Steel Dynamics (NASDAQ: STLD) boosts Q1 profit on strong steel demand
Steel Dynamics, Inc. reported significantly stronger results for the quarter ended March 31, 2026. Net sales rose 19% to $5.20 billion, driven by higher steel prices and improved metals recycling spreads. Net income attributable to the company increased 86% to $403.4 million, and diluted EPS grew to $2.78 from $1.44.
Steel operations led performance with a 16% increase in segment sales and a 143% jump in operating income to $555.5 million, helped by a 30% expansion in steel metal spreads and record 3.6 million tons of steel shipments. Metals recycling operating income rose 85% as ferrous and nonferrous spreads widened, while steel fabrication saw a 23% decline in operating income due to compressed metal spreads despite higher volumes.
The aluminum segment more than doubled sales as the recycled flat rolled mill ramped up, though it posted a startup-related operating loss. Cash from operations was $148.3 million, liquidity totaled $2.0 billion, and long-term debt remained at $4.2 billion with a debt-to-capitalization ratio of 0.32. The company increased its quarterly dividend to $0.53 per share and repurchased $115.1 million of stock.
Positive
- Earnings and margin expansion: Q1 2026 net sales rose 19% to $5.20 billion, operating income increased 96% to $538.0 million, and diluted EPS nearly doubled to $2.78, driven by a 30% expansion in steel metal spreads and much stronger metals recycling profitability.
Negative
- None.
Insights
Strong Q1 driven by wider metal spreads and robust balance sheet.
Steel Dynamics delivered a 19% revenue increase to $5.20 billion and nearly doubled operating income to $538.0 million. Steel segment metal spreads expanded 30%, lifting steel operating income 143% to $555.5 million, while metals recycling operating income rose 85% to $47.5 million.
Steel fabrication volumes improved but segment operating income fell 23% as input steel costs rose faster than selling prices, compressing metal spreads. Aluminum operations more than doubled sales yet reported a startup-related operating loss of $64.6 million as the recycled flat rolled mill and slab centers continue commissioning.
Leverage appears manageable: total debt is $4.2 billion with a debt-to-capitalization ratio of 0.32 and interest coverage of 13.72x as of March 31, 2026. Liquidity of $2.0 billion supports capital spending of $138.0 million in Q1, ongoing aluminum investments, a higher quarterly dividend of $0.53 per share, and $115.1 million of share repurchases, while leaving flexibility for future cycles.
Key Figures
Key Terms
metal spread financial
noncontrolling interests financial
cash flow hedges financial
effective income tax rate financial
debt to capitalization ratio financial
interest coverage ratio financial
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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM
ended
OR
Commission File Number
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
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(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) | | (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
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(Address of principal executive offices) | | (Zip Code) |
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (
Not Applicable
(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report.)
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act.
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Title of each class | Trading Symbol | Name of each exchange on which registered |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files).
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
| | | Accelerated filer ◻ | | Non-accelerated filer ◻ | ||
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| | Smaller reporting company | | Emerging growth company | | | |
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ◻
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes
As of April 22, 2026, Registrant had
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STEEL DYNAMICS, INC.
Table of Contents
PART I. Financial Information | ||
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Item 1. | Financial Statements: | Page |
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| Consolidated Balance Sheets as of March 31, 2026 (unaudited) and December 31, 2025 | 1 |
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| Consolidated Statements of Income for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2026 and 2025 (unaudited) | 2 |
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| Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2026 and 2025 (unaudited) | 3 |
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| Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the three-month periods ended March, 31 2026 and 2025 (unaudited) | 4 |
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| Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited) | 5 |
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Item 2. | Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations | 13 |
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Item 3. | Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk | 22 |
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Item 4. | Controls and Procedures | 22 |
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| PART II. Other Information | |
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Item 1. | Legal Proceedings | 23 |
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Item 1A. | Risk Factors | 23 |
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Item 2. | Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds | 23 |
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Item 3. | Defaults Upon Senior Securities | 23 |
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Item 4. | Mine Safety Disclosures | 23 |
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Item 5. | Other Information | 23 |
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Item 6. | Exhibits | 24 |
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Exhibit Index | 24 | |
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Signature | 25 | |
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STEEL DYNAMICS, INC.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands, except share data)
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| March 31, | | | December 31, | ||
| 2026 | | | 2025 | ||
Assets | (unaudited) | | | | | |
Current assets | | | | | | |
Cash and equivalents | $ | | | | $ | |
Accounts receivable, net | | | | | | |
Accounts receivable-related parties | | | | | | |
Inventories | | | | | | |
Other current assets | | | | | | |
Total current assets | | | | | | |
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Property, plant and equipment, net | | | | | | |
Intangible assets, net | | | | | | |
Goodwill | | | | | | |
Other assets | | | | | | |
Total assets | $ | | | | $ | |
Liabilities and Equity | | | | | | |
Current liabilities | | | | | | |
Accounts payable | $ | | | | $ | |
Accounts payable-related parties | | | | | | |
Income taxes payable | | | | | | |
Accrued payroll and benefits | | | | | | |
Accrued expenses | | | | | | |
Current maturities of long-term debt | | | | | | |
Total current liabilities | | | | | | |
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Long-term debt | | | | | | |
Deferred income taxes | | | | | | |
Other liabilities | | | | | | |
Total liabilities | | | | | | |
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Commitments and contingencies | | | | | | |
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Redeemable noncontrolling interests | | | | | | |
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Equity | | | | | | |
Common stock voting, $ | | | | | | |
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shares outstanding, as of March 31, 2026 and December 31, 2025, respectively | | | | | | |
Treasury stock, at cost; | | | | | | |
as of March 31, 2026 and December 31, 2025, respectively | | ( | | | | ( |
Additional paid-in capital | | | | | | |
Retained earnings | | | | | | |
Accumulated other comprehensive loss | | ( | | | | ( |
Total Steel Dynamics, Inc. equity | | | | | | |
Noncontrolling interests | | ( | | | | ( |
Total equity | | | | | | |
Total liabilities and equity | $ | | | | $ | |
See notes to consolidated financial statements.
