Three steel stocks to consider buying each are recommended by Citi Research. Those three steel stocks to consider buying are seen as the premier providers in a slumping sector by research analysts at the investment firm. That sector overall is forecast to face slack demand, especially due to economic slowdowns in China and other parts of the world. Mining equities tend to perform strongly during the winter months starting in October, based on almost three decades of seasonality analysis, but that did not happen in 2024, the Citi Research analysts wrote. December particularly performs strongly compared to other months on average but fell short of the norm at the end of last year, Citi Research wrote. The seasonality effect tends to be strong and at times overcomes the effects of any weakness in commodity or company fundamentals. "However, this time around this effect seems to be absent and the miners underperformed during the last couple of months driven by several factors," Citi Research assessed. Three Steel Stock to Consider Buying: STLD The previous strength during winter came primarily from China's strong steel demand during the winter season. However, weakening Chinese lead indicators (e.g. a property and infrastructure slowdown, among others) and tariff uncertainties from Trump's presidency, outlook for steel shows slack, limit the impact of seasonality support, Citi Research opined. The investment firm's commodity analysts are broadly neutral to bearish on most stocks in the sector. Across base metals, the U.S. tariff policy, China economic headwinds and rising developed market debt service burdens derail a meaningful global manufacturing recovering beyond 2025, Citi wrote. Citi Research is neutral on bulk metals due to likely demand softness. But the investment firm rates Steel Dynamics (NASDAQ: STLD), of Fort Wayne, Indiana, as a buy. Why? "For STLD, we expect a relatively greater benefit from higher hot-rolled coil (HRC) and coated steel prices, and argue it is unique among peers given its nearly complete aluminum rolling mill project," Citi Research wrote. "STLD should see free cash flow inflect in 2025 as it completes its growth capex cycle." Citi Research foresees a a near-term rally in HRC driven by: (1) seasonally strong Q1 demand, (2) the resurgence of non-residential construction, (3) a decline in imports and (4) higher scrap costs. Tariffs could also help, the firm added. Chart courtesy of www.stockcharts.com |
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