporation (RYI) - Ryerson's diversified structure allows it to offset weaknesses in certain markets with strengths in others, benefiting from increased infrastructure spending and reshoring [10] - In the first nine months of 2025, aluminum product line shipments remained stable at 143,000 tons, with revenues rising 7.7% to $868 million [12] - However, revenues from carbon steel and stainless steel product lines declined due to lower average selling prices [13] - RYI expects fourth-quarter net sales between $1.07 billion and $1.11 billion, with a projected decline in customer shipments [14] - Ryerson's long-term debt increased by 6.7% to $498.2 million, raising concerns about its financial health [15] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for RYI's 2026 sales implies an 11.4% growth, but EPS is expected to rise significantly by 256.3% [18] - Ryerson's stock has gained 38.7% over the past year, but it trades at a higher forward P/E ratio of 22.23X compared to its three-year median [20][22] Investment Outlook - Alcoa's strong momentum in the aluminum segment and favorable valuation make it a more attractive investment compared to Ryerson, which faces challenges in manufacturing demand and high debt levels [22][23]

Market Overview - US stock index futures are all down, with Dow futures down 0.23%, S&P 500 futures down 0.11%, and Nasdaq futures down 0.18% [1] - European indices show mixed performance, with Germany's DAX down 0.04%, UK's FTSE 100 up 0.04%, France's CAC40 down 0.40%, and Europe's Stoxx 50 down 0.41% [2][3] Commodity Prices - WTI crude oil increased by 1.89% to $60.48 per barrel, while Brent crude oil rose by 1.81% to $65.22 per barrel [3][4] Investment Trends - A new wave of "Sell America" is emerging, with global funds flocking to Asian tech stocks and gold, driven by tensions between the US and various sovereign governments, leading to significant selling pressure on dollar assets [5] - Emerging markets, particularly in Asia, are attracting global capital, with a focus on South Korea, China, Taiwan, and India [5] Company News - Schlumberger (SLB.US) reported Q4 net income exceeding expectations, driven by strong North American market demand, with revenue up 5% year-over-year to $9.75 billion [8] - Ericsson (ERIC.US) nearly doubled its Q4 profit, exceeding expectations, and announced a historic SEK 15 billion stock buyback plan [9] - Intel (INTC.US) reported Q4 revenue down 4.1% year-over-year to $13.7 billion, with guidance for Q1 2026 lower than analyst expectations [10] - Alcoa (AA.US) reported Q4 revenue of $3.4 billion, exceeding market consensus, driven by rising aluminum prices [10] - First Capital Credit (COF.US) reported Q4 revenue of $15.583 billion, a 53% year-over-year increase, but adjusted EPS fell short of analyst expectations [11] - Amazon (AMZN.US) is preparing to lay off thousands of employees, following a previous announcement of 14,000 job cuts [13] - Tesla (TSLA.US) has launched a fully autonomous taxi service in Austin, marking a significant milestone in its operations [14]

Group 1 - The article does not provide any relevant content regarding company or industry insights [1]