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STEEL DYNAMICS, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (UNAUDITED)
(in thousands, except per share data)
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| Three-Month Periods Ended | ||||
| March 31, | ||||
| 2026 | | 2025 | ||
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Net sales | | | | | |
Unrelated parties | $ | | | $ | |
Related parties | | | | | |
Total net sales | | | | | |
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Costs of goods sold | | | | | |
Gross profit | | | | | |
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Selling, general and administrative expenses | | | | | |
Profit sharing | | | | | |
Amortization of intangible assets | | | | | |
Operating income | | | | | |
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Interest expense, net of capitalized interest | | | | | |
Other income, net | | ( | | | ( |
Income before income taxes | | | | | |
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Income tax expense | | | | | |
Net income | | | | | |
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Net loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests | | | | | ( |
Net income attributable to Steel Dynamics, Inc. | $ | | | $ | |
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Basic earnings per share attributable to Steel | | | | | |
Dynamics, Inc. stockholders | $ | | $ | ||
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Weighted average common shares outstanding | | | | ||
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Diluted earnings per share attributable to Steel | | | | | |
Dynamics, Inc. stockholders, including the effect | | | | | |
of assumed conversions when dilutive | $ | | $ | ||
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Weighted average common shares and share equivalents outstanding | | | | ||
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Dividends declared per share | $ | | $ | ||
See notes to consolidated financial statements.
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STEEL DYNAMICS, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (UNAUDITED)
(in thousands)
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| Three-Month Periods Ended | ||||
| March 31, | ||||
| 2026 | | 2025 | ||
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Net income | $ | | | $ | |
Other comprehensive loss - net unrealized loss | | | | | |
on cash flow hedging derivatives, net of income tax benefit | | | | | |
of $ | | ( | | | - |
Comprehensive income | | | | | |
| | | | | |
Comprehensive loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests | | | | | ( |
Comprehensive income attributable to Steel Dynamics, Inc. | $ | | | $ | |
See notes to consolidated financial statements.
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STEEL DYNAMICS, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (UNAUDITED)
(in thousands)
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| Three-Month Periods Ended | ||||
| March 31, | ||||
| 2026 | | 2025 | ||
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Operating activities: | | | | | |
Net income | $ | | | $ | |
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Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by | | | | | |
operating activities: | | | | | |
Depreciation and amortization | | | | | |
Equity-based compensation | | | | | |
Deferred income taxes | | | | | |
Other adjustments | | ( | | | ( |
Changes in certain assets and liabilities: | | | | | |
Accounts receivable | | ( | | | ( |
Inventories | | ( | | | |
Other assets | | | | | ( |
Accounts payable | | | | | |
Income taxes receivable/payable | | | | | |
Accrued expenses | | ( | | | ( |
Net cash provided by operating activities | | | | | |
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Investing activities: | | | | | |
Purchases of property, plant and equipment | | ( | | | ( |
Purchases of short-term investments | | - | | | ( |
Proceeds from maturities of short-term investments | | - | | | |
Other investing activities | | ( | | | ( |
Net cash used in investing activities | | ( | | | ( |
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Financing activities: | | | | | |
Issuance of current and long-term debt | | | | | |
Repayment of current and long-term debt | | ( | | | ( |
Dividends paid | | ( | | | ( |
Purchases of treasury stock | | ( | | | ( |
Other financing activities | | ( | | | ( |
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities | | ( | | | |
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Increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash | | ( | | | |
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at beginning of period | | | | | |
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Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at end of period | $ | | | $ | |
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Supplemental disclosure information: | | | | | |
Cash paid for interest | $ | | | $ | |
Cash paid for income taxes, net | $ | | | $ | |
See notes to consolidated financial statements.
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STEEL DYNAMICS, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)
Note 1. Description of the Business and Significant Accounting Policies
Description of the Business
Steel Dynamics, Inc. (SDI), together with its subsidiaries (the company), is a leading industrial metals solutions company, with facilities located throughout the United States and Mexico. SDI is one of the largest domestic steel producers and metal recyclers in North America, combined with meaningful downstream steel fabrication operations. The company has also recently added aluminum operations, further diversifying its product offerings to supply aluminum flat rolled products with higher recycled content to the countercyclical sustainable beverage can industry, in addition to the automotive and industrial sectors. The company has
Steel Operations Segment. Steel operations include the company’s electric arc furnace (EAF) steel mills, including Butler Flat Roll Division, Columbus Flat Roll Division, Southwest-Sinton Flat Roll Division, Structural and Rail Division, Engineered Bar Products Division, and Roanoke Bar Division; steel coating and processing operations at Steel of West Virigina, The Techs, Heartland Flat Roll Division, United Steel Supply (“USS”), New Process Steel, L.P., and Vulcan Threaded Products, Inc.; warehouse operations in Mexico; and a
Metals Recycling Operations Segment. Metals recycling operations include the company’s Omni ferrous and nonferrous processing, transportation, marketing, brokerage, and scrap management services primarily located throughout the United States (US), and in Central and Northern Mexico.
Steel Fabrication Operations Segment. Steel fabrication operations include the company’s New Millennium Building Systems joist and deck plants located throughout the US, and in Northern Mexico. Revenues from these plants are generated from the fabrication of steel joists, joist girders and steel deck systems used within the non-residential construction industry.
Aluminum Operations Segment. Aluminum operations include a 650,000-metric-ton recycled aluminum flat rolled products mill in Columbus, Mississippi;
Other. Other operations consist of subsidiary operations that are below the company’s quantitative thresholds required for reportable segments and primarily consists of a joint venture and the company’s idled Minnesota ironmaking operations. Also included in “Other” are certain unallocated corporate accounts, such as the company’s senior unsecured credit facility, senior notes, certain other investments and certain profit sharing expenses.
Significant Accounting Policies
Principles of Consolidation
The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of SDI, together with its wholly- and majority-owned or controlled subsidiaries, after elimination of intercompany accounts and transactions. Noncontrolling and redeemable noncontrolling interests represent the noncontrolling owners’ proportionate share in the equity, income, or losses of the company’s majority-owned or controlled consolidated subsidiaries. Redeemable noncontrolling interests related to USS (owned
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STEEL DYNAMICS, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)
Note 1. Description of the Business and Significant Accounting Policies (Continued)
Use of Estimates
These consolidated financial statements are prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, and accordingly, include amounts that require management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and in the notes thereto. Actual results may differ from these estimates and assumptions.
