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Compared to Estimates, Steel Dynamics (STLD) Q3 Earnings: A Look at Key Metrics

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For the quarter ended September 2025, Steel Dynamics (STLD - Free Report) reported revenue of $4.83 billion, up 11.2% over the same period last year. EPS came in at $2.74, compared to $2.05 in the year-ago quarter.

The reported revenue compares to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $4.69 billion, representing a surprise of +2.93%. The company delivered an EPS surprise of +3.01%, with the consensus EPS estimate being $2.66.

While investors closely watch year-over-year changes in headline numbers -- revenue and earnings -- and how they compare to Wall Street expectations to determine their next course of action, some key metrics always provide a better insight into a company's underlying performance.

Since these metrics play a crucial role in driving the top- and bottom-line numbers, comparing them with the year-ago numbers and what analysts estimated about them helps investors better project a stock's price performance.

Here is how Steel Dynamics performed in the just reported quarter in terms of the metrics most widely monitored and projected by Wall Street analysts:
  • Steel - Average external sales price (Per ton): 1,119.00 $/ton versus 1,083.47 $/ton estimated by four analysts on average.
  • Steel Fabrication - Average sales price (Per ton): 2,495.00 $/ton versus 2,588.69 $/ton estimated by four analysts on average.
  • Steel - External Shipments (Tons): 3,162.81 KTon versus 3,017.60 KTon estimated by four analysts on average.
  • Steel Fabrication - Shipments (Tons): 151.56 KTon versus the four-analyst average estimate of 155.87 KTon.
  • Steel - Average ferrous cost (Per ton melted): 381.00 $/ton compared to the 377.81 $/ton average estimate based on four analysts.
  • Steel - Flat Roll shipments - Butler, Columbus and Sinton: 2,141.35 KTon versus the three-analyst average estimate of 2,104.92 KTon.
  • Metals Recycling - Ferrous shipments (Gross tons): 1,590.15 KTon versus 1,570.87 KTon estimated by three analysts on average.
  • External Net Sales- Steel: $3.54 billion compared to the $3.27 billion average estimate based on four analysts. The reported number represents a change of +21.3% year over year.
  • External Net Sales- Steel Fabrication: $377.68 million versus the four-analyst average estimate of $403.07 million. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of -15.6%.
  • External Net Sales- Metals Recycling: $520.99 million versus the four-analyst average estimate of $530.23 million. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of -7.9%.
  • External Net Sales- Other: $320.36 million versus the three-analyst average estimate of $396.62 million. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of -22.2%.
  • External Net Sales- Aluminum: $71.14 million compared to the $142.54 million average estimate based on three analysts.

View all Key Company Metrics for Steel Dynamics here>>>

Shares of Steel Dynamics have returned +2.5% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +1.1% change. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), indicating that it could perform in line with the broader market in the near term.

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