Riverwater Partners, an investment management company, stated in its Q2 2026 investor letter that it purchased Kaiser Aluminum Corporation (NASDAQ:KALU) due to approximately 2.5 million tons of global aluminum capacity remaining offline following Middle East smelter disruptions. The firm believes this supply shock, coupled with continued tariffs on aluminum and alumina products, will support elevated pricing for well-positioned domestic producers through at least 2027, even if Middle East capacity returns faster than expected. Kaiser Aluminum closed at $158.78 per share on August 31, 2026.