Zacks Industry Outlook Highlights Steel Dynamics, Commercial Metals, Companhia Siderurgica Nacional

In This Article:

For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL – November 5, 2024 – Today, Zacks Equity Research discusses Steel Dynamics, Inc. STLD, Commercial Metals Co. CMC and Companhia Siderurgica Nacional SID.

Industry: Steel

Link: https://www.zacks.com/commentary/2363013/3-steel-producer-stocks-to-watch-amid-industry-headwinds

The Zacks Steel Producers industry is mired in significant challenges as steel prices have experienced a sharp decline in the United States and globally this year. Soft demand in China amid an economic slowdown is also a concern.

However, improved demand in the automotive space and a resilient non-residential construction market augur well for the industry. Players from the space, like Steel Dynamics, Inc., Commercial Metals Co. and Companhia Siderurgica Nacional, are worth a look despite near-term headwinds.

About the Industry

The Zacks Steel Producers industry serves a vast spectrum of end-use industries such as automotive, construction, appliance, container, packaging, industrial machinery, mining equipment, transportation, and oil and gas with various steel products. These products include hot-rolled and cold-rolled coils and sheets, hot-dipped and galvanized coils and sheets, reinforcing bars, billets and blooms, wire rods, strip mill plates, standard and line pipe, and mechanical tubing products.

Steel is primarily produced using two methods — Blast Furnace and Electric Arc Furnace. It is regarded as the backbone of the manufacturing industry. The automotive and construction markets have historically been the largest consumers of steel. Notably, the housing and construction sector is the biggest consumer of steel, accounting for roughly half of the world's total consumption.

What's Shaping the Future of the Steel Producers' Industry?

Weaker Steel Prices to Weigh on Margins: U.S. steel prices have seen a sharp decline this year due to a slowdown in end-market demand after a strong run in late 2023 that extended into early 2024. The benchmark hot-rolled coil (HRC) prices are down more than 40% since reaching $1,200 per short ton at the start of 2024. The downside has been influenced by a concoction of factors, including a pullback in steel mill lead times, an oversupply of steel exacerbated by increased imports, reduced demand from key industries and economic uncertainties.

Sluggish industrial production and construction activities also contributed to the decline. While the recent steel mill price hikes have led to a modest uptick in HRC prices, a significant recovery is not expected over the near term given the weak manufacturing backdrop and demand weakness. Prices are currently hovering around the $700 per short ton level. As such, lower realized prices are expected to weigh on steel-producing companies' profitability and cash flows over the near term.