STLD Issues Q2 Guidance, Expects Higher Steel Operations Earnings

Core Insights - Steel Dynamics, Inc. (STLD) has provided earnings guidance for Q2 2025, estimating earnings per share (EPS) in the range of $2.00 to $2.04, an increase from $1.44 in Q1 2025 but a decrease from $2.72 in Q2 2024 [1][8] Group 1: Steel Operations - Profitability from steel operations is expected to be significantly higher than in Q1 2025, driven by wider metal spreads and an increase in average realized steel pricing, which is rising faster than scrap raw material costs [2] - Long product steel shipments have increased sequentially, while flat rolled volumes have slightly decreased due to inventory overhang from coated flat rolled steel imports [2] - The energy, non-residential building, automotive, and industrial sectors are continuing to drive demand for steel [2] - Steel division's pretax earnings are projected to be reduced by approximately $32 million in Q2 2025 due to a noncash write-off of consumable assets [2] Group 2: Metals Recycling Operations - Earnings from metals recycling operations are expected to remain stable sequentially in Q2 2025, with higher shipments compensating for lower realized pricing [3] Group 3: Steel Fabrication Operations - Earnings from steel fabrication operations are anticipated to decline in Q2 2025 compared to the previous quarter, attributed to consistent shipments and metal spread compression as raw material costs rise and average realized sales prices fall slightly [4] - The pace of order activity has increased, and the order backlog has strengthened, extending into 2025 with attractive pricing [4] - Demand is primarily driven by the commercial, data center, manufacturing, warehouse, and healthcare sectors [4] Group 4: Aluminum Operations - The aluminum team is successfully commissioning the Columbus, MS aluminum flat rolled products mill and the San Luis Potosi satellite recycled slab facility, with the first aluminum ingot cast in January 2025 in Mississippi and in March 2025 in Mexico [5] - The company expects to begin shipping material in mid-2025 [5] Group 5: Stock Performance - Shares of Steel Dynamics have decreased by 0.4% over the past year, contrasting with a 31.8% decline in its industry [5]