Does KAISER ALUMINUM CORP have an economic moat?

Based on its FY2025 SEC filings, the Moat Index scores KAISER ALUMINUM CORP (KALU) 22.8 out of 100 — below the Shallow-moat bar, so no moat. The four filters behind that score (each 0–100): pricing power 1, returns on capital 25, balance-sheet safety 13, capital discipline 62.

Is KALU stock trading below its intrinsic value?

Against a deliberately conservative owner-earnings model (9% discount rate, 4% assumed growth, capped at 4%), estimated intrinsic value is $72.95 per share versus a recent price of $157.78 — 116% above value. This is an educational estimate computed from primary SEC filings, not investment advice.

How has KALU's Moat Score changed over time?

The record logs 3 readings since Jul 17, 2026; the latest reads 22.8 out of 100 (no moat). No tier changes on record yet. The history is append-only — readings are only ever added, never rewritten.

The Moat Index

KAISER ALUMINUM CORP

KALU · Industrials · $2.6B mkt cap · FY2025 filings · No moat ·

Doesn't clear the bar

No moat

The four filters

Pricing power1

Median gross margin 15.5% over 10y, variable.

Returns on capital25

Median ROIC 7.6%, above the 9% hurdle in 40% of years.

Balance-sheet safety13

Net debt/EBITDA 3.4x, interest coverage 4x.

Capital discipline62

Owner earnings +2.3%/yr, share count shrinking (buybacks).

Margin of safety

Above valueOn sale

116% above value

Owner earnings (normalized): $65.7M
Est. intrinsic value / share: $72.95
Recent price: $157.78
Discount to value: 116% above value

Conservative model: 9% discount rate, 4% assumed growth (capped at 4%), maintenance capex ≈ min(capex, D&A).

19 years of fundamentals

The business, in plain English

KAISER ALUMINUM CORP booked $3.4B of revenue in FY2025 in the Industrials sector and kept 13.1% of it as gross profit — a thin-margin business by that measure. After every other cost, 3.3% of each revenue dollar reached the bottom line.

Across the filed record, revenue grew from $1.5B (FY2008) to $3.4B (FY2025) — about 4.8% a year compounded over 17 years.

It earned 7.5% on invested capital in FY2025, with a median of 7.5% across 18 filed years. The Returns on Capital filter above scores it 25/100.

The balance sheet carried $1.1B of total debt in FY2025 against $112.5M of owner earnings — roughly 9.4 years of owner earnings to retire it all. Balance-Sheet Safety scores it 13/100.

The share count fell 20.1% between FY2009 and FY2025 — management has been retiring shares, which concentrates each remaining owner's claim. Capital Discipline scores it 62/100.

Put together: Capital Discipline is the strongest of the four filters (62/100) and Pricing Power the weakest (1/100), which is how KALU lands at 23/100 — a None moat.

This breakdown is generated from the filed numbers and sub-scores above — no outside narrative, no estimates. Where a filing doesn’t disclose an input, the sentence that would need it is omitted instead of guessed.

RevenueSales, as filed$3.4B FY2025

Gross marginRevenue kept after cost of goods13.1% FY2025

Return on invested capitalOperating profit on the capital employed7.5% FY2025

Owner earningsCash an owner could take out$112.5M FY2025

Gaps in a line mean that item isn’t in KALU’s filings for that year — the series is never interpolated or estimated. The Table view lists every filed value, including operating and net margins, total debt, and share count.

Moat Score history

Moat Score over timeLast scored reading of each day, on the 0–100 scale22.8 / 100

Score history begins Jul 17, 2026 — the record builds from here and can’t be backfilled.

Tier changesSame-methodology crossings of the Wide / Narrow / Shallow bars

None yet — KALU has read No moat for every logged capture since Jul 17, 2026.

Scores are logged append-only and never overwritten — this record can’t be backfilled, which is exactly why it’s worth keeping.

Industrials context

#246 of 309 scored Industrials companies, ranked by Moat Score.

Nearest peers by Moat Score

#244WKC World Kinect Corporation23.0 out of 100, No moatNo moat
#245UUU UNIVERSAL SAFETY PRODUCTS, INC.22.8 out of 100, No moatNo moat
#247SPWR SunPower Inc.22.8 out of 100, No moatNo moat
#248MEC Mayville Engineering Company, Inc.22.3 out of 100, No moatNo moat

Compare KALU with its nearest peers →All Industrials companies on the Index →

Common questions about KALU

Does KAISER ALUMINUM CORP have an economic moat?: Based on its FY2025 SEC filings, the Moat Index scores KAISER ALUMINUM CORP (KALU) 22.8 out of 100 — below the Shallow-moat bar, so no moat. The four filters behind that score (each 0–100): pricing power 1, returns on capital 25, balance-sheet safety 13, capital discipline 62.
Is KALU stock trading below its intrinsic value?: Against a deliberately conservative owner-earnings model (9% discount rate, 4% assumed growth, capped at 4%), estimated intrinsic value is $72.95 per share versus a recent price of $157.78 — 116% above value. This is an educational estimate computed from primary SEC filings, not investment advice.
How has KALU's Moat Score changed over time?: The record logs 3 readings since Jul 17, 2026; the latest reads 22.8 out of 100 (no moat). No tier changes on record yet. The history is append-only — readings are only ever added, never rewritten.

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Scored from primary SEC filings via the public methodology. Educational only — not a recommendation to buy or sell KALU. See the disclaimer.