In the opinion of management, these financial statements reflect all normal recurring adjustments necessary for a fair presentation of the interim period results. These consolidated financial statements and notes should be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements and notes thereto included in the company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025.
Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Restricted Cash
Cash and cash equivalents include all highly liquid investments with a maturity of three months or less at the date of acquisition. Restricted cash is primarily funds held in escrow as required by various insurance and government organizations. The balance of cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash in the consolidated statements of cash flows includes restricted cash of $
Goodwill
The company’s goodwill consisted of the following at March 31, 2026, and December 31, 2025 (in thousands):
| | | | | |
| | | | | |
| Steel Operations Segment | | $ | | |
| Aluminum Operations Segment | | | | |
| Metals Recycling Operations Segment | | | | |
| Steel Fabrication Operations Segment | | | | |
| | | $ | | |
Credit Losses
The company is exposed to credit risk in the event of nonpayment of accounts receivable by customers. The company mitigates its exposure to credit risk, which it generally extends on an unsecured basis, by performing ongoing credit evaluations and taking further action if necessary, such as requiring letters of credit or other security interests to support the customer receivable. The allowance for credit losses for accounts receivable is based on the company’s reasonable estimate of known credit risks and historical experience. Customer accounts receivable are written off when all collection efforts have been exhausted and the amounts are deemed uncollectible.
At March 31, 2026, the company reported $
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STEEL DYNAMICS, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)
Note 1. Description of the Business and Significant Accounting Policies (Continued)
Derivative Financial Instruments
The company routinely enters into exchange traded futures to manage price risk associated with nonferrous metal inventory, as well as purchases and sales of nonferrous (primarily aluminum and copper) and ferrous metals, to reduce exposure to commodity related price fluctuations. These exchange traded futures contracts meet the definition of derivative financial instruments. The company does not enter into these derivative financial instruments for speculative purposes. The company recognizes all derivatives as either assets or liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets and measures those instruments at fair value. Derivatives that are not designated as cash flow hedges must be adjusted to fair value through earnings. For the effective fair value hedges, the hedged item is recognized on the balance sheet at fair value. Changes in the fair value of the hedged balance sheet item are recognized as an offset against the change in fair value of the derivative in cost of goods sold and included in cash flows from operations. The ineffective portion of a derivative’s change in fair value is immediately recognized in earnings for fair value hedges. Changes in the fair value of cash flow hedges are recognized in other comprehensive income, until the hedged item is recognized in earnings.
The company offsets fair value amounts recognized for derivative instruments executed with the same counterparty under master netting agreements. The fair value of the company’s derivative instruments and required margin deposit amounts totaled $
Recently Issued Not Yet Adopted Accounting Pronouncements
In November 2024, the FASB issued ASU 2024-03, Income Statement Reporting Comprehensive Income-Expense Disaggregation Disclosures (Subtopic 220-40): Disaggregation of Income Statement Expenses, requiring public entities to disclose additional information about specific expense categories in the notes to the financial statements on an interim and annual basis. ASU 2024-03 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2026, and for interim periods beginning after December 15, 2027, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting ASU 2024-03.
Note 2. Business Combination
On December 1, 2025, the company acquired the remaining
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STEEL DYNAMICS, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)
Note 2. Business Combination (Continued)
Unaudited Pro Forma Results. NPS’s operating results have been reflected in the company’s financial statements since the effective date of the acquisition, December 1, 2025.
| | | | | |
| Three Months ended March 31, 2025 | ||||
Net sales | | | | $ | |
Net income attributable to Steel Dynamics, Inc. | | | | | |
The information presented is for informational purposes only and is not necessarily indicative of the actual results that would have occurred had the acquisition been consummated at the beginning of the respective period, nor are they necessarily indicative of future operating results of the combined companies under the ownership and management of the company. The amounts have been calculated after applying the company’s accounting policies and adjusting the results of NPS to reflect the additional depreciation and amortization that would have been charged assuming the fair value adjustments to property, plant, and equipment and intangible assets had been applied on January 1, 2024, together with the consequential tax effects.
Note 3. Earnings Per Share
Basic earnings per share is based on the weighted average shares of common stock outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per share assumes the weighted average dilutive effect of common share equivalents outstanding during the period applied to the company’s basic earnings per share. Common share equivalents represent potentially dilutive restricted stock units, deferred stock units, restricted stock, and performance awards, and are excluded from the computation in periods in which they have an anti-dilutive effect. There were
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| Three-Month Periods Ended March 31, | ||||||||||||||||
| 2026 | | 2025 | ||||||||||||||
| | | | Weighted | | | | | | | | Weighted | | | | ||
| | | | Average | | | | | | | | Average | | | | ||
| Net Income | | Shares | | Per Share | | Net Income | | Shares | | Per Share | ||||||
| (Numerator) | | (Denominator) | | Amount | | (Numerator) | | (Denominator) | | Amount | ||||||
Basic earnings per share | $ | | | | | | $ | | | $ | | | | | | $ | |
Dilutive common share equivalents | | - | | | | | | | | | - | | | | | | |
Diluted earnings per share | $ | | | | | | $ | | | $ | | | | | | $ | |
Note 4. Inventories
Inventories are stated at lower of cost or net realizable value. Cost is determined using a weighted average cost method for raw materials (including scrap, purchased steel substrate and aluminum slabs) and supplies, and on a first-in, first-out basis for other inventory.
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| March 31, | | December 31, | ||
| 2026 | | 2025 | ||
Raw materials | $ | | $ | ||
Supplies | | | | ||
Work in progress | | | | ||
Finished goods | | | | ||
Total inventories | $ | | $ | ||
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STEEL DYNAMICS, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)
Note 5. Changes in Equity
The following tables provide a reconciliation of the beginning and ending carrying amounts of total equity, equity attributable to stockholders of Steel Dynamics, Inc., and equity and redeemable amounts attributable to noncontrolling interests for each of the three-month periods ended March 31, 2026 and 2025 (in thousands).
