Steel Dynamics, Inc. (STLD)
Steel Dynamics is a major American steel producer that turns scrap metal into finished steel products for construction, automotive, and industrial use.
Is Steel Dynamics, Inc. a good stock for a UK beginner?
The honest version: Steel Dynamics is a major American steel producer that turns scrap metal into finished steel products for construction, automotive, and industrial use.
Over about 2 years to 2026-07-31. This is the share price only - reinvesting the dividends would add to it. And it's the USD return - as a UK investor your actual £ return also moves with the exchange rate. Past performance is not a guide to the future, and it could just as easily have fallen.
Based on beta - how much the price swings versus the whole market. Bumpier isn't bad; it just means a rougher ride, which matters more the sooner you might need the money.
Prices move on results, news and the mood of the whole market - no single headline explains a day, and a quiet week is usually just noise, not a signal.
Long-term shift toward green steel production gives them a competitive edge.
A prolonged economic recession significantly dampens industrial activity.
What does Steel Dynamics, Inc. do?
Steel Dynamics operates by recycling scrap metal into high-quality steel, which is a more energy-efficient and cost-effective way to produce metal than traditional methods. Selling these steel products to various industries is what pays the bills, meaning their success is closely tied to how busy the construction and manufacturing sectors are. A lot rides on how they handle the fluctuating costs of raw materials and the overall demand for steel in the US economy.
On our factor screen it looks strongest on growth and momentum, and weakest on quality.
- ✓Pays a dividend - about 0.8% a year
- ✓Growing - revenue up about 33% over the year
- ✓Strong return on shareholder money (ROE 18%)
- Growth screens high (85/100)
- Momentum screens high (80/100)
- Uses a more efficient recycling-based production model
- Strong recent growth in earnings
- Well-positioned to benefit from domestic infrastructure investment
- Fluctuations in the price of scrap metal and energy
- Potential for cheaper steel imports to undercut prices
- Dependence on the health of the construction and automotive industries
What do Steel Dynamics, Inc.'s numbers mean?
How much money does Steel Dynamics, Inc. make?
Revenue and profit by quarter, and how much of each sale turns into profit.
Does Steel Dynamics, Inc. pay a dividend?
Yes - Steel Dynamics, Inc. currently pays a dividend of about 0.8% a year (the yearly payout as a share of the price). A dividend is a slice of profit handed to shareholders; the yield moves as the price moves, and a company can cut or stop it.
When does Steel Dynamics, Inc. report earnings, and how did recent quarters go?
Steel Dynamics, Inc. is next scheduled to report on about 2026-10-19 - dates can move, and we don't predict results; this just tells you when to look.
Each quarter a company reports its results against what analysts expected. ‘Beating’ or ‘missing’ is about that expectation, not whether the business is doing well in absolute terms.
| Reported | Expected EPS: The earnings per share analysts expected for the quarter - the average of their forecasts. 'Beating' or 'missing' is measured against this number. | Actual EPS | vs expected |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-07-20 | $3.67 | $3.69 | In line |
| 2026-04-20 | $2.79 | $2.78 | In line |
| 2026-01-26 | $1.69 | $1.82 | Beat +8% |
| 2025-10-20 | $2.63 | $2.74 | Beat +4% |
| 2025-07-21 | $2.08 | $2.01 | Missed -3% |
| 2025-04-22 | $1.38 | $1.44 | Beat +4% |
Across the last 6 quarters here, Steel Dynamics, Inc. came in ahead of what analysts expected 3 times. One quarter is noise, not a trend.
See who else reports over the next two weeks →
Reported vs expected earnings per share (EPS) from published results; the expectation is the analyst consensus, not our view. Report dates are estimates that can move.
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Albemarle CorporationWhat are the scenarios for Steel Dynamics, Inc.?
An illustrative range for the year ahead, with the assumption behind each case — not a prediction or a price target.
What are the pros and cons of Steel Dynamics, Inc.?
How many points the write-up makes each way — a balance check, not a score or verdict.
- Uses a more efficient recycling-based production model
- Strong recent growth in earnings
- Well-positioned to benefit from domestic infrastructure investment
- Business is highly sensitive to economic cycles
- Profit margins are relatively thin
- Share price can be quite jumpy compared to the rest of the market
- Fluctuations in the price of scrap metal and energy
- Potential for cheaper steel imports to undercut prices
- Dependence on the health of the construction and automotive industries
The write-up's own warning lights — if these start happening, the case above changes.
- A major, sustained drop in US construction and manufacturing activity
- Significant regulatory changes that make recycling steel more expensive
Built from public filings & market prices, checked for an education-only tone, and never a price target. How we make these →
This plain-English summary was auto-generated on 2026-08-01 from public data and checked for an education-only, no-advice tone (the figures above carry their own, usually fresher, 'as of' date). It's information, never a recommendation.