Steel Dynamics (NASDAQ:STLD) Hits New 12-Month High Following Earnings Beat

Steel Dynamics, Inc. (NASDAQ:STLD)’s share price reached a new 52-week high during trading on Tuesday after the company announced better than expected quarterly earnings. The stock traded as high as $185.56 and last traded at $173.32, with a volume of 2190687 shares. The stock had previously closed at $181.32.

The basic materials company reported $1.82 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.72 by $0.10. The business had revenue of $4.41 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.62 billion. Steel Dynamics had a return on equity of 13.58% and a net margin of 6.52%.The company’s revenue was up 14.0% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $1.36 EPS.

Steel Dynamics Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, January 9th. Investors of record on Wednesday, December 31st were paid a dividend of $0.50 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, December 31st. This represents a $2.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.1%. Steel Dynamics’s dividend payout ratio is presently 26.49%.

Steel Dynamics News Roundup

Here are the key news stories impacting Steel Dynamics this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Q4 EPS beat and margin resilience — STLD reported $1.82 EPS vs. $1.72 consensus and held margins thanks to lower scrap costs, supporting near-term profitability. Steel Dynamics (STLD) Q4 Earnings Top Estimates
• Positive Sentiment: Record shipments and aluminum ramp — Management reported record steel shipments and early commercial aluminum production that is already EBITDA-positive, creating a new growth vector beyond steel. Steel Dynamics Smashes 52-Week High On Record Steel Shipments
• Positive Sentiment: Capital-return strategy intact — Company emphasizes aggressive share buybacks and steady dividend growth supported by cash flow, which boosts EPS per share over time. Steel Dynamics Reinforces Outlook: Higher Highs Coming
• Neutral Sentiment: Revenue miss — Q4 revenue of ~$4.41B missed consensus (~$4.62B), indicating some top-line pressure from weaker recycling and fabrication segments despite overall volume strength. Steel Dynamics Tops Q4 Earnings, Misses Revenue Estimates
• Neutral Sentiment: Outlook but no firm 2026 guidance — Management sounded constructive on demand and margins but did not give explicit 2026 guidance, leaving some uncertainty on pacing of recovery. Steel Dynamics Reinforces Outlook: Higher Highs Coming
• Negative Sentiment: Valuation questions — Several analysts note free cash flow is inflecting but valuation looks full, which could limit further multiple expansion absent clearer top-line traction. Steel Dynamics: Free Cash Flow Inflecting, But Valuation Is Full
• Negative Sentiment: Profit-taking / distribution risk — Coverage notes rising institutional distribution and short interest that could cap near-term gains and explain intraday pullbacks despite the EPS beat. Steel Dynamics Falls on Earnings Beat. It Still Offers Hope for the Sector in 2026.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several brokerages have recently issued reports on STLD. KeyCorp restated an “overweight” rating and set a $190.00 target price on shares of Steel Dynamics in a research report on Wednesday, January 7th. BMO Capital Markets boosted their price objective on Steel Dynamics from $155.00 to $167.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 22nd. Morgan Stanley reaffirmed an “equal weight” rating and issued a $194.00 price objective (up from $173.00) on shares of Steel Dynamics in a research note on Friday, January 9th. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their target price on Steel Dynamics from $172.00 to $190.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Monday, December 15th. Finally, Citigroup increased their price target on Steel Dynamics from $150.00 to $180.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, October 29th. Five analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and six have assigned a Hold rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $182.00.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Steel Dynamics

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the business. Cornerstone Planning Group LLC increased its stake in Steel Dynamics by 1,636.4% in the third quarter. Cornerstone Planning Group LLC now owns 191 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $27,000 after purchasing an additional 180 shares during the period. Sound Income Strategies LLC grew its holdings in shares of Steel Dynamics by 1,500.0% in the fourth quarter. Sound Income Strategies LLC now owns 160 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $28,000 after purchasing an additional 150 shares during the last quarter. Trust Co. of Toledo NA OH purchased a new position in Steel Dynamics in the 2nd quarter worth about $30,000. Rosenberg Matthew Hamilton lifted its holdings in Steel Dynamics by 306.2% during the 2nd quarter. Rosenberg Matthew Hamilton now owns 264 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $34,000 after buying an additional 199 shares in the last quarter. Finally, True Wealth Design LLC lifted its holdings in Steel Dynamics by 120.4% during the 2nd quarter. True Wealth Design LLC now owns 324 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $41,000 after buying an additional 177 shares in the last quarter. 82.41% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Steel Dynamics Stock Performance

The company has a current ratio of 3.11, a quick ratio of 1.47 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.43. The company has a market capitalization of $25.65 billion, a PE ratio of 21.93, a PEG ratio of 0.73 and a beta of 1.48. The firm’s 50-day simple moving average is $170.50 and its 200-day simple moving average is $149.67.

Steel Dynamics Company Profile

Steel Dynamics, Inc is a U.S.-based, diversified steel producer and metals recycler that operates an integrated network of mini-mills, finishing lines and fabrication facilities. Founded in 1993 and headquartered in Fort Wayne, Indiana, the company manufactures a broad range of steel products and provides downstream processing, coating and fabrication services to industrial customers. Its operations combine steelmaking using electric-arc furnaces with extensive metals recycling capabilities, allowing Steel Dynamics to convert scrap ferrous and nonferrous materials into finished steel products.

The company’s product portfolio includes flat-rolled steel (coiled and sheet products), structural steel and fabricated components, along with coated and painted steel used in consumer, industrial and construction applications.