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| | Stockholders of Steel Dynamics, Inc. | | | | | | | | | | |||||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | Accumulated | | | | | | | |||||||
| | | | | | Additional | | | | Other | | | | | | Redeemable | ||||||||
| | Common | | Treasury | | Paid-In | | Retained | | Comprehensive | | Noncontrolling | | Total | | Noncontrolling | ||||||||
| | Stock | | Stock | | Capital | | Earnings | | Income (Loss) | | Interests | | Equity | | Interests | ||||||||
Balances at December 31, 2025 | | $ | | | $ | ( | | $ | | | $ | | | $ | ( | | $ | ( | | $ | | | $ | |
Dividends declared | | | - | | | - | | | - | | | ( | | | - | | | - | | | ( | | | - |
Noncontrolling investors, net | | | - | | | - | | | - | | | - | | | - | | | ( | | | ( | | | - |
Share repurchases | | | - | | | ( | | | - | | | - | | | - | | | - | | | ( | | | - |
Equity-based compensation | | | - | | | | | | ( | | | ( | | | - | | | - | | | ( | | | - |
Net income (loss) | | | - | | | - | | | - | | | | | | - | | | ( | | | | | | - |
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax | | | - | | | - | | | - | | | - | | | ( | | | - | | | ( | | | - |
Balances at March 31, 2026 | | $ | | | $ | ( | | $ | | | $ | | | $ | ( | | $ | ( | | $ | | | $ | |
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| | Stockholders of Steel Dynamics, Inc. | | | | | | | | | | |||||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | Accumulated | | | | | | | |||||||
| | | | | | Additional | | | | Other | | | | | | Redeemable | ||||||||
| | Common | | Treasury | | Paid-In | | Retained | | Comprehensive | | Noncontrolling | | Total | | Noncontrolling | ||||||||
| | Stock | | Stock | | Capital | | Earnings | | Income (Loss) | | Interests | | Equity | | Interests | ||||||||
Balances at December 31, 2024 | | $ | | | $ | ( | | $ | | | $ | | | $ | - | | $ | ( | | $ | | | $ | |
Dividends declared | | | - | | | - | | | - | | | ( | | | - | | | - | | | ( | | | - |
Noncontrolling investors, net | | | - | | | - | | | - | | | - | | | - | | | ( | | | ( | | | - |
Share repurchases | | | - | | | ( | | | - | | | - | | | - | | | - | | | ( | | | - |
Equity-based compensation | | | - | | | | | | ( | | | ( | | | - | | | - | | | ( | | | - |
Net income | | | - | | | - | | | - | | | | | | - | | | | | | | | | - |
Balances at March 31, 2025 | | $ | | | $ | ( | | $ | | | $ | | | $ | - | | $ | ( | | $ | | | $ | |
Note 6. Fair Value Measurements
Accounting standards provide a comprehensive framework for measuring fair value, sets forth a definition of fair value and establishes a hierarchy prioritizing the inputs to valuation techniques, giving the highest priority to quoted prices in active markets for identical assets and liabilities and the lowest priority to unobservable value inputs. Levels within the hierarchy are defined as follows:
| ● | Level 1—Unadjusted quoted prices for identical assets and liabilities in active markets; |
| ● | Level 2—Quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets (other than those included in Level 1) which are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly; and |
| ● | Level 3—Valuations derived from valuation techniques in which one or more significant inputs or significant value drivers are unobservable. |
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STEEL DYNAMICS, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)
Note 6. Fair Value Measurements (continued)
The following table sets forth financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis in the consolidated balance sheets and the respective levels to which the fair value measurements are classified within the fair value hierarchy as of March 31, 2026 and December 31, 2025 (in thousands):
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| | | | Quoted Prices | | Significant | | | | ||
| | | | in Active | | Other | | Significant | |||
| | | | Markets for | | Observable | | Unobservable | |||
| | | | Identical Assets | | Inputs | | Inputs | |||
| Total | | (Level 1) | | (Level 2) | | (Level 3) | ||||
March 31, 2026 | | | | | | | | | | | |
Commodity futures – financial assets | $ | | | $ | - | | $ | | | $ | - |
Commodity futures – financial liabilities | | | | | - | | | | | | - |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
December 31, 2025 | | | | | | | | | | | |
Commodity futures – financial assets | | | | | - | | | | | | - |
Commodity futures – financial liabilities | | | | | - | | | | | | - |
The carrying amounts of financial instruments including cash equivalents approximate fair value (Level 1). The fair values of commodity futures contracts are estimated by the use of quoted market prices, estimates obtained from brokers, and other appropriate valuation techniques based on references available (Level 2). The fair value of long-term debt, including current maturities, as determined by quoted market prices (Level 2), was approximately $
Note 7. Commitments and Contingencies
The company is involved in various litigation matters, including administrative and regulatory proceedings, that arise in the ordinary course of business, none of which are expected to have a material impact on the company’s financial condition, results of operations, or liquidity.
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STEEL DYNAMICS, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)
Note 8. Segment Information
The company’s chief operating decision maker (CODM), who is the Chief Executive Officer, analyzes the results of the business through the following reportable segments: steel operations, metals recycling operations, steel fabrication operations, and aluminum operations. The segment operations are more fully described in Note 1. Description of the Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies to the consolidated financial statements.
The CODM assesses segment performance and allocates resources primarily based on operating income. The CODM uses operating income to allocate operating and capital resources and assesses performance of each segment by comparing actual operating income results to historical and previously forecasted financial information. The accounting policies of the reportable segments are consistent with those described in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements. Intra-segment sales and any related profits are eliminated in consolidation.
