Reliance Stock Rises 13% in 3 Months: What's Driving the Rally?

Core Insights - Reliance, Inc. (RS) shares have increased by 12.7% over the past three months, outperforming the Zacks Mining-Miscellaneous industry's 9.6% rise and the S&P 500's approximately 7.4% increase during the same period [1] Group 1: Financial Performance - RS's shipment levels rose by around 9% year over year and 5.6% on a same-store basis, driven by organic growth and strong domestic mill relationships [3][8] - The company experienced an expansion in gross margins in the first quarter of 2025, supported by pricing improvements in the trade environment [3][8] - RS declared a 9.1% increase in its regular quarterly dividend, marking the 32nd increase since its 1994 IPO [6][8] - In the first quarter, RS repurchased 922,656 shares for a total of $253.2 million, ending the quarter with cash flow from operations of $64.5 million and cash and cash equivalents of $277.8 million, highlighting its financial flexibility [6] Group 2: Market Demand and Outlook - The non-residential construction sector, RS's largest end market, performed well, with expectations to maintain momentum due to ongoing new construction projects across various sectors [4] - The company anticipates stable demand across its diversified end markets in the second quarter, expecting tons sold to increase by 3-5% compared to the year-ago quarter [5]