tiprankstipranks
Trending News
More News >
Steel Dynamics (STLD)
NASDAQ:STLD

Steel Dynamics (STLD) AI Stock Analysis

Compare
1,241 Followers

Top Page

ST

Steel Dynamics

(NASDAQ:STLD)

Rating:78Outperform
Price Target:
$155.00
▲(17.34%Upside)
Steel Dynamics exhibits strong operational performance and positive growth prospects, supported by strategic investments and a favorable corporate outlook. While the company faces challenges in profitability margins and free cash flow, the robust technical indicators and positive earnings call sentiment enhance its attractiveness.
Positive Factors
Diversification
The aluminum rolling mill will diversify Steel Dynamics' earnings stream and further improve profitability and free cash flow profile.
Earnings Growth
Steel Dynamics is expected to deliver above-peer free cash flow generation, which should support healthy shareholder returns.
Free Cash Flow
The completion of the company’s capex cycle on its two major recent investments clears the way for higher through-the-cycle free cash flow generation.
Negative Factors
Earnings Drag
Sinton, which has been a material drag on earnings since 2022, is on the cusp of turning around and should start contributing to earnings.
Investment Cycle
Management emphasized a focus on executing the ramp-up of organic growth with funding largely complete, rather than pursuing new growth options.
Steel Prices
STLD is anticipated to have rising earnings, cash flow, and capital returns even if steel prices decrease.

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

Steel Dynamics Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionSteel Dynamics, Inc. (STLD) is one of the largest domestic steel producers and metal recyclers in the United States, headquartered in Fort Wayne, Indiana. The company operates through three primary segments: steel operations, metals recycling, and steel fabrication. Its core products include flat-rolled steel, structural steel, engineered bar products, and specialty shapes, which are used across a variety of industries including construction, automotive, and manufacturing.
How the Company Makes MoneySteel Dynamics makes money through its diversified operations in steel production, metal recycling, and steel fabrication. The steel operations segment generates revenue by producing and selling a variety of steel products, such as hot-rolled, cold-rolled, and coated steel products, to customers in sectors like automotive, construction, and manufacturing. The metals recycling segment contributes revenue by processing and selling ferrous and non-ferrous scrap to steel mills and foundries. The steel fabrication segment generates income through the production and sale of steel joists, girders, and other fabricated products used primarily in non-residential construction. The company's strategic acquisitions and investments in technology and capacity expansion also play a significant role in enhancing its revenue-generating capabilities.

Steel Dynamics Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Apr 22, 2025
(Q1-2025)
|
% Change Since: 12.53%|
Next Earnings Date:Jul 16, 2025
Earnings Call Sentiment Positive
The earnings call highlighted strong operational and financial performance, including record steel shipments, positive EBITDA from the Sinton facility, and expansion in the aluminum segment. However, the company faces challenges with rising raw material costs and increased SG&A and interest expenses. Overall, the positive developments and future growth expectations outweigh the negative aspects.
Q1-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Record Steel Shipments
Steel Dynamics achieved record steel shipments of 3.5 million tons during the first quarter of 2025.
Adjusted EBITDA and Revenue Growth
The company reported an adjusted EBITDA of $448 million and first-quarter revenue of $4.4 billion, a 13% increase compared to the previous quarter.
Positive EBITDA for Sinton Facility
The Sinton facility operated at around 86% of capacity and achieved positive EBITDA for the quarter, with expectations of increased profitability in the future.
Aluminum Dynamics Milestone
Aluminum Dynamics successfully cast its first aluminum ingot and is on track to ship commercial quality coils by June 2025.
Strong Liquidity Position
Steel Dynamics ended the quarter with strong liquidity of $2.6 billion.
Infrastructure and Manufacturing Demand
Federal programs, manufacturing growth, and onshoring are expected to support demand for steel and joist products.
Negative Updates
Rising Raw Material Costs
The company faced a $16 per ton increase in average scrap prices, impacting metal spread contraction.
Higher SG&A Expenses
There was a $37 million increase in SG&A expenses due to non-capitalizable expenses related to the aluminum facilities.
Interest Expense Increase
Interest expense is expected to rise to approximately $30 million in the second quarter and $40 million per quarter thereafter.
Steel Fabrication Income Decline
Operating income for the Steel Fabrication segment declined due to a modest 4% decline in realized pricing and seasonally decreased shipments.
Company Guidance
During the Steel Dynamics First Quarter 2025 Earnings Conference Call, the company reported record steel shipments of 3.5 million tons and an adjusted EBITDA of $448 million. The first quarter revenue totaled $4.4 billion, a 13% increase from the previous quarter, driven primarily by steel shipments. Operating income for the quarter reached $275 million, a 16% increase sequentially, supported by steel volumes despite a $13 per ton decline in average realized external steel prices and a $16 per ton increase in average scrap prices. The company's metals recycling operations achieved operating income of $26 million, with improvements in ferrous metal spreads and volumes. Additionally, the Sinton, Texas, facility operated at approximately 86% capacity and achieved positive EBITDA for the quarter, signaling expectations for increased profitability throughout the year. Steel Dynamics also announced successful aluminum ingot casting at its Columbus, Mississippi facility in January and its Mexican satellite slab facility in March, with plans to ship commercial quality coils by June. The company maintained strong liquidity with $2.6 billion and invested $306 million in capital expenditures during the quarter, projecting annual capital investments between $800 million and $1 billion for 2025.

