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Steel Dynamics Inc.: Q4 FY2025 earnings call

What management said about Q4 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 27 January 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 1 raised. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Fourth quarter earnings fell sequentially: Fourth quarter net income attributable to Steel Dynamics was $266 million, or $1.82 per diluted share, against $404 million, or $2.74, in the third quarter. Net sales were $4.4 billion. Source
  • Annual earnings and EPS declined: Annual net sales rose 3.6 percent to $18.2 billion. Operating income fell 24 percent to $1.5 billion, and diluted EPS was $7.99 against $9.84 in 2024. Source
  • Steel operating income fell 35 percent: Steel operating income was $322 million, about 35 percent below the third quarter, on lower average selling values and lower volumes from seasonal demand and maintenance outages. Source
  • Average steel selling price slipped: Average external steel selling price was $1,107 per ton, down $12 sequentially. The 2025 average was $1,089 per ton, down $15 from 2024. Source
  • Aluminum positive EBITDA in December: Management said the aluminum team achieved positive EBITDA in December while commissioning and ramping continue, and that there is still work ahead. Source
  • Full-year buybacks over four percent: Full-year buybacks were $901 million. Liquidity was $2.2 billion at December 31, 2025. Source

“The teams delivered solid operational and financial performance across our operating platforms in 2025, generating annual net sales of $18.2 billion, operating income of $1.5 billion, and adjusted EBITDA of $2.2 billion”

Mark D. Millett, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Order backlog Sourcefirst half 2026through the first half 2026Raised from through the first quarter 2026

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Order backlog horizon extended from the first quarter of 2026 to the first half of 2026.
  • New: Company issued $800 million of unsecured notes in November 2025, and proceeds redeemed $400 million of 5.000% notes due 2026. Source
  • New: New Process Steel is listed among the Steel Processing divisions beginning December 1, 2025. Cash flow shows $175.8 million for a business combination in the quarter. Source
  • New: Company now describes itself as being in aluminum operations. The prior release said it was investing in aluminum operations. Source

Annual and fourth quarter results

  • Fourth quarter earnings fell sequentially: Fourth quarter net income attributable to Steel Dynamics was $266 million, or $1.82 per diluted share, against $404 million, or $2.74, in the third quarter. Net sales were $4.4 billion. Source
  • Annual earnings and EPS declined: Annual net sales rose 3.6 percent to $18.2 billion. Operating income fell 24 percent to $1.5 billion, and diluted EPS was $7.99 against $9.84 in 2024. Source
  • Lower realized pricing drove earnings decline: Management attributed lower earnings to realized pricing in steel and steel fabrication. Steel operating income fell $155 million and fabrication operating income fell $260 million. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA lower in quarter: Fourth quarter adjusted EBITDA was $505 million, down from $664 million in the third quarter. Full-year adjusted EBITDA was $2.2 billion. Source
  • Three-year return on capital at 14 percent: Three-year after-tax return on invested capital was 14 percent, against 15 percent cited in the third quarter release. Source

Segment results and volumes

  • Steel operating income fell 35 percent: Steel operating income was $322 million, about 35 percent below the third quarter, on lower average selling values and lower volumes from seasonal demand and maintenance outages. Source
  • Flat roll volumes lower sequentially: Flat roll shipments from Butler, Columbus and Sinton were lower than in the third quarter, reflecting seasonal demand and planned maintenance outages. Source
  • Steel Processing shipments rose: Steel Processing division shipments rose sequentially, while the long product lines and flat roll mills declined in the fourth quarter. Source
  • Long product shipments declined: Structural and Rail shipments were 445,978 tons, down from 490,413 in the third quarter. Engineered Bar, Roanoke Bar and Steel of West Virginia shipments also declined. Source
  • Steel fabrication operating income eased: Steel fabrication operating income was $91 million, below the third quarter, on seasonally lower shipments partly offset by modest metal spread expansion. Source
  • Metals recycling income lower: Metals recycling operating income was $19 million, $13 million lower than the third quarter, on lower selling values and decreased shipments across the platform. Source

“We are seeing an improved flat rolled steel market environment, supported by domestic trade actions, manufacturing onshoring, infrastructure program funding, lower interest rates, and the increasing regionalization of supply chains in the U.S.”

