New York, May 23, 2026, 10:02 (EDT)
- Century Aluminum finished Friday at $65.05, up 7.59%. The stock added about 14.5% since its May 15 close this week.
- U.S. equity markets are closed Monday, May 25 for Memorial Day. Trading will pick up again Tuesday.
- Aluminum hovered just below $3,650 a tonne on May 22, keeping attention on metal producers ahead of the long weekend.
Century Aluminum Company shares ended Friday up, hitting their top close of the week. Investors stuck with aluminum stocks ahead of the U.S. holiday, betting on tight supplies and stronger prices for the metal.
CENX trades as a quick read on primary aluminum prices. Century’s earnings can jump when both the London Metal Exchange and U.S. regional premiums climb. The stock often reacts just as fast.
Shares ended at $65.05, climbing from $56.82 last week. The focus now turns to Tuesday’s reopen to see if gains extend or if holders cash out after four days of sharp moves since Monday’s close.
Commodity moves are driving things. Reuters columnist Andy Home said Friday Gulf aluminum output dropped in April to the lowest in over ten years, with the region’s run-rate down by an annualized 2 million metric tons compared to March and April. He noted the LME price, around $3,650 a ton, hasn’t caught up with the tightness seen in inventories and physical premiums.
Aluminum stocks moved up together. Alcoa jumped 7.7% on Friday, while Kaiser Aluminum was up 3.7%. The buying wasn’t just in Century. UBS analyst Daniel Major upgraded Alcoa to buy, citing Middle East smelter outages and “stronger-for-longer” aluminum prices, according to Investor’s Business Daily. Investors
Century gave investors a fresh look at earnings earlier this month, reporting first-quarter net sales of $649.2 million, with net income attributable to Century at $337.5 million and adjusted EBITDA of $231.4 million. Adjusted EBITDA, which the company calculates by excluding interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, is now forecast at $315 million to $335 million for the second quarter. Century said it is seeing a boost from higher LME and regional premiums, plus the Mt. Holly expansion.
Century Aluminum CEO Jesse Gary told analysts on the earnings call that the aluminum market is “one of the most dynamic” he’s seen in years. Finance head Peter Trpkovski took a cautious line, saying “energy and raw materials were a headwind” this quarter. Investing
It’s a straightforward, if bumpy, setup. Century’s SEC filing spells out that earnings swing with the base aluminum price, what it gets for regional premiums and for value-added products. Over 78% of its costs come from power, alumina, carbon, and labor. So profits rise if aluminum jumps—unless those key costs jump too.
Short week but action resumes Tuesday once Nasdaq reopens after Monday’s closure. Traders are watching LME aluminum and U.S. Midwest premiums—those are the extra fees paid for U.S. delivery on top of the LME price. There’s also attention on any word from Century about production restarts.
Century is also positioned for longer-term growth. Reuters said in January the company will take a 40% stake in an Oklahoma smelter project led by Emirates Global Aluminium, and planned capacity is now up to 750,000 metric tons annually. Construction could begin by year-end, depending on remaining agreements like power supply.
CENX has moved up but those gains could turn fast if aluminum prices drop, Gulf shipping gets easier, U.S. premiums slide or high power costs persist. The first quarter had some big one-time boosts like the Hawesville deal and insurance money. Investors may push management next week on how much of that is repeatable.
Aluminum looks tight, Friday’s close was strong, and CENX is a direct play. The trade still works for now, but after rising 14.5% this week, the shares need more support from the metal market.
