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United States Steel (X)
NYSE:X

United States Steel (X) AI Stock Analysis

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X

United States Steel

(NYSE:X)

Rating:64Neutral
Price Target:
$56.00
▲(2.12%Upside)
The score reflects a mix of strong technical indicators and a stable balance sheet, countered by operational challenges and a high P/E ratio suggesting overvaluation. The potential positive impact of a strategic partnership is tempered by legal uncertainties.
Positive Factors
Earnings and Financial Performance
US Steel reported adjusted EBITDA of $172m, beating estimates and prior guidance due to better-than-expected results in the Flat Rolled and European operations.
Investment and Modernization
Nippon will invest $14B in US Steel, including significant funds to modernize mills, expand mines, and build new facilities, which should create or save around 100,000 jobs.
Strategic Transformation
US Steel's transformation into a hybrid integrated/mini-mill producer positions the company better for the long term.
Negative Factors
Debt and Financial Burden
Net debt for US Steel increased to $3.56bn, which is more than three times the trailing twelve months EBITDA, due to elevated capital expenditures and a large working capital build.
Operational Challenges
US Steel's blast furnaces are required to run at full capacity for a minimum of ten years, which is viewed negatively for fundamentals over the medium- to long-term.
Partnership Complexity
A more complex partnership could lead to slightly less value for X shareholders.

United States Steel (X) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

United States Steel Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionUnited States Steel Corporation, commonly known as U.S. Steel, is a prominent integrated steel producer headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The company operates across multiple sectors, primarily focusing on the production and sale of steel products. Its core products include flat-rolled and tubular steel products which are critical components in various industries such as automotive, construction, appliance, energy, containers, and packaging. U.S. Steel is committed to innovating in sustainable steel production and advancing technologies to meet the evolving needs of its customers.
How the Company Makes MoneyU.S. Steel generates revenue primarily through the manufacturing and sale of steel products. The company's key revenue streams include the production and distribution of flat-rolled steel products, which are used extensively in the automotive and appliance industries, and tubular products, which serve the energy sector. Additionally, U.S. Steel engages in the sale of raw materials, such as iron ore and coke, which are essential in steelmaking. The company also enters into strategic partnerships and joint ventures to enhance its market reach and leverage technological advancements, contributing to its earnings. Moreover, U.S. Steel's focus on operational efficiency and cost management plays a significant role in maintaining profitability.

United States Steel Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:May 01, 2025
(Q4-2023)
|
% Change Since: 26.33%|
Next Earnings Date:Jul 24, 2025
Earnings Call Sentiment Positive
The earnings call reflects a strong financial performance for 2023, with positive momentum and strategic initiatives in place for future growth. The merger with Nippon Steel Corporation is positioned as a transformative deal. However, challenges remain with lower steel prices impacting certain segments and anticipated difficulties in the European market.
Q4-2023 Updates
Positive Updates
Strong Financial Performance in 2023
U.S. Steel reported net earnings of $895 million or $3.56 per diluted share for the full year 2023. Fourth quarter adjusted net earnings were $167 million or $0.67 per diluted share, with adjusted EBITDA of $330 million.
Record Safety Year
The company achieved another record safety year, highlighting a strong commitment to safety and operational excellence.
Strategic Projects and Capital Expenditure
Continued support for the strategic projects with $425 million of strategic CapEx spent in the fourth quarter. The company maintained a strong balance sheet with $5.2 billion of total liquidity.
Merger with Nippon Steel Corporation
Announcement of a merger with Nippon Steel Corporation valued at $55 per share in all-cash transaction, expected to close in the second or third quarter of 2024.
Improved Mini Mill Segment Performance
The Mini Mill segment showed strong results with a 19% EBITDA margin in December, indicating rising steel prices and improving profitability.
Positive Outlook for Q1 2024
The company expects a sequential improvement in Q1 EBITDA for the Flat-Rolled segment and a sizable improvement for the Mini Mill segment.
Negative Updates
Lower Steel Prices Impact Flat-Rolled Segment
The Flat-Rolled segment experienced lower EBITDA due to lower steel prices, with startup costs affecting the results.
Challenges in European Segment
The European segment delivered only $3 million of EBITDA, with lower sales prices and unfavorable mix impacting results.
Expected Decrease in Tubular Segment
A decrease in both volumes and pricing is expected to drive lower sequential EBITDA in the Tubular segment for the first quarter of 2024.
Company Guidance
In the fourth quarter of 2023, U.S. Steel reported strong financial performance, achieving net earnings of $895 million for the full year, equating to $3.56 per diluted share. The fourth quarter alone saw adjusted net earnings of $167 million, or $0.67 per diluted share, and an adjusted EBITDA of $330 million. This performance was bolstered by improvements across the Mini Mill and Tubular segments and favorable year-end inventory adjustments in the North American Flat-Rolled segment. Additionally, $425 million was spent on strategic capital expenditures, contributing to a negative free cash flow of $244 million. U.S. Steel ended the year with a robust total liquidity of $5.2 billion, including $2.9 billion in cash, and maintained a low leverage ratio of 2x adjusted gross debt to EBITDA. Looking ahead, the company anticipates first-quarter 2024 adjusted EBITDA to range between $400 million and $450 million, driven by rising steel prices and strategic contract negotiations, despite anticipated challenges in their European and Tubular segments.

