Weak across most dimensions. This doesn't mean avoid, but the burden of proof is on the bull case.
Broad-market heuristics · Not a buy/sell signal
Valuation and growth
Valuation
Growth
Under 20x, reasonable relative to earnings
Above 30x, cash flow yield is thin
Below 2%, essentially flat
Below 2%, essentially flat
Business Quality & Capital Allocation
Shrinking >2%, active buybacks
Contracted >2pp, margin pressure
Net debt/FCF of 3.0x, high leverage
10–15%, respectable returns
Steel Dynamics (STLD) quality: score, margins and returns
Steel Dynamics (STLD) scores 31/100 on Intrinsiqq's quality score (a lower-quality business), a weighted blend of 8 metrics each scored 0 to 100, on 11.5% operating margins and 14.9% ROIC. Every metric is computed from SEC filings; this is analysis, not investment advice.
Frequently asked
Is Steel Dynamics (STLD) a high-quality business?+
Steel Dynamics scores 31 out of 100 on Intrinsiqq's quality score, a weighted blend of 8 metrics each scored 0 to 100, which rates it a lower-quality business on these measures. Recent figures include a 11.5% operating margin and a 14.9% return on invested capital. Quality and price are separate questions: even a great business can be a poor investment if you overpay, so read this score alongside the valuation. The metric-by-metric breakdown is on this scorecard.
What does Steel Dynamics's quality score measure?+
Intrinsiqq's quality score weighs revenue and free-cash-flow growth, operating margins, return on invested capital, change in share count, and balance-sheet strength, each computed from STLD's SEC filings rather than opinion or sentiment. A higher score means a more durable, capital-efficient business; it is not a buy or sell signal. Open each metric on this page to see exactly where Steel Dynamics scores well and where it falls behind.
What is Steel Dynamics's return on invested capital (ROIC)?+
Steel Dynamics earns about 14.9% on its invested capital, which is solid. ROIC measures how much profit a company generates per dollar put to work; sustained ROIC above its cost of capital is one of the clearest signs of a real competitive moat. Compare it to STLD's margins and growth on this scorecard to judge durability.
How profitable is Steel Dynamics?+
Steel Dynamics runs an operating margin of about 11.5% and a net margin of about 8.8%. Revenue has grown at roughly 13.6% a year recently. High, stable margins usually point to pricing power and operating discipline. Margins are most telling next to growth and returns on capital, all of which feed this quality score. This is analysis from SEC filings, not investment advice.
SourceQuality score computed from the 10-Q filed 21 Oct 2026, covering the period ending 30 Sept 2026, as reported to the SEC. Data last refreshed 24 Oct 2026. How this is calculated.
Fiscal year ends Dec. Sector medians are approximate S&P 500 benchmarks and update periodically. Checks use broad-market heuristics, so sector norms may differ, and the valuation checks are more cyclical than the quality checks.
Peers
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Held by ETFs
STLD is in 286 US ETFs. The largest of them, with STLD's weight in each:
Spot a number that looks wrong? Check it in STLD's SEC filings or
Download this analysis as a PDF (Pro)
Data sourced from SEC EDGAR filings and third-party price providers. Scores, valuations, and metrics are algorithmic estimates. This is not investment advice. See our Terms and Methodology.
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