Are Wall Street Analysts Bullish on Steel Dynamics Stock?

Company Overview - Steel Dynamics, Inc. (STLD) is a leading steel producer and metal recycler in the United States, based in Fort Wayne, Indiana, with a market capitalization of $29.1 billion. The company operates through various segments including Steel Operations, Metals Recycling Operations, Steel Fabrication Operations, and Aluminum Operations [1]. Stock Performance - STLD shares have significantly outperformed the broader market over the past 52 weeks, surging 50.8%, while the S&P 500 Index has increased by 12.9%. Year-to-date, STLD stock is up 17.7%, contrasting with a slight decline in the S&P 500 [2]. - The stock has also outperformed the State Street Materials Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLB), which has risen by 19.2% over the same period [3]. Recent Financial Results - On January 26, STLD shares fell by 4.4% following the release of Q4 2025 results, where net income decreased to $266 million ($1.82 per share) from $404 million ($2.74 per share) in Q3. This decline was attributed to a 35% sequential drop in operating income from steel operations to $322 million, driven by lower realized steel prices, seasonal demand weakness, and planned maintenance outages that reduced flat-rolled production by an estimated 140,000 to 150,000 tons [5]. Future Earnings Expectations - For the fiscal year ending in December 2026, analysts project STLD's earnings per share (EPS) to increase by 70.1% year-over-year to $13.59. The company's earnings surprise history is mixed, having beaten consensus estimates in three of the last four quarters while missing once. Overall, STLD stock holds a consensus "Strong Buy" rating, with eight out of eleven analysts recommending "Strong Buys" and three suggesting "Holds" [6]. Analyst Ratings - On January 9, Morgan Stanley analyst Carlos De Alba downgraded Steel Dynamics from a "Buy" to a "Hold" rating, setting a price target of $194. Currently, the stock is trading above the mean price target of $192.40, with the highest price target of $200 indicating only marginal upside from current levels [8].