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Steel Dynamics (STLD)
NASDAQ:STLD

Steel Dynamics (STLD) AI Stock Analysis

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Steel Dynamics

(NASDAQ:STLD)

73Outperform
Steel Dynamics shows strong financial and operational metrics, particularly in profitability and safety achievements. However, negative cash flow and market challenges weigh on the stock. The technical indicators suggest caution, and moderate valuation aligns with industry standards. Positive guidance and strategic advancements in aluminum operations support a generally favorable outlook.
Positive Factors
Diversification
The aluminum rolling mill will diversify Steel Dynamics' earnings stream and further improve profitability and free cash flow profile.
Earnings Turnaround
Sinton, which has been a material drag on earnings since 2022, is on the cusp of turning around and should start contributing to earnings.
Tariffs
Steel Dynamics is a best-in-class domestic US steel producer, with a product portfolio that is relatively well-positioned to benefit from expanded Section 232 tariffs.
Negative Factors
Market Concerns
Shares of US steel producers have not followed the recent sharp move higher in pricing due to concerns about end market demand based on recent macroeconomic data.

Steel Dynamics (STLD) vs. S&P 500 (SPY)

Steel Dynamics Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionSteel Dynamics, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, operates as a steel producer and metal recycler in the United States. It operates through three segments: Steel Operations, Metals Recycling Operations, and Steel Fabrication Operations. The Steel Operations segment offers hot roll, cold roll, and coated steel products; parallel flange beams and channel sections, flat bars, large unequal leg angles, and reinforcing bars, as well as standard strength carbon, intermediate alloy hardness, and premium grade rail products; and engineered special-bar-quality products, merchant-bar-quality products, and other engineered round steel bars. The company also engages in turning, polishing, straightening, chamfering, threading, precision saw-cutting, and heat treating of bar products; and cutting to length, straightening, hole punching, shot blasting, welding, galvanizing, and coating of specialty products. Its products are used in construction, automotive, manufacturing, transportation, heavy and agriculture equipment, and pipe and tube markets. This segment sells directly to end-users, steel fabricators, and service centers. The Metals Recycling Operations segment purchases, processes, and resells ferrous and nonferrous scrap metals into reusable forms and grades. Its ferrous products include heavy melting steel, busheling, bundled scrap, shredded scrap, steel turnings, and cast-iron products; and nonferrous products comprise aluminum, brass, copper, stainless steel, and other nonferrous metals. This segment also provides transportation logistics, marketing, brokerage, and scrap management services. The Steel Fabrication Operations segment produces non-residential steel building components, such as steel joists, girders, trusses, and steel deck products. The company also exports its products. Steel Dynamics, Inc. was incorporated in 1993 and is headquartered in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
How the Company Makes MoneySteel Dynamics generates revenue primarily through the manufacturing and sale of steel products. The company's steel operations segment is its largest source of income, producing and selling numerous types of steel products to diverse markets, including construction, automotive, and manufacturing industries. The metals recycling segment contributes to revenue by acquiring and processing scrap metal, which is sold to steel mills, including those owned by Steel Dynamics, thus supporting a vertically integrated model. Additionally, the steel fabrication segment adds revenue through the production and sale of fabricated steel products used in construction. Strategic partnerships and acquisitions, along with a focus on operational efficiency and cost control, further enhance the company's profitability.

