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Steel Dynamics (STLD) Reports Q3 Earnings: What Key Metrics Have to Say

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For the quarter ended September 2026, Steel Dynamics (STLD - Free Report) reported revenue of $6.51 billion, up 34.8% over the same period last year. EPS came in at $5.26, compared to $2.74 in the year-ago quarter.

The reported revenue represents a surprise of +6.6% over the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $6.11 billion. With the consensus EPS estimate being $5.42, the EPS surprise was -2.95%.

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.

As these metrics influence top- and bottom-line performance, comparing them to the year-ago numbers and what analysts estimated helps investors project a stock's price performance more accurately.

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): 1,400.00 $/ton compared to the 1,375.83 $/ton average estimate based on three analysts.
  • Steel Fabrication - Average sales price (Per ton): 2,462.00 $/ton versus the three-analyst average estimate of 2,458.26 $/ton.
  • Steel - External Shipments (Tons): 3,107.33 KTon versus 3,100.22 KTon estimated by three analysts on average.
  • Steel Fabrication - Shipments (Tons): 190.15 KTon versus 179.48 KTon estimated by three analysts on average.
  • Steel - Average ferrous cost (Per ton melted): 404.00 $/ton versus the three-analyst average estimate of 408.03 $/ton.
  • Steel - Flat Roll shipments - Butler, Columbus and Sinton: 2,024.20 KTon compared to the 2,066.50 KTon average estimate based on two analysts.
  • Metals Recycling - Ferrous shipments (Gross tons): 1,702.13 KTon versus 1,555.32 KTon estimated by two analysts on average.
  • External Net Sales- Steel Fabrication: $466.28 million compared to the $441.09 million average estimate based on three analysts. The reported number represents a change of +23.5% year over year.
  • External Net Sales- Metals Recycling: $614.78 million compared to the $557.07 million average estimate based on three analysts. The reported number represents a change of +18% year over year.
  • External Net Sales- Steel: $4.35 billion compared to the $4.27 billion average estimate based on three analysts. The reported number represents a change of +23% year over year.
  • External Net Sales- Other: $602.29 million compared to the $424.14 million average estimate based on two analysts. The reported number represents a change of +88% year over year.
  • External Net Sales- Aluminum: $475.7 million versus $555.76 million estimated by two analysts on average.

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

Shares of Steel Dynamics have returned +2.2% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +1.5% 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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