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Steel Dynamics' Q3 Earnings and Revenues Beat Expectations

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Steel Dynamics, Inc. (STLD - Free Report) logged third-quarter 2024 earnings of $2.05 per share, down from $3.47 in the year-ago quarter. The figure surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.98.

Find the latest EPS estimates and surprises on Zacks Earnings Calendar.

Net sales in the reported quarter were down around 5% year over year to $4,341.6 million. The top line beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $4,251.3 million. While underlying steel demand was steady in the quarter, STLD’s results were impacted by lower average realized steel prices.

Steel Dynamics, Inc. Stock Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise

Steel Dynamics, Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise

Steel Dynamics, Inc. price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | Steel Dynamics, Inc. Quote

Lower Prices Hurt STLD’s Steel Operations 

Steel Dynamics’ net sales from steel operations totaled $2,917 million in the reported quarter, down roughly 8% year over year. Steel shipments amounted to around 3.2 million tons, modestly higher than the previous year's roughly 3.1 million tons. It was below our estimate of 3.25 million tons. The average external selling price per ton was $1,059, down from $1,191 in the same quarter last year and below our estimate of $1,124 per ton.

Operating income for STLD's steel operations in the third quarter was $305 million, down roughly 37% year over year. It was also down sequentially due to a greater decline in realized selling prices compared to scrap costs during the quarter.

Net sales for metals recycling operations reached $565.6 million, rising around 9% year over year. Ferrous shipments totaled around 1.46 million gross tons, above our forecast of 1.44 million.

STLD's steel fabrication operations reported sales of around $447.3 million, down around 29% from the previous year’s tally. Shipments amounted to 158,595 tons, which exceeded our estimate of 139,703 tons.

Steel Dynamics’ Financial Position

Steel Dynamics ended the quarter with cash and cash equivalents of around $1,015.2 million, up roughly 22% from the prior quarter. Long-term debt was roughly $2,801.9 million, up around 27% sequentially. STLD ended the quarter with strong liquidity of $3.1 billion.

STLD repurchased $310 million of its common stock in the quarter, accounting for 1.6% of its outstanding shares.

STLD’s Outlook

Steel Dynamics anticipates steel prices to recover with an expected lower domestic interest rate environment, coupled with positive impacts from continuing onshoring of manufacturing businesses and the expectation of significant fixed asset investment from public funding associated with the U.S. Infrastructure, Inflation Reduction Act, and Department of Energy programs. 

STLD also expects current trade actions to reduce volumes of unfairly traded steel imports into the United States, including for coated flat-rolled steel. This is expected to have a significant positive impact on the company, as it is the largest non-automotive flat rolled steel coater in the United States. 

The company also noted that its four new flat-rolled steel coating lines, which started operation earlier this year, continue to increase production. With increasing production, STLD expects to realize the additional earnings potential in 2025. It is also progressing with the construction of its aluminum flat-rolled products mill and plans to begin operating the mill in mid-2025.

STLD Stock's Price Performance

Shares of Steel Dynamics have gained 25.6% in the past year compared with the Zacks Steel Producers indudstry's  2.1% decline.

 

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STLD’s Zacks Rank & Other Key Picks

STLD currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).

Better-ranked stocks in the Basic Materials space are IAMGOLD Corporation (IAG - Free Report) , Cabot Corporation (CBT - Free Report) and The Sherwin-Williams Company (SHW - Free Report) . While IAMGOLD sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), Cabot and Sherwin-Williams carry a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

IAMGOLD is scheduled to release third-quarter results on Nov. 7. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for IAG’s third-quarter earnings is pegged at 11 cents. IAG beat the consensus estimate in each of the last four quarters with the average surprise being 200%. Its shares have shot up roughly 117% in the past year. 

Cabot is slated to release fiscal fourth-quarter results on Nov. 4. The consensus estimate for CBT’s fiscal fourth-quarter earnings is pegged at $1.82. The company's shares have rallied roughly 67% in the past year. 

Sherwin-Williams is scheduled to release third-quarter results on Oct. 22. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for SHW’s third-quarter earnings is pegged at $3.56. SHW has gained around 61% in the past year.

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