Cliffs(US:CLF) ZACKSยท2025-07-18 13:06Core Insights - Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. (CLF) is expected to report second-quarter 2025 results on July 21, with a projected revenue of $4.9 billion, indicating a year-over-year decline of 3.8% [4][7] - The company has experienced a trailing fourth-quarter negative earnings surprise of approximately 9.7% and a negative surprise of around 17.9% in the last reported quarter [1][2] - Higher steel prices and increased volumes are anticipated to have positively impacted CLF's performance, although rising unit costs may offset these gains [5][10] Revenue Estimates - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for CLF's second-quarter consolidated revenues is $4,899.2 million, reflecting a 3.8% decline compared to the previous year [4][7] - The average net selling price per net ton of steel products is estimated to be $1,020, representing a 4.1% increase from the prior quarter [8] Factors Influencing Performance - CLF is expected to benefit from higher steel prices, which have rebounded following a decline in 2024 due to reduced demand and oversupply [5][7] - The imposition of a 25% tariff on steel imports in March 2025 and its subsequent increase to 50% in June 2025 have contributed to a surge in hot-rolled coil (HRC) prices [5][10] - External sales volumes for steel products are projected at 4.2 million net tons, indicating a 1.4% sequential rise and a 5.3% year-over-year increase [9] Cost Considerations - Steelmaking unit costs are expected to have risen by $5 per ton in the second quarter compared to the first quarter, which may offset the benefits from higher prices and volumes [10] - Despite anticipated cost increases in the second quarter, a reduction in costs is expected in the latter half of 2025 due to the idling of underperforming assets [10] Earnings Prediction - The Earnings ESP for CLF is -4.60%, with the consensus estimate indicating a loss of 67 cents for the second quarter [12] - CLF currently holds a Zacks Rank of 3, suggesting a neutral outlook for earnings performance [12]