The company’s segment results, including disaggregated revenue by segment to external, external non-United States, and other segment customers, are as follows (in thousands):
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | Metals | | Steel | | | | | | | | | | | | | ||
For the three-month period ended | | Steel | | Recycling | | Fabrication | | Aluminum | | | | | | | | | | ||||
March 31, 2026 | | Operations | | Operations | | Operations | | Operations | | Other (a) | | Eliminations | | Consolidated | |||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net sales - disaggregated revenue | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
External | | $ | | | $ | | | $ | | | $ | | | $ | | | $ | - | | $ | |
External Non-United States | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - | | | |
Intersegment | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ( | | | - |
Net sales | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ( | | | |
Less: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Cost of goods sold | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ( | | | |
Other segment items (b) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ( | | | |
Operating income (loss) | | | | | | | | | | | | ( | | | ( | | | ( | | | |
Interest expense, net of capitalized interest | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |||
Other income, net | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ( |
Income before income taxes | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | $ | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Depreciation and amortization | | $ | | | $ | | | $ | | | $ | | | $ | | | $ | ( | | $ | |
Capital expenditures | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ( | | | |
Total Assets | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | (c) | | ( | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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STEEL DYNAMICS, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)
Note 8. Segment Information (Continued)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | Metals | | Steel | | | | | | | | | | | | | ||
For the three-month period ended | | Steel | | Recycling | | Fabrication | | Aluminum | | | | | | | | | | ||||
March 31, 2025 | | Operations | | Operations | | Operations | | Operations | | Other (a) | | Eliminations | | Consolidated | |||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net sales - disaggregated revenue | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
External | | $ | | | $ | | | $ | | | $ | | | $ | | | $ | - | | $ | |
External Non-United States | | | | | | | | | | | | - | | | | | | - | | | |
Intersegment | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - | | | ( | | | - |
Net sales | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ( | | | |
Less: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Cost of goods sold | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ( | | | |
Other segment items (b) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ( | | | |
Operating income (loss) | | | | | | | | | | | | ( | | | ( | | | ( | | | |
Interest expense, net of capitalized interest | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |||
Other income, net | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ( |
Income before income taxes | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | $ | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Depreciation and amortization | | $ | | | $ | | | $ | | | $ | | | $ | | | $ | - | | $ | |
Capital expenditures | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ( | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
(a) Amounts included in Other are from subsidiary operations that are below the quantitative thresholds required for reportable segments and primarily consist of a joint venture and the idled Minnesota ironmaking operations. Also included are certain unallocated corporate accounts, such as the company's senior unsecured credit facility, senior notes, certain other investments and certain profit sharing expenses.
(b) Other segment items for each reportable operating segment include selling, general, and administrative expenses including payroll & benefit expenses and professional service expenses. Other segment items within Other include selling, general, and administrative expenses such as payroll & benefit expenses, companywide equity-based compensation expenses, and professional service expenses, as well as companywide profit sharing expense and amortization of intangible assets.
(c) Asset amounts included in Other consist of assets held by subsidiary operations that are below the quantitative thresholds required for reportable segments and the company's corporate assets. Corporate assets primarily consist of cash, investments, and intra-company debt.
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ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Forward-Looking Statements
This report contains some predictive statements about future events, including statements related to conditions in domestic or global economies, conditions in steel, aluminum, and recycled metals market places, Steel Dynamics' revenues, costs of purchased materials, future profitability and earnings, and the operation of new, existing or planned facilities. These statements, which we generally precede or accompany by such typical conditional words as "anticipate", "intend", "believe", "estimate", "plan", "seek", "project", or "expect", or by the words "may", "will", or "should", are intended to be made as "forward-looking", subject to many risks and uncertainties, within the safe harbor protections of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements speak only as of this date and are based upon information and assumptions, which we consider reasonable as of this date, concerning our businesses and the environments in which they operate. Such predictive statements are not guarantees of future performance, and we undertake no duty to update or revise any such statements. Some factors that could cause such forward-looking statements to turn out differently than anticipated include: (1) domestic and global economic factors; (2) global steelmaking overcapacity and imports of steel, together with increased scrap prices; (3) the cyclical nature of the metals industries and the industries we serve; (4) volatility and major fluctuations in prices and availability of scrap metal, scrap substitutes and supplies, and our potential inability to pass higher costs on to our customers; (5) cost and availability of electricity, natural gas, oil, and other energy resources are subject to volatile market conditions; (6) increased environmental, greenhouse gas emissions and sustainability considerations from our customers and investors or related regulations; (7) compliance with and changes in environmental and remediation requirements; (8) significant price and other forms of competition from other steel and aluminum producers, scrap processors and alternative materials; (9) availability of an adequate source of supply of scrap for our metals recycling operations; (10) cybersecurity threats and risks to the security of our sensitive data and information technology; (11) the implementation of our growth strategy; (12) our ability to retain, develop and attract key personnel; (13) litigation and legal compliance; (14) unexpected equipment downtime or shutdowns; (15) difficulties in the launch or production ramp-up of new products; (16) our aluminum operations depend on a core group of significant customers; (17) governmental agencies may refuse to grant or renew some of our licenses and permits; (18) our existing debt agreements contain, and any future financing agreements may contain, restrictive covenants that may limit our flexibility; and (19) the impacts of impairment charges.
More specifically, we refer you to our more detailed explanation of these and other factors and risks that may cause such predictive statements to turn out differently, as set forth in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K under the headings Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements and Risk Factors for the year ended December 31, 2025, in our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, or in other reports which we from time to time file with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These reports are available publicly on the Securities and Exchange Commission website, www.sec.gov, and on our website, www.steeldynamics.com under “Investors – SEC Filings.”
Description of the Business
We are a leading industrial metals solutions company, with facilities located throughout the United States and Mexico. We operate a circular manufacturing model, producing high-quality, lower-carbon-emission products with recycled scrap as the primary input. We have also recently added aluminum operations, further diversifying our product offerings to supply aluminum flat rolled products with higher recycled content to the countercyclical sustainable beverage can industry, in addition to the automotive and industrial sectors. Our primary sources of revenue are currently from the manufacture and sale of steel products, the processing and sale of recycled ferrous and nonferrous metals, and the fabrication and sale of steel joists and deck products.
Operating Statement Classifications
Net Sales. Net sales from our operations are a factor of volumes shipped, product mix, and related pricing. We charge premium prices for certain grades of steel and aluminum, product dimensions, certain smaller volumes, and for value-added processing or coating of our steel products. Except for the steel fabrication operations, we recognize revenues from sales and the allowance for estimated returns and claims from these sales at the point in time control of the product transfers to the customer, upon shipment or delivery. Our steel fabrication operations recognize revenues over time based on completed fabricated tons to date as a percentage of total tons required for each contract.
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Costs of Goods Sold. Our costs of goods sold represent all direct and indirect costs associated with the manufacture of our products. The principal elements of these costs are scrap and scrap substitutes (which represent the most significant single component of our consolidated costs of goods sold), steel substrate, direct and indirect labor and related benefits, alloys, zinc, transportation and freight, repairs and maintenance, utilities such as electricity and natural gas, and depreciation.