Steel Dynamics Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Steel Dynamics presents a stable financial position with strong balance sheet metrics. However, declining revenue and profitability margins in TTM highlight challenges in maintaining growth. The negative free cash flow also raises concerns about liquidity management. The company needs to focus on improving revenue streams and profitability to ensure long-term sustainability.
Income Statement
75
Positive
Steel Dynamics shows a mixed performance in its income statement. The TTM revenue shows a decline compared to the previous annual figures, indicating some challenges in maintaining growth. The gross profit margin stands at 13.36% for TTM, which is moderate but shows a decline compared to last year. Net profit margin for TTM is 6.80%, also lower than the previous year, suggesting reduced profitability. The EBITDA margin of 10.93% in TTM reflects a solid operational efficiency despite declining revenue.
Balance Sheet
80
Positive
The balance sheet of Steel Dynamics is strong, with a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.48 in TTM, indicating moderate leverage. The equity ratio of 55.39% suggests a robust capital structure, providing a cushion against liabilities. Return on equity for TTM is 13.26%, showing a respectable return on shareholders' investment, though it has declined from previous periods.
Cash Flow
60
Neutral
The cash flow statement reveals some challenges with free cash flow being negative in TTM despite positive operating cash flow. The operating cash flow to net income ratio for TTM is 1.40, indicating solid cash generation relative to net income. However, the inability to generate positive free cash flow poses a risk and may affect future investments or debt repayments.
Breakdown
TTMDec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021Dec 2020
Income StatementTotal Revenue
17.22B17.54B18.80B22.26B18.41B9.60B
Gross Profit
2.30B2.80B4.05B6.12B5.36B1.43B
EBIT
1.47B1.94B3.15B5.09B4.30B847.14M
EBITDA
1.88B2.52B3.73B5.50B4.61B1.19B
Net Income Common Stockholders
1.17B1.54B2.45B3.86B3.21B550.82M
Balance SheetCash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments
1.21B737.27M2.12B2.26B1.24B1.37B
Total Assets
15.93B14.94B14.91B14.16B12.53B9.27B
Total Debt
4.20B3.23B3.20B3.07B3.11B3.10B
Net Debt
3.01B2.64B1.80B1.44B1.86B1.73B
Total Liabilities
7.10B5.99B6.07B6.06B6.21B4.92B
Stockholders Equity
8.82B8.93B8.87B8.13B6.30B4.35B
Cash FlowFree Cash Flow
-157.31M-23.50M1.86B3.55B1.20B-211.02M
Operating Cash Flow
1.64B1.84B3.52B4.46B2.20B987.03M
Investing Cash Flow
-1.19B-1.30B-1.97B-1.88B-999.42M-993.26M
Financing Cash Flow
-305.46M-1.35B-1.78B-2.20B-1.33B-7.05M

Steel Dynamics Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Positive
Last Price132.10
Price Trends
50DMA
126.53
Positive
100DMA
127.05
Positive
200DMA
126.57
Positive
Market Momentum
MACD
1.19
Negative
RSI
52.56
Neutral
STOCH
62.95
Neutral
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For STLD, the sentiment is Positive. The current price of 132.1 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 131.83, above the 50-day MA of 126.53, and above the 200-day MA of 126.57, indicating a bullish trend. The MACD of 1.19 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 52.56 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 62.95 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Positive 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 1 New Risks
1.
We may face risks associated with our ability to retain, develop and attract key personnel. Q4, 2024

Steel Dynamics Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (51)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
78
Outperform
$20.31B18.0913.08%1.39%-7.42%-48.08%
RSRS
78
Outperform
$16.21B22.1010.27%1.49%-5.60%-35.05%
NUNUE
70
Outperform
$28.23B21.786.54%1.79%-10.88%-66.97%
MTMT
67
Neutral
$25.14B17.982.60%1.47%-8.56%68.36%
PKPKX
66
Neutral
$12.99B21.141.64%3.55%-8.83%-43.85%
XX
58
Neutral
$12.17B182.480.86%0.37%-14.79%-88.78%
51
Neutral
$2.02B-1.12-21.36%3.65%2.87%-30.54%
* Basic Materials Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
STLD
Steel Dynamics
132.10
8.50
6.88%
MT
ArcelorMittal
30.55
5.83
23.58%
NUE
Nucor
118.75
-39.64
-25.03%
PKX
POSCO
47.68
-20.91
-30.49%
RS
Reliance Steel
307.07
24.57
8.70%
X
United States Steel
52.96
14.88
39.08%

Steel Dynamics Corporate Events

Executive/Board ChangesBusiness Operations and Strategy
Steel Dynamics Announces Leadership Transition in Aluminum Group
Neutral
May 12, 2025

On May 9, 2025, Steel Dynamics announced leadership transitions as Glenn Pushis will retire on October 1, 2025, to become CEO of McBride Capital Partners’ Project Aero, while continuing as a consultant for Steel Dynamics’ new aluminum facilities. Miguel Alvarez will take over as Senior Vice President Aluminum Group, overseeing the company’s aluminum operations and strategic investments. These changes reflect Steel Dynamics’ commitment to leadership development and its strategic focus on aluminum operations, which are expected to enhance its market positioning and operational capabilities.

The most recent analyst rating on (STLD) stock is a Buy with a $158.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Steel Dynamics stock, see the STLD Stock Forecast page.

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.