Is the Time Right to Consider Beaten Down Steel Stocks?

The 1Q17 earnings season for US-based steel companies is almost over. Steel Dynamics released its 1Q17 earnings on April 19, 2017. Nucor (NUE) released its 1Q17 earnings and held its conference call on April 20. 

U.S. Steel Corporation (X) and AK Steel (AKS) released their 1Q17 earnings on April 25.

It’s been a mixed earnings season for steel companies (MT) (XME). While Nucor’s and Steel Dynamics’ 1Q17 earnings boosted market sentiments, the mood turned somber after AK Steel and U.S. Steel released their earnings on April 25.

In U.S. Steel’s case, the company missed its 1Q17 earnings estimates by a wide margin and slashed its 2017 guidance. Read U.S. Steel’s 1Q17 Earnings: Bang or Whimper? to read more about U.S. Steel’s 1Q17 results.

Given the current earnings season, investors are keeping an eye on company earnings reports and conference calls. It’s important for steel investors not to lose track of key steel industry indicators. 

In this series, we’ll look at some recent steel industry indicators. We’ll also look at the various bullish and bearish drivers for US steel prices that can help us understand whether it’s the right time to look at some beaten down steel stocks.

Because lower imports have been key drivers of US steel prices, steel investors need to follow monthly steel import data releases. Continue to the next article for a detailed analysis of March’s steel import data.