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses. Selling, general and administrative expenses consist of all costs associated with our sales, finance and accounting, and administrative departments, including, among other items, labor and related benefits, and professional services.
Companywide profit sharing and amortization of intangible assets are each separately presented in the statements of income.
Interest Expense, net of Capitalized Interest. Interest expense consists of interest associated with our senior credit facilities and other debt, net of interest costs that are required to be capitalized during the construction period of certain capital investment projects.
Other Income, net. Other income consists of interest income earned on our temporary cash deposits, short-term and other investments, and any other non-operating income activity, including income from investments in unconsolidated affiliates accounted for under the equity method. Other expense consists of any non-operating costs, such as certain acquisition and financing expenses.
Results Overview
In the first quarter of 2026, we achieved record quarterly steel shipments of 3.6 million tons. Underlying domestic steel demand strengthened during the quarter, as customer orders rebounded and backlogs increased, also benefitting our metals recycling operations segment, which achieved notable improvement in operating income in the first quarter of 2026 compared to the first quarter of 2025. Our steel fabrication operations also experienced increased customer orders and backlogs, with sales increasing in the first quarter of 2026 compared to the first quarter of 2025. Finally, our aluminum operations segment continued to achieve successful production and qualifications of industrial, beverage can and automotive quality flat rolled aluminum products.
Consolidated operating income increased $262.9 million, or 96%, to $538.0 million for the first quarter of 2026, compared to the first quarter of 2025 as steel and metals recycling operations metal spreads expanded. First quarter 2026 net income attributable to Steel Dynamics, Inc. increased $186.3 million, or 86%, to $403.4 million, compared to the first quarter of 2025, consistent with increased operating income.
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Segment Operating Results 2026 vs. 2025 (dollars in thousands)
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| Three Months Ended March 31, | ||||||
| 2026 | | % Change | | 2025 | ||
Net sales: | | | | | | | |
Steel Operations Segment | $ | 3,656,764 | | 16% | | $ | 3,154,430 |
Metals Recycling Operations Segment | | 1,125,432 | | 5% | | | 1,072,507 |
Steel Fabrication Operations Segment | | 355,454 | | 1% | | | 352,463 |
Aluminum Operations Segment | | 242,099 | | 141% | | | 100,647 |
Other | | 490,598 | | 41% | | | 348,401 |
| | 5,870,347 | | | | | 5,028,448 |
Intra-company | | (665,489) | | | | | (659,253) |
| $ | 5,204,858 | | 19% | | $ | 4,369,195 |
| | | | | | | |
Operating income (loss): | | | | | | | |
Steel Operations Segment | $ | 555,490 | | 143% | | $ | 228,862 |
Metals Recycling Operations Segment | | 47,467 | | 85% | | | 25,710 |
Steel Fabrication Operations Segment | | 89,514 | | (23)% | | | 116,746 |
Aluminum Operations Segment | | (64,592) | | (125)% | | | (28,735) |
Other | | (82,473) | | (24)% | | | (66,433) |
| | 545,406 | | | | | 276,150 |
Intra-company | | (7,402) | | | | | (1,006) |
| $ | 538,004 | | 96% | | $ | 275,144 |
Steel Operations Segment |
Steel operations include our electric arc furnace (EAF) steel mills, including Butler Flat Roll Division, Columbus Flat Roll Division, Southwest-Sinton Flat Roll Division, Structural and Rail Division, Engineered Bar Products Division, and Roanoke Bar Division; steel coating and processing operations at Steel of West Virginia, The Techs, Heartland Flat Roll Division, United Steel Supply, New Process Steel, L.P. (“NPS”), and Vulcan Threaded Products, Inc.; warehouse operations in Mexico; and a 75% controlling equity interest in SDI Biocarbon Solutions, LLC. Steel operations accounted for 68% and 70% of our consolidated net sales during the three-month periods ending March 31, 2026, and 2025, respectively.
Steel Operations Segment Shipments (tons):
| | | | | |
| | | | | |
| Three Months Ended March 31, | ||||
| 2026 | | % Change | | 2025 |
| | | | | |
Total shipments | 3,638,868 | | 5% | | 3,481,539 |
Intra-segment shipments | (568,331) | | | | (321,479) |
Steel Operations Segment shipments | 3,070,537 | | (3)% | | 3,160,060 |
| | | | | |
External shipments | 2,966,124 | | (3)% | | 3,071,735 |
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Steel Operations Segment Results 2026 vs. 2025
During the first quarter of 2026, our steel operations achieved record shipments of 3.6 million tons (3.1 million excluding intra-segment). Underlying steel demand strengthened during the first quarter of 2026, resulting in increased shipments compared to the first quarter of 2025 and particularly the sequential fourth quarter of 2025. Steel prices continued to improve, and lead times extended. We are seeing an improved steel market environment, supported by domestic trade actions, manufacturing onshoring, and infrastructure program funding. Long product steel demand remains very strong, especially for structural steel and railroad rail. First quarter 2026 total steel segment average selling prices increased 19%, or $193 per ton, compared to the first quarter of 2025, while segment shipments decreased 3% as we have continued to maximize our circular manufacturing model by increasing intra-company shipments. Net sales for the steel operations in the first quarter of 2026 increased 16% compared to the same period in 2025, due to the increased average selling prices.
Metallic raw materials used in our electric arc furnaces represent our single most significant steel manufacturing cost, generally comprising approximately 55% to 65% of our steel mill operations’ manufacturing costs. Our metallic raw material cost per net ton consumed in our steel mills increased $10 per ton, or 3%, in the first quarter of 2026, compared to the same period in 2025, consistent with overall increased domestic ferrous scrap pricing noted below in the Metals Recycling Operations segment discussion.
In the first quarter of 2026, as a result of average selling prices rising more than scrap costs, metal spread (which we define as the difference between average steel mill selling prices and the cost of ferrous scrap consumed in our steel mills) increased 30% compared to the first quarter of 2025. As a result of this metal spread expansion, operating income for the steel operations increased 143%, to $555.5 million, in the first quarter of 2026, compared to the same period in 2025.