Steel Dynamics Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Steel Dynamics demonstrates robust profitability and a strong balance sheet, with commendable equity and moderate leverage. However, revenue contraction and negative free cash flow highlight potential risks. The company must address these cash flow challenges to sustain its financial health.
Income Statement
75
Positive
Steel Dynamics exhibits strong profitability with a TTM gross profit margin of 15.88% and a net profit margin of 8.76%. However, a decline in revenue from $18.80 billion in 2023 to $17.54 billion in the TTM period indicates a revenue contraction of -6.58%, impacting overall performance. Despite this, the company's EBIT margin remains healthy at 11.08%, showcasing operational efficiency.
Balance Sheet
80
Positive
The company maintains a solid balance sheet with a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.36, indicating moderate leverage. The return on equity stands at 17.20%, reflecting effective use of shareholders' funds. Additionally, the equity ratio of 59.82% signifies a strong equity position, contributing to financial stability.
Cash Flow
70
Positive
Steel Dynamics experiences challenges in cash flow with a free cash flow growth rate of -101.26%, due to reduced cash flow from operations and significant capital expenditures. The operating cash flow to net income ratio of 1.20 suggests adequate cash generation relative to net income, but the negative free cash flow poses a concern.
Breakdown
Dec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021Dec 2020
Income StatementTotal Revenue
17.54B18.80B22.26B18.41B9.60B
Gross Profit
2.80B4.05B6.12B5.36B1.43B
EBIT
1.94B3.15B5.09B4.30B847.14M
EBITDA
2.52B3.73B5.50B4.61B1.19B
Net Income Common Stockholders
1.54B2.45B3.86B3.21B550.82M
Balance SheetCash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments
737.27M2.12B2.26B1.24B1.37B
Total Assets
14.94B14.91B14.16B12.53B9.27B
Total Debt
3.23B3.20B3.07B3.11B3.10B
Net Debt
2.64B1.80B1.44B1.86B1.73B
Total Liabilities
5.99B6.07B6.06B6.21B4.92B
Stockholders Equity
8.93B8.87B8.13B6.30B4.35B
Cash FlowFree Cash Flow
-23.50M1.86B3.55B1.20B-211.02M
Operating Cash Flow
1.84B3.52B4.46B2.20B987.03M
Investing Cash Flow
-1.30B-1.97B-1.88B-999.42M-993.26M
Financing Cash Flow
-1.35B-1.78B-2.20B-1.33B-7.05M

Steel Dynamics Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Negative
Last Price122.65
Price Trends
50DMA
126.88
Negative
100DMA
127.15
Negative
200DMA
125.70
Negative
Market Momentum
MACD
-0.74
Negative
RSI
45.79
Neutral
STOCH
34.44
Neutral
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For STLD, the sentiment is Negative. The current price of 122.65 is below the 20-day moving average (MA) of 122.74, below the 50-day MA of 126.88, and below the 200-day MA of 125.70, indicating a bearish trend. The MACD of -0.74 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 45.79 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 34.44 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Negative sentiment for STLD.

Steel Dynamics Risk Analysis

Steel Dynamics disclosed 18 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. Steel Dynamics reported the most risks in the “Production” category.
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy
Latest Risks Added 0 New Risks

Steel Dynamics Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (47)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
RSRS
77
Outperform
$14.82B17.8511.71%1.72%-6.56%-31.89%
73
Outperform
$16.64B11.2817.27%1.70%-6.68%-32.96%
MTMT
73
Outperform
$20.00B14.312.60%1.81%-8.56%68.36%
NUNUE
71
Outperform
$24.22B12.419.79%2.10%-11.46%-53.33%
PKPKX
65
Neutral
$12.65B17.212.06%3.92%-9.67%-37.38%
XX
57
Neutral
$10.08B28.473.43%0.45%-13.48%-56.94%
47
Neutral
$2.43B-2.83-21.77%3.74%4.16%-28.83%
* Basic Materials Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
STLD
Steel Dynamics
122.65
-19.37
-13.64%
MT
ArcelorMittal
26.97
-0.11
-0.41%
NUE
Nucor
115.50
-78.64
-40.51%
PKX
POSCO
45.60
-28.08
-38.11%
RS
Reliance Steel
280.28
-45.46
-13.96%
X
United States Steel
45.14
3.12
7.43%

