Noranda Aluminum Holding Corporation (NORN.Q) Stock Analysis & Winston Score

Noranda Aluminum Holding Corporation was a US-based aluminum producer that mined bauxite, refined it into alumina, and smelted it into primary aluminum. Its customers included manufacturers in the automotive, construction, and packaging industries. The company operated one of the few remaining primary aluminum smelters in the United States, giving it a rare position in domestic aluminum production. Noranda made money by selling primary aluminum and rolled aluminum products directly to industrial buyers. It operated mainly in the American South, with smelting facilities in New Madrid, Missouri, and bauxite mining in Jamaica. The company's main competitive challenge was its high energy costs, since aluminum smelting requires enormous amounts of electricity. Noranda filed for bankruptcy in 2016, unable to survive a prolonged period of low global aluminum prices driven by oversupply from Chinese producers — which ultimately led to the liquidation of its assets.