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AA vs. PKX: Alcoa vs. POSCO Stock Comparison

How do Alcoa (AA) and POSCO (PKX) stack up? This page sets them side by side across company profile, performance and risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividends, and valuation, with selected fundamentals also measured against each stock's industry-group peers.

Company Profile

Alcoa (AA) and POSCO (PKX) both belong to the Metals & Mining industry, though AA is classified under Aluminum while PKX falls under Steel.

Alcoa (AA) trades as ordinary local shares, while POSCO (PKX) trades as an ADR — compare with FX exposure, depositary-program fees, and dividend-withholding-tax differences in mind.

Company profile comparison for Alcoa (AA) and POSCO (PKX)
Profile ItemAAPKX
NameAlcoa CorporationPOSCO Holdings Inc. American Depositary Receipt
Country/RegionUnited StatesSouth Korea
GICS SectorMaterialsMaterials
GICS Industry GroupMaterialsMaterials
GICS IndustryMetals & MiningMetals & Mining
GICS Sub-IndustryAluminumSteel
Market Capitalization10.44 billion USD14.79 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateJanuary 2, 1962October 14, 1994
Security TypeCommon StockADR

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

AA
PKX
GSPC
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Alcoa (AA) vs. POSCO (PKX), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Trailing Returns

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Trailing total returns for Alcoa (AA) and POSCO (PKX). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Alcoa (AA) and POSCO (PKX). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Alcoa (AA) and POSCO (PKX)
MetricAAPKX
Total Return (1Y)12.55%-4.84%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)20.53%-15.65%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)-1.46%-1.81%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

AA
PKX
GSPC
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Alcoa (AA) vs. POSCO (PKX), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Return Distribution

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Distribution of monthly total returns for Alcoa (AA) and POSCO (PKX). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Alcoa (AA) and POSCO (PKX)
MetricAAPKX
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)53.37%46.00%
Beta (5Y)1.801.71
Max Drawdown (5Y)-75.46%-68.71%
Avg. Volume (3M)4.61M216.95K

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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AA and PKX are plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. The dashed Capital Allocation Line runs from the risk-free rate through the shared industry median.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for Alcoa (AA) and POSCO (PKX)
MetricAAPKX
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.16-0.20
Sortino Ratio (1Y)0.23-0.30

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Alcoa (AA) at 20.58% sits in the top ROE quartile, while POSCO (PKX) at 2.21% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for AA.

AA

Materials industry group

20.58%

Max
52.88%
AA
20.58%
Q3
19.49%
Median
8.76%
Q1
-3.41%
Min
-32.81%

PKX

Materials industry group

2.21%

Max
52.88%
Q3
19.49%
Median
8.76%
PKX
2.21%
Q1
-3.41%
Min
-32.81%
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Alcoa (AA) vs. POSCO (PKX): A comparison of their ROE against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Both Alcoa (AA) at 10.68% and POSCO (PKX) at 1.89% keep about the typical share of revenue as profit for their industries — neither bottom line stands out from peers.

AA

Materials industry group

10.68%

Max
38.66%
Q3
15.98%
AA
10.68%
Median
5.28%
Q1
0.00%
Min
-20.40%

PKX

Materials industry group

1.89%

Max
38.66%
Q3
15.98%
Median
5.28%
PKX
1.89%
Q1
0.00%
Min
-20.40%
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Alcoa (AA) vs. POSCO (PKX): A comparison of their net margin against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Alcoa (AA) at 16.01% and POSCO (PKX) at 4.26% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.

AA

Materials industry group

16.01%

Max
66.70%
Q3
28.92%
AA
16.01%
Median
12.56%
Q1
3.28%
Min
-14.07%

PKX

Materials industry group

4.26%

Max
66.70%
Q3
28.92%
Median
12.56%
PKX
4.26%
Q1
3.28%
Min
-14.07%
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Alcoa (AA) vs. POSCO (PKX): A comparison of their operating margin against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Alcoa (AA) and POSCO (PKX)
MetricAAPKX
ROE (TTM)20.58%2.21%
ROA (TTM)7.52%1.31%
Net Margin (TTM)10.68%1.89%
Operating Margin (TTM)16.01%4.26%
Gross Margin (TTM)22.76%7.87%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Alcoa (AA) at 7.87% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while POSCO (PKX) at -6.09% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.

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Alcoa (AA) vs. POSCO (PKX): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Alcoa (AA) at 1,600.00% clears its industry range for EPS growth, a much stronger earnings trajectory than POSCO (PKX) at -29.00%, which is closer to a typical peer reading.

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Alcoa (AA) vs. POSCO (PKX): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Alcoa (AA) and POSCO (PKX)
MetricAAPKX
Revenue Growth (YoY)7.87%-6.09%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)1.01%-6.72%
EPS Growth (YoY)1,600.00%-29.00%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)---39.42%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Alcoa (AA) at 2.31 and POSCO (PKX) at 1.98 carry current ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges, suggesting balanced short-term liquidity relative to peers.

AA

Materials industry group

2.31

Max
5.96
Q3
3.30
AA
2.31
Median
2.24
Q1
1.45
Min
0.16

PKX

Materials industry group

1.98

Max
5.96
Q3
3.30
Median
2.24
PKX
1.98
Q1
1.45
Min
0.16
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Alcoa (AA) vs. POSCO (PKX): A comparison of their current ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both Alcoa (AA) at 0.58 and POSCO (PKX) at 0.50 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.

AA

Materials industry group

0.58

Max
1.98
Q3
0.89
AA
0.58
Median
0.47
Q1
0.13
Min
0.00

PKX

Materials industry group

0.50

Max
1.98
Q3
0.89
PKX
0.50
Median
0.47
Q1
0.13
Min
0.00
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Alcoa (AA) vs. POSCO (PKX): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Alcoa (AA) and POSCO (PKX)
MetricAAPKX
Current Ratio (MRQ)2.311.98
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.580.50
Net Debt / EBITDA0.142.81

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Alcoa (AA) at 1.04% pays an industry-typical yield; POSCO (PKX) at 18,518.52% is above its entire peer range — the higher number, but one that calls for a look at payout sustainability before treating it as an advantage.

AA

Materials industry group

1.04%

Max
4.52%
Q3
1.85%
AA
1.04%
Median
0.38%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

PKX

Materials industry group

18,518.52%

PKX
18,518.52%
Max
4.52%
Q3
1.85%
Median
0.38%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Alcoa (AA) vs. POSCO (PKX): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Alcoa (AA) at 6.96% pays out a band-typical share of earnings, while POSCO (PKX) at 51.60% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.

AA

Materials industry group

6.96%

Max
83.62%
Q3
41.37%
Median
9.54%
AA
6.96%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

PKX

Materials industry group

51.60%

Max
83.62%
PKX
51.60%
Q3
41.37%
Median
9.54%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Alcoa (AA) vs. POSCO (PKX): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Alcoa (AA) and POSCO (PKX)
MetricAAPKX
Dividend Yield (TTM)1.04%18,518.52%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)6.96%51.60%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Alcoa (AA) at 6.88 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while POSCO (PKX) at 15.57 is closer to its industry’s usual earnings multiple — a discount for AA, though growth and earnings durability still matter.

AA

Materials industry group

6.88

Max
59.00
Q3
32.93
Median
18.82
Q1
11.96
AA
6.88
Min
3.93

PKX

Materials industry group

15.57

Max
59.00
Q3
32.93
Median
18.82
PKX
15.57
Q1
11.96
Min
3.93
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Alcoa (AA) vs. POSCO (PKX): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Both Alcoa (AA) at 0.73 and POSCO (PKX) at 0.00 fetch a relatively low price per dollar of sales, landing in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile of their industries.

AA

Materials industry group

0.73

Max
9.62
Q3
4.34
Median
1.87
Q1
0.73
AA
0.73
Min
0.00

PKX

Materials industry group

0.00

Max
9.62
Q3
4.34
Median
1.87
Q1
0.73
PKX
0.00
Min
0.00
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Alcoa (AA) vs. POSCO (PKX): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

On P/B ratio, both Alcoa (AA) at 1.27 and POSCO (PKX) at 1.36 are valued close to their industries’ norm against book — neither stands out from peers.

AA

Materials industry group

1.27

Max
6.59
Q3
3.55
Median
2.08
AA
1.27
Q1
1.26
Min
-0.17

PKX

Materials industry group

1.36

Max
6.59
Q3
3.55
Median
2.08
PKX
1.36
Q1
1.26
Min
-0.17
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Alcoa (AA) vs. POSCO (PKX): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Alcoa (AA) and POSCO (PKX)
MetricAAPKX
P/E Ratio (TTM)6.8815.57
P/S Ratio (TTM)0.730.00
P/B Ratio (MRQ)1.271.36
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)8.80%-23,410.34%