Q1 EPS Estimates for Steel Dynamics Cut by Zacks Research

Steel Dynamics, Inc. (NASDAQ:STLD) – Research analysts at Zacks Research reduced their Q1 2025 earnings per share (EPS) estimates for Steel Dynamics in a report issued on Wednesday, March 19th. Zacks Research analyst R. Department now anticipates that the basic materials company will post earnings of $1.39 per share for the quarter, down from their prior forecast of $1.41. The consensus estimate for Steel Dynamics’ current full-year earnings is $9.01 per share. Zacks Research also issued estimates for Steel Dynamics’ FY2027 earnings at $13.36 EPS.

A number of other research firms also recently weighed in on STLD. Wolfe Research upgraded shares of Steel Dynamics from an “underperform” rating to a “peer perform” rating in a report on Thursday, February 27th. The Goldman Sachs Group initiated coverage on Steel Dynamics in a research note on Monday, December 2nd. They set a “neutral” rating and a $155.00 target price for the company. Morgan Stanley raised shares of Steel Dynamics from an “equal weight” rating to an “overweight” rating and upped their price objective for the company from $145.00 to $158.00 in a research report on Friday, March 7th. StockNews.com upgraded Steel Dynamics from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Thursday, March 6th. Finally, UBS Group reaffirmed a “neutral” rating and set a $149.00 price objective (up from $145.00) on shares of Steel Dynamics in a report on Thursday, December 12th. Six investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $148.56.

Steel Dynamics Price Performance

NASDAQ STLD opened at $122.67 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 1.08, a current ratio of 2.53 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32. The stock has a market capitalization of $18.39 billion, a PE ratio of 12.52, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.05 and a beta of 1.34. Steel Dynamics has a 12-month low of $104.60 and a 12-month high of $155.56. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $128.22 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $128.10.

Steel Dynamics (NASDAQ:STLD) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, January 22nd. The basic materials company reported $1.36 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.69 by ($0.33). Steel Dynamics had a net margin of 8.76% and a return on equity of 17.32%. During the same period last year, the business earned $2.61 EPS.

Steel Dynamics Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, April 11th. Investors of record on Monday, March 31st will be issued a dividend of $0.50 per share. This represents a $2.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.63%. This is a boost from Steel Dynamics’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.46. The ex-dividend date is Monday, March 31st. Steel Dynamics’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 20.41%.

Steel Dynamics declared that its board has approved a share buyback program on Monday, February 24th that allows the company to buyback $1.50 billion in shares. This buyback authorization allows the basic materials company to repurchase up to 7.4% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback programs are often an indication that the company’s board of directors believes its stock is undervalued.

Insider Activity at Steel Dynamics

In other Steel Dynamics news, SVP Glenn Pushis sold 23,649 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, February 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $134.67, for a total value of $3,184,810.83. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now directly owns 122,140 shares in the company, valued at approximately $16,448,593.80. This trade represents a 16.22 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. 6.00% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Steel Dynamics

Several hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in STLD. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC lifted its stake in shares of Steel Dynamics by 105.2% in the 4th quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC now owns 20,907 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $2,385,000 after purchasing an additional 10,716 shares during the period. PKO Investment Management Joint Stock Co bought a new stake in Steel Dynamics during the 4th quarter worth approximately $570,000. Park Square Financial Group LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Steel Dynamics during the fourth quarter worth $45,000. Universal Beteiligungs und Servicegesellschaft mbH bought a new stake in shares of Steel Dynamics in the fourth quarter valued at about $10,786,000. Finally, Polar Asset Management Partners Inc. bought a new stake in Steel Dynamics in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $2,703,000. Institutional investors own 82.41% of the company’s stock.

About Steel Dynamics

Steel Dynamics, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a steel producer and metal recycler in the United States. The Steel Operations segment offers hot rolled, cold rolled, and coated steel products; parallel flange beams and channel sections, flat bars, large unequal leg angles, and reinforcing steel bars, as well as standard strength carbon, intermediate alloy hardness, and premium grade rail products; engineered special-bar-quality products, merchant-bar-quality products, and other engineered round steel bars; channels, angles, flats, merchant rounds, and reinforcing steel bars; and specialty shapes and light structural steel products.