Alcoa is reporting a surprise profit for the first quarter. The company sold more aluminum as demand improved from automobile manufacturers, aerospace and commercial transportation.
The company's stock price jumped 4.1 percent in after-hours trading Tuesday.
The largest U.S. aluminum maker reported net income of $94 million, or 9 cents a share. Analysts expected a loss of 4 cents per share. Alcoa reported net income of $308 million, or 27 cents a share, in the year-earlier quarter.
Revenue totaled $5.96 billion. Analysts predicted revenue of $5.77 billion.
Alcoa's report kicks off what is expected to be the weakest earnings season in more than two years. Analysts expect earnings for companies in the Standard & Poor's 500 index to decline 0.1 percent compared to a year ago, according to FactSet.