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Metals Recycling Operations Segment |
Metals recycling operations include our Omni ferrous and nonferrous processing, transportation, marketing, brokerage, and scrap management services primarily located throughout the United States, and in Central and Northern Mexico. Our steel mills utilize a large portion of the ferrous scrap sold by our metals recycling operations as raw material in our steelmaking operations, and the remainder is sold to other consumers, such as other steel manufacturers and foundries. In the first quarters of 2026 and 2025, 62% of metals recycling operations ferrous scrap was sold to our own steel mills, while our steel mill utilization was 89% in the first quarters of 2026 and 2025. Metals recycling operations accounted for 11% and 12% of our consolidated net sales during the three-month periods ending March 31, 2026, and 2025, respectively.
Metals Recycling Operations Segment Shipments:
| | | | | |
| | | | | |
| Three Months Ended March 31, | ||||
| 2026 | | % Change | | 2025 |
Ferrous metal (gross tons) | | | | | |
Total | 1,473,457 | | 1% | | 1,452,432 |
Inter-company | (920,090) | | | | (894,814) |
External shipments | 553,367 | | (1)% | | 557,618 |
| | | | | |
Nonferrous metals (thousands of pounds) | | | | | |
Total | 197,385 | | (15)% | | 233,080 |
Inter-company | (27,972) | | | | (37,407) |
External shipments | 169,413 | | (13)% | | 195,673 |
Metals Recycling Operations Segment Results 2026 vs. 2025
During the first quarter of 2026, metals recycling operations net sales increased $52.9 million, or 5%, compared to the first quarter of 2025, as selling prices improved for both ferrous and nonferrous scrap. Ferrous scrap shipments increased 1% compared to the same period in 2025 while nonferrous shipments decreased 15%. Ferrous scrap average selling prices increased 5% during the first quarter of 2026 compared to the same period in 2025, while nonferrous scrap prices increased 20%. Ferrous metal spreads (which we define as the difference between average selling prices and the cost of purchased scrap) increased 12% during the first quarter of 2026 compared to the same period in 2025, and nonferrous metal spreads increased 81%, particularly due to increased copper prices. As a result of the increased metals spreads, particularly within nonferrous, metals recycling operations operating income increased 85% to $47.5 million in the first quarter of 2026 compared to the first quarter of 2025.
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Net sales for our metals recycling operations in the first nine months of 2025 increased 6% compared to the same period in 2024, driven by increased ferrous volumes and increased selling prices for both ferrous and nonferrous metals. Ferrous scrap average selling prices increased 2% during the first nine months of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024, while nonferrous average selling prices increased 7%. Ferrous shipments increased 5% and nonferrous shipments decreased 2% in the first nine months of 2025 compared to the first nine months of 2024. Ferrous metal spreads were flat, while nonferrous metal spreads increased 32% in the first nine months of 2025 compared to the first nine months of 2024. As a result of the combination of these volume and metal spread changes, metals recycling operations operating income in the first nine months of 2025 of $78.5 million increased 88% from the first nine months of 2024.Net sales for our metals recycling operations in the first nine months of 2025 increased 6% compared to the same period in 2024, driven by increased ferrous volumes and increased selling prices for both ferrous and nonferrous metals. Ferrous scrap average selling prices increased 2% during the first nine months of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024, while nonferrous average selling prices increased 7%. Ferrous shipments increased 5% and nonferrous shipments decreased 2% in the first nine months of 2025 compared to the first nine months of 2024. Ferrous metal spreads were flat, while nonferrous metal spreads increased 32% in the first nine months of 2025 compared to the first nine months of 2024. As a result of the combination of these volume and metal spread changes, metals recycling operations operating income in the first nine months of 2025 of $78.5 million increased 88% from the first nine months of 2024. |
Steel Fabrication Operations Segment |
Steel fabrication operations include our New Millennium Building Systems joist and deck plants located throughout the United States, and in Northern Mexico. Revenues from these plants are generated from the fabrication of steel joists, joist girders, and steel deck systems used within the non-residential construction industry. Steel fabrication operations accounted for 7% and 8% of our consolidated net sales during the three-month periods ending March 31, 2026, and 2025, respectively.

Steel Fabrication Operations Segment Results 2026 vs. 2025
Net sales for the steel fabrication operations increased 1% during the first quarter of 2026 compared to the same period in 2025, as average selling prices decreased $121 per ton, or 5%, and volume increased 5% from the first quarter of 2025. Customer order activity has significantly increased since the end of 2025, with the customer order backlog over 38 percent higher than a year ago and extending through the third quarter 2026. Improved demand was supported largely by the commercial, data center, manufacturing, warehouse, and healthcare sectors. Further, the accelerated announcements related to meaningful domestic investments in manufacturing and increased onshoring, coupled with the U.S. infrastructure program, are expected to positively impact demand for not only steel joist and deck products, but also for flat rolled and long product steel.
The purchase of various steel products is the largest single cost of production for our steel fabrication operations, historically representing approximately two-thirds of the total cost of manufacturing. The average cost per ton of steel consumed increased 10% in the first quarter of 2026 compared to the same period in 2025. Metal spread (which we define as the difference between average selling prices and the cost of purchased steel) contracted 14% in the first quarter of 2026 compared to the same period in 2025. Metal spread compression resulted in operating income decreasing 23% to $89.5 million in the first quarter 2026, compared to $116.7 million in the same period in 2025.
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Aluminum Operations Segment |
Aluminum operations include a 650,000-metric-ton recycled aluminum flat rolled products mill in Columbus, Mississippi; two 150,000-metric-ton satellite recycled aluminum slab centers, one in Central Mexico and one under construction in the Southwest US; and an ancillary recycled aluminum deox-rod facility. The recycled aluminum flat rolled products mill produces flat rolled aluminum products from aluminum scrap and is a complementary extension of the company’s metals recycling platform. Our product offerings are supported by various value-added finishing lines that are in production or currently being commissioned, including two CASH (Continuous Annealing Solutions Heat Treating) lines, a can end and tab coating line, and downstream processing and packaging lines. Aluminum operations accounted for 4% and 2% of our consolidated net sales during the three-month periods ending March 31, 2026, and 2025, respectively.
