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The Zacks Analyst Blog Highlights: ArcelorMittal, Nucor Corp, Steel Dynamics, Schnitzer Steel Industries and Olympic Steel

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For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL – March 18, 2021 – Zacks.com announces the list of stocks featured in the Analyst Blog. Every day the Zacks Equity Research analysts discuss the latest news and events impacting stocks and the financial markets. Stocks recently featured in the blog include: ArcelorMittal (MT - Free Report) , Nucor Corporation (NUE - Free Report) , Steel Dynamics, Inc. (STLD - Free Report) , Schnitzer Steel Industries, Inc. and Olympic Steel, Inc. (ZEUS - Free Report) .

Here are highlights from Wednesday’s Analyst Blog:

Stocks to Play the Booming Steel Industry

The steel industry is one that is favorably correlated to strength in both the construction and auto sectors. And as we have seen in the last few months, there are multiple tailwinds driving these two sectors.

Additionally, steel is also used to build factory and farm machinery, as well as household appliances, packaging and many other things. So the expected broader recovery is also a positive for steel.

Domestic steel producers also enjoy the protection of tariffs on steel imports established by the Trump administration back in 2018. Biden may or may not continue these tariffs, but four steel organizations including the AISI, the Steel Manufacturers Association and the United Steelworkers union have already written to him saying that a weakening of these measures in the face of significant overcapacity at steel producing countries as well as subsidies and other trade distorting policies will invite a surge in imports with devastating effects to domestic steel producers and their workers.

Meanwhile, strong demand, declining imports, as well as COVID-related factory shutdowns and operating restrictions have led to robust steel prices. While capacity utilization at steel factories has risen over the past year, at 77.4% in the week ending Mar 6, it is not notably higher than the pre-pandemic year-ago level of 76.2%.

Biden's poll promises also included a massive $2 trillion in infrastructure spending to repair and rebuild the country's roads and bridges. But the Democrats' goal of including clean energy investments in this could hold things up at the Senate. With the fresh stimulus out of the way, the government is widely expected to focus on infrastructure next. And any big push in infrastructure will be a big boost to steel.

So given the strong outlook for steel companies, it isn't surprising that there are many buying opportunities among steel producers. The industry itself carries a Zacks Rank of 7 out of 250+ Zacks-classified industries, which places it in the top 3%.

#1 (Strong Buy) ranked ArcelorMittal has a Value Score A, Growth Score B and Momentum Score B.

Luxembourg-based ArcelorMittal is the world's leading steel and mining company with cost competitive steel plants across both the developed and developing world. It has a presence in more than 60 countries. It caters to the automotive, household appliances, packaging and construction markets.

Revenue and earnings are currently expected to grow 9.2% and 714.3% in 2021 before dropping off in 2022.

#1 (Strong Buy) ranked Nucor Corp. has a Value Score B, Growth Score B and Momentum Score A.

Charlotte, NC-based Nucor is a leading producer of structural steel, steel bars, steel joists, steel deck and cold finished bars in the U.S. It also produces direct reduced iron ("DRI") that is used in its steel mills. The company has 123 operating facilities, primarily in the U.S. and Canada. Most of its operating facilities and customers are in North America.

Revenue and earnings are currently expected to grow 34.2% and 90.4% in 2021 and then decline in 2022.

#1 (Strong Buy) ranked Steel Dynamics has a Value Score B, Growth Score C and Momentum Score A.

Fort Wayne, IN-based Steel Dynamics is among the leading steel producers and metal recyclers in the United States with steelmaking and coating capacity of more than 11 million tons. The company sells steel products, recycled ferrous and nonferrous metals, as well as steel joist and decking products in the U.S. and internationally.

Revenue and earnings are currently expected to grow 26.0% and 90.9% in 2021 before dropping off in 2022.

#1 (Strong Buy) ranked Schnitzer Steel Industries has a Value Score C, Growth Score B and Momentum Score A.

Schnitzer Steel collects, processes and recycles metals by operating one of the largest metals recycling businesses in the United States. It also manufactures finished steel products at its technologically advanced steel mini-mill.

Revenue and earnings are currently expected to grow 42.8% and 690.7% in 2021 before dropping off in 2022.

#1 (Strong Buy) ranked Olympic Steel has a Value Score A, Growth Score A and Momentum Score A.

It is a leading U.S. metals service center focused on the direct sale and distribution of large volumes of processed carbon, coated and stainless flat-rolled sheet, coil and plate steel and aluminum products. Its CTI subsidiary is a leading distributor of steel tubing, bar, pipe, valves and fittings, as well as the fabrication of pressure parts for the electric utility industry.

Earnings are currently expected to grow 843.2% in 2021 and then decline in 2022. Revenue growth estimates aren't available.

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Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Inherent in any investment is the potential for loss. This material is being provided for informational purposes only and nothing herein constitutes investment, legal, accounting or tax advice, or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold a security. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. It should not be assumed that any investments in securities, companies, sectors or markets identified and described were or will be profitable. All information is current as of the date of herein and is subject to change without notice. Any views or opinions expressed may not reflect those of the firm as a whole. Zacks Investment Research does not engage in investment banking, market making or asset management activities of any securities. These returns are from hypothetical portfolios consisting of stocks with Zacks Rank = 1 that were rebalanced monthly with zero transaction costs. These are not the returns of actual portfolios of stocks. The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index. Visit https://www.zacks.com/performance for information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release.

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