Mark D. Millett, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Steel pricing and input costs

  • Average steel selling price slipped: Average external steel selling price was $1,107 per ton, down $12 sequentially. The 2025 average was $1,089 per ton, down $15 from 2024. Source
  • Scrap cost eased in quarter: Ferrous scrap cost was $374 per ton melted, down $7 from the third quarter. The full-year scrap cost rose $1 to $387 per ton. Source
  • Flat rolled pricing lagged contracts: Flat rolled realized pricing declined on lagging priced contracts, while long product prices increased as structural and rail demand held up. Source

Demand and order book

  • Order activity steady in quarter: Order activity was steady in the quarter, and the backlog was described as maintaining solid levels, with pricing stable. Source
  • Energy and construction led demand: Energy, non-residential construction, automotive and industrial sectors led steel demand. Commercial, data center, manufacturing, warehouse and healthcare sectors drove demand overall. Source
  • Steel pricing improved, customers optimistic: Management said steel pricing has improved and customer optimism is solid, with demand steady across the businesses. Source
  • Onshoring and infrastructure seen supporting demand: Management expects domestic manufacturing investment, onshoring activity and infrastructure program momentum to further support demand. Source

“As unfair trade practices diminish, policy clarity improves, and U.S. manufacturing continues to expand, we believe a favorable market environment will follow”

Mark D. Millett, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Aluminum and biocarbon ramp

  • Aluminum operating loss narrowed: Aluminum operating loss was $47 million in the fourth quarter, against $57 million in the third. External aluminum sales rose to $158 million from $71 million. Source
  • Aluminum positive EBITDA in December: Management said the aluminum team achieved positive EBITDA in December while commissioning and ramping continue, and that there is still work ahead. Source
  • Columbus and San Luis Potosi commissioning: The Columbus, Mississippi flat rolled mill and San Luis Potosi satellite recycled slab center are in commissioning and startup. Source
  • Aluminum products qualified by customers: Aluminum products were shipped to the industrial and beverage can sectors, with several customers granting product qualifications. Hot band was shipped for automotive use. Source
  • Biocarbon refining and output increasing: The SDI Biocarbon Solutions team keeps refining operations and raising output. The release calls the biocarbon a lower-carbon supply chain for steel customers. Source

Cash, capital and shareholder returns

  • Fourth quarter cash flow and spending: Fourth quarter operating cash flow was $273 million. The company invested $188 million in capital, paid $73 million in dividends and repurchased $240 million of stock. Source
  • Full-year buybacks over four percent: Full-year buybacks were $901 million. Liquidity was $2.2 billion at December 31, 2025. Source
  • Full-year capital investment declined: Full-year capital investment was $948 million, against $1.87 billion in 2024. The release describes these as organic growth investments. Source
  • Quarterly dividend declared at 50 cents: Dividends declared were $0.50 per share in the quarter, against $0.46 a year earlier, and $2.00 per share for 2025. Source

Trade, strategy and safety

  • Record shipments on lower imports: Management linked record annual steel shipments to imports falling from first-half 2025 levels, and to improved performance at Sinton. Source
  • Aluminum expansion into adjacent markets: Management said the aluminum expansion serves adjacent markets, including beverage cans and packaging, plus automotive, industrial and construction applications. Source
  • Lower-carbon metal demand highlighted: Management said customer discussions point to growing importance of lower-carbon, domestically produced steel and aluminum products. Source
  • Health and safety commitment reiterated: Management reiterated its commitment to health and safety as underpinning its ability to meet current and future customer needs. Source

Coming up, as management said on 27 January 2026

  • Cold mill and CASH line commissioning: Management said commissioning of the cold mill and other downstream operations, including the CASH line, is continuing. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Total steel shipments (tons) Source3,304,134 tons in the fourth quarter; 13,748,801 tons for 2025
Flat roll shipments, Butler, Columbus and Sinton (tons) Source1,902,346
Steel mill production (tons) Source2,838,233
Ferrous shipments, metals recycling (gross tons) Source1,521,629
Steel fabrication shipments (tons) Source138,375

Risks management discussed

  • Operational: Planned maintenance outages ran longer than anticipated and reduced fourth quarter flat rolled output by an estimated 140,000 to 150,000 tons. Source
  • Operational: Management said the aluminum platform is still in commissioning and that much remains to be done in the ramp. Source
  • Financial: Growth working capital of $450 million tied to the aluminum platform was invested during 2025. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: The prior release estimated fourth quarter maintenance could reduce flat rolled production by up to 85,000 tons. The fourth quarter release reports the outage impact separately.

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.