United States Steel Financial Statement Overview

Summary
The financial performance of U.S. Steel shows resilience despite challenges. The income statement reveals a decline in revenue and a negative EBIT, pointing to operational inefficiencies, but a positive net income indicates some resilience. The balance sheet is strong with a low debt-to-equity ratio and solid equity, while cash flow analysis highlights negative free cash flow due to high capital expenditures, which needs attention.
Income Statement
62
Positive
The income statement shows a mixed performance. The company experienced a decline in revenue from $20.2 billion in 2021 to $15.2 billion in TTM (Trailing-Twelve-Months), indicating a challenging market environment. Gross profit margin decreased, and the company reported a negative EBIT, reflecting operational inefficiencies. However, the net income remained positive at $97 million, showing some resilience. The company must focus on improving operational efficiency and revenue growth to enhance profitability.
Balance Sheet
75
Positive
The balance sheet is relatively strong, with a significant stockholders' equity of $16 billion in TTM, providing a solid foundation. The debt-to-equity ratio is low, suggesting prudent financial leverage. The equity ratio is robust at 79.7%, indicating a strong capital structure. However, the company should focus on optimizing asset utilization to drive better returns.
Cash Flow
55
Neutral
Cash flow analysis reveals challenges as the free cash flow is negative at -$1.43 billion in TTM. Despite this, the operating cash flow remains positive, indicating the company's core operations are generating cash. The negative free cash flow, primarily due to high capital expenditures, requires attention to ensure sustainable cash generation.
Breakdown
TTMDec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021Dec 2020
Income StatementTotal Revenue
15.19B15.64B18.05B21.07B20.27B9.74B
Gross Profit
1.10B1.58B2.25B4.29B5.74B183.00M
EBIT
-107.00M240.00M1.90B3.31B4.44B-823.00M
EBITDA
1.06B1.38B2.04B4.21B5.45B-384.00M
Net Income Common Stockholders
97.00M384.00M895.00M2.52B4.17B-1.17B
Balance SheetCash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments
594.00M1.37B2.95B3.50B2.52B1.99B
Total Assets
20.08B20.23B20.45B19.46B17.82B12.06B
Total Debt
150.00M4.25B4.34B4.08B4.03B5.05B
Net Debt
-444.00M2.88B1.39B578.00M1.50B3.06B
Total Liabilities
4.08B8.79B9.31B9.15B8.71B8.18B
Stockholders Equity
16.01B11.35B11.05B10.22B9.01B3.79B
Cash FlowFree Cash Flow
-1.43B-1.37B-476.00M1.74B3.23B-587.00M
Operating Cash Flow
573.00M919.00M2.10B3.50B4.09B138.00M
Investing Cash Flow
-1.99B-2.28B-2.57B-1.68B-840.00M-563.00M
Financing Cash Flow
-203.00M-199.00M-98.00M-868.00M-2.75B1.58B

United States Steel Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Positive
Last Price54.84
Price Trends
50DMA
45.94
Positive
100DMA
42.39
Positive
200DMA
39.28
Positive
Market Momentum
MACD
2.64
Positive
RSI
69.60
Neutral
STOCH
74.07
Neutral
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For X, the sentiment is Positive. The current price of 54.84 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 51.75, above the 50-day MA of 45.94, and above the 200-day MA of 39.28, indicating a bullish trend. The MACD of 2.64 indicates Positive momentum. The RSI at 69.60 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 74.07 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Positive sentiment for X.

United States Steel Risk Analysis

United States Steel disclosed 29 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. United States Steel reported the most risks in the "Finance & Corporate" category.
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy
Latest Risks Added 0 New Risks

United States Steel Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (51)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
NUNUE
73
Outperform
$28.20B21.766.54%1.74%-10.88%-66.97%
72
Outperform
$19.77B17.6013.08%1.50%-7.42%-48.08%
MTMT
67
Neutral
$25.42B18.062.60%0.76%-8.56%68.36%
XX
64
Neutral
$12.42B186.150.86%0.36%-14.79%-88.78%
TXTX
58
Neutral
$5.91B73.52-2.75%11.95%-10.20%-152.18%
51
Neutral
$2.01B-1.27-21.11%5.15%2.92%-30.46%
CLCLF
48
Neutral
$3.79B-17.57%-15.00%-423.14%
* Basic Materials Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
X
United States Steel
54.84
18.00
48.86%
MT
ArcelorMittal
30.68
7.06
29.89%
CLF
Cleveland-Cliffs
7.33
-7.34
-50.03%
NUE
Nucor
126.18
-28.08
-18.20%
STLD
Steel Dynamics
130.11
6.35
5.13%
TX
Ternium SA
30.13
-3.46
-10.30%

United States Steel Corporate Events

Business Operations and StrategyRegulatory Filings and Compliance
United States Steel Enters National Security Agreement
Neutral
Jun 18, 2025

On June 13, 2025, United States Steel entered into a National Security Agreement with the U.S. Government, granting the government a ‘Golden Share’ that provides certain rights over non-ordinary course matters, including governance and trade. Additionally, the company executed supplemental indentures related to its Convertible Notes and Senior Notes, affecting the conversion and purchase rights of note holders, with significant implications for the company’s financial structure and stakeholder interests.

The most recent analyst rating on (X) stock is a Hold with a $39.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on United States Steel stock, see the X Stock Forecast page.

Business Operations and StrategyRegulatory Filings and Compliance
United States Steel Announces Historic Partnership
Positive
Jun 16, 2025

On June 13, 2025, United States Steel Corporation and Nippon Steel Corporation announced a historic partnership approved by President Trump, which aims to invest $11 billion in American steelmaking by 2028. This partnership, celebrated on May 30, 2025, is expected to protect and create over 100,000 jobs, and includes a national security agreement with the U.S. government, ensuring compliance with domestic production and trade commitments.

The most recent analyst rating on (X) stock is a Hold with a $39.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on United States Steel stock, see the X Stock Forecast page.

M&A TransactionsLegal Proceedings
U.S. Steel and Nippon Steel Await Court Decision
Negative
Jun 6, 2025

On December 18, 2023, United States Steel Corporation entered into a merger agreement with Nippon Steel North America, but the transaction was prohibited by President Biden on January 3, 2025. Subsequently, a lawsuit was filed challenging the decision. Following a Presidential Memorandum by President Trump on April 6, 2025, the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) was directed to review the transaction, leading to ongoing discussions to resolve the issue. As of June 5, 2025, the U.S. Department of Justice filed a motion to extend the litigation abeyance, with the company and Nippon Steel consenting to the motion, pending court approval.

The most recent analyst rating on (X) stock is a Hold with a $35.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on United States Steel stock, see the X Stock Forecast page.

Executive/Board ChangesShareholder Meetings
United States Steel Approves Key Amendments at Annual Meeting
Neutral
May 9, 2025

On May 6, 2025, United States Steel Corporation held its Annual Meeting of Stockholders, where several key decisions were made. The stockholders approved the amendment of the company’s Certificate of Incorporation to allow for limited officer exculpation and elected ten directors for a term expiring in 2026. Additionally, the amendment and restatement of the 2016 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan were approved, increasing the shares of common stock issuable by 9,730,000. The appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as the independent registered public accounting firm for 2024 was also ratified.

M&A TransactionsLegal Proceedings
United States Steel Files Lawsuit Over Blocked Merger
Negative
Apr 8, 2025

On December 18, 2023, United States Steel Corporation entered into a Merger Agreement with Nippon Steel North America, Inc., and its subsidiaries. However, on January 3, 2025, President Biden issued an order prohibiting the merger, prompting the company and Nippon Steel Corporation to file a lawsuit challenging the order. Subsequently, President Trump directed a de novo review of the merger by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) to assess national security risks, with a recommendation expected by May 21, 2025.

Business Operations and StrategyFinancial Disclosures
United States Steel Projects Q1 2025 Financial Guidance
Neutral
Mar 20, 2025

On March 20, 2025, United States Steel Corporation announced its first quarter 2025 financial guidance, projecting adjusted net earnings per diluted share between ($0.53) and ($0.49), and an adjusted EBITDA of approximately $125 million. The company highlighted improvements in its Mini Mill segment due to increased volumes from Big River Steel and Big River 2, while the European segment showed better pricing but faced subdued demand. The Tubular segment is under pressure from weak pricing, yet future improvements are anticipated. The company also praised President Trump’s tariff policies and its partnership with Nippon Steel, indicating a positive outlook for its future operations.

Glossary
BuyA stock rated as a "Buy" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
HoldA stock rated as a "Hold" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly compelling nor unfavorable for investment. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
SellA stock rated as a "Sell" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock may deliver lower returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.

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.