Steel Dynamics Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date: Jan 22, 2025 | % Change Since: 0.21% | Next Earnings Date: Apr 22, 2025
Earnings Call Sentiment Neutral
The earnings call reflected a strong operational year for Steel Dynamics, highlighted by safety achievements and significant progress in aluminum operations. However, challenges such as decreased steel pricing, increased imports, and operational outages impacted financials, balancing the overall sentiment.
Highlights
Record Safety Achievements
Steel Dynamics celebrated its safest year ever with 60% of locations having zero recordable injuries and 81% having zero lost time incidents.
High Operating Performance
Achieved operating income of $1.9 billion and net income of $1.5 billion for the year, with a 23% after-tax return on invested capital over three years.
Strong Liquidity Position
Liquidity remained strong at $2.2 billion, with cash and investments of approximately $1 billion.
Aluminum Dynamics Progress
First aluminum ingot cast at the Columbus facility, with expectations for commercial shipments by June 2025.
Sinton Plant Improvement
Sinton plant ran at over 80% capacity, improving to nearly 90% utilization, contributing to expectations of profitability soon.
Lowlights
Lower Q4 2024 Financials
Fourth quarter net income of $207 million, or $1.36 per diluted share, was lower than the previous quarter due to decreased steel pricing and seasonal volume declines.
Steel Operations Challenges
Operating income from steel operations decreased to $165 million in the fourth quarter due to a $48 per ton decline in average pricing.
Unplanned Outages
An unplanned outage at the Butler Flat Roll division impacted shipments by 50,000 tons.
Increased Imports and Trade Issues
Increased imports have affected certain product areas, specifically coated flat-rolled steel products, leading to a trade case filing.
Company Guidance
During the Steel Dynamics Q4 2024 earnings call, the company provided comprehensive guidance for the upcoming year, 2025. They reported a strong financial performance for 2024 despite market challenges, with steel shipments reaching the second-highest annual figure at 12.7 million tons. The company generated $1.8 billion in cash from operations and achieved an adjusted EBITDA of $2.5 billion. Steel Dynamics is ramping up four new value-added flat-rolled steel coating lines, expected to contribute 1.1 million tons of higher-margin products in 2025. The Sinton facility showed considerable progress, operating above 80% capacity, with profitability anticipated in the coming months. Additionally, their Aluminum Dynamics division cast its first aluminum ingot, with commercial shipments expected by June 2025. The company highlighted a record year in safety, with 60% of locations reporting zero recordable injuries and 81% reporting zero lost-time incidents. Looking forward, they anticipate positive impacts from infrastructure investments and reduced imports, projecting higher steel demand and prices in 2025.

Steel Dynamics Corporate Events

Stock BuybackDividendsBusiness Operations and StrategyFinancial Disclosures
Steel Dynamics Projects Strong Q1 2025 Earnings
Positive
Mar 18, 2025

On March 17, 2025, Steel Dynamics, Inc. announced its first quarter 2025 earnings guidance, projecting earnings per diluted share between $1.36 and $1.40. The company’s steel operations are expected to see increased profitability due to higher shipments, despite some metal margin compression. The Sinton Texas Flat Roll Division operated at over 90% production capacity, indicating a path to profitability by the second quarter. Metals recycling operations are also expected to perform better than the previous quarter, while steel fabrication earnings are anticipated to be lower due to seasonal factors. The company is advancing its aluminum operations, with significant progress in its Columbus, Mississippi mill and San Luis Potosi center. Additionally, Steel Dynamics increased its cash dividend by nine percent and authorized an additional $1.5 billion for share repurchases, reflecting confidence in its financial outlook.

Glossary
OutperformA stock rated as "Outperform" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests that the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to the average returns of other stocks in the same sector or market index. Investors might consider this stock a good buying opportunity.
NeutralA stock rated as "Neutral" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly attractive nor unattractive for investment. Investors may consider holding onto the stock, as it is not expected to either significantly outperform or underperform the market.
UnderperformA stock rated as "Underperform" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests that the stock may deliver lower returns compared to the average returns of other stocks in the same sector or market index. Investors might consider selling the stock or avoiding it as an investment.

Disclaimer

This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.