Aluminum Operations Segment Results 2026 vs. 2025
During the first quarter of 2026, the results of aluminum operations consisted of the continued construction, commissioning, and startup of our recycled aluminum flat rolled products mill, associated satellite recycled aluminum slab centers, and our ancillary recycled aluminum deox-rod facility. The flat rolled products mill shipped 22,500 metric tons of finished product during the first quarter of 2026, an increase of 54% from the sequential fourth quarter of 2025. We expect both shipments and earnings to increase in the second quarter of 2026. Net sales for the aluminum operations increased 141% during the first quarter of 2026 compared to the same period in 2025 prior to the startup of our aluminum flat rolled mill, while operating income was negatively impacted by normal startup issues at our aluminum flat rolled mill, necessitating a temporary pause in operations which have since been resolved.
|
Other Consolidated Results |
First Quarter Consolidated Results 2026 vs. 2025
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses. Selling, general and administrative expenses of $175.2 million during the first quarter of 2026 decreased 4% from $181.8 million during the first quarter of 2025 primarily due to certain payroll and benefits expense reported within this category during construction and startup of the aluminum flat rolled products mill during the first quarter of 2025 now being reported in cost of goods sold in the first quarter of 2026, consistent with the commencement of production. Selling, general and administrative expenses represented 3.4% and 4.2% of net sales during the first quarters of 2026 and 2025, respectively.
Profit sharing expense during the first quarter of 2026 of $42.2 million increased 86% from $22.7 million during the same period in 2025, consistent with increased pretax earnings. This increase in profit sharing expense was the primary driver of the increased operating loss for our other operations of 24% in the first quarter of 2026 compared to the same period in 2025. Profit sharing expense for eligible employees is 8% of consolidated pretax income excluding noncontrolling interests and other items.
Interest Expense, net of Capitalized Interest. During the first quarter of 2026, net interest expense of $33.2 million increased 174% from $12.1 million during the first quarter of 2025. This increase is primarily a result of higher outstanding long-term debt balances during the first quarter of 2026 compared to the first quarter of 2025 due to our issuance of senior unsecured notes in March and November 2025.
Other Income, net. Net other income was $8.5 million in the first quarter of 2026, compared to $17.6 million in the first quarter of 2025, a decrease of $9.2 million due primarily to decreased interest income from lower invested cash balances during 2026 and decreased income from equity method investments, primarily due to the acquisition of NPS in the fourth quarter of 2025.
Income Tax Expense. First quarter 2026 income tax expense of $113.1 million, at an effective income tax rate of 22.0%, increased 80% compared to $63.0 million, at an effective income tax rate of 22.4%, during the first quarter of 2025, consistent with increased pretax earnings.
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Liquidity and Capital Resources
Capital Resources and Long-term Debt. Our business is capital intensive and requires substantial expenditures for, among other things, the purchase and maintenance of equipment used in our operations. Our short-term and long-term liquidity needs arise primarily from working capital requirements, capital expenditures, including expansion projects, principal and interest payments related to our outstanding indebtedness, dividends to our shareholders, potential stock repurchases and acquisitions or investments. We have met and intend to continue to meet these liquidity requirements primarily with available cash and cash provided by operations, long-term borrowings, and we also have availability under our unsecured Revolver. Our liquidity at March 31, 2026, is as follows (in thousands):
| | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | |
| | | Cash and equivalents | | $ | 556,527 | | | |
| | | Other investments | | | 249,959 | | | |
| | | Revolver availability | | | 1,190,621 | | | |
| | | Total liquidity | | $ | 1,997,107 | | | |
Our total outstanding debt of $4.2 billion was unchanged from December 31, 2025. Our total long-term debt to capitalization ratio (representing our long-term debt, including current maturities, divided by the sum of our long-term debt, redeemable noncontrolling interests, and our total stockholders’ equity) was 31.5% and 32.1% at March 31, 2026, and December 31, 2025, respectively.
Our unsecured credit agreement has a senior unsecured revolving credit facility (Facility), which provides a $1.2 billion Revolver and matures in July 2028. Subject to certain conditions, we have the ability to increase the Facility size by $500.0 million. The unsecured Revolver is available to fund working capital, capital expenditures, and other general corporate purposes. The Facility contains financial covenants and other covenants pertaining to our ability to incur indebtedness and permit liens on certain assets. Our ability to borrow funds within the terms of the unsecured Revolver is dependent upon our continued compliance with the financial and other covenants. At March 31, 2026, we had $1.2 billion of availability on the Revolver, $9.4 million of outstanding letters of credit and other obligations which reduce availability, and there were no borrowings outstanding.
The financial covenants under our Facility state that we must maintain an interest coverage ratio of not less than 2.50:1.00. Our interest coverage ratio is calculated by dividing our last-twelve-months (LTM) consolidated EBITDA as defined in the Facility (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization, and certain other non-cash transactions as defined in the Facility) by our LTM gross interest expense, less amortization of financing fees. In addition, a debt to capitalization ratio of not more than 0.60:1.00 must be maintained. At March 31, 2026, our interest coverage ratio and debt to capitalization ratio were 13.72:1.00 and 0.32:1.00, respectively. We were in compliance with these covenants at March 31, 2026, and we anticipate we will continue to be in compliance during the next twelve months.
Working Capital (representing excess of current assets over current liabilities). We generated cash flow from operations of $148.3 million in the first quarter of 2026 compared to $152.6 million in the same 2025 period. Working capital increased $262.5 million, or 6%, during the first quarter of 2026 to $4.6 billion at March 31, 2026. The increase in working capital included a $373.8 million increase in accounts receivable consistent with increased sales prices and volumes, a $169.6 million increase in inventories consistent with the startup of our recycled aluminum flat rolled products mill, and a $163.0 million decrease in accrued expenses primarily related to the $120.1 million payment of our annual companywide profit sharing funding, partially offset by a $148.1 million increase in accounts payable consistent with increased scrap prices for our metals recycling operations.
Capital Investments. During the first quarter of 2026, we invested $138.0 million in property, plant and equipment, primarily within our aluminum operations and steel operations segments, compared with $305.5 million invested during the same period in 2025. We are nearing completion of commissioning and startup of our recycled aluