Mar. 19 at 3:35 PM
$AA "Alcoa (AA) stock has plummeted approximately 11% in early trading today, March 19, 2026, driven by a combination of geopolitical tensions and internal operational warnings. Aluminum futures on the London Metal Exchange (LME) saw their biggest drop since 2018 today. This was triggered by growing fears that the expanding war in Iran will cause a broad global economic slowdown, reducing demand for industrial metals.
Management recently cautioned investors at the JPMorgan Industrials Conference that first-quarter performance will be weaker than expected.
Alcoa slashed its Q1 aluminum shipment forecast by 30,000 metric tons, which is expected to cut revenue by roughly
$150 million.
The stock had recently been trading near a 52-week high (approaching
$68), leading some investors to sell and lock in gains amid the current market volatility.
The entire metals sector is under pressure today as the U.S. dollar hit a three-month high, making dollar-priced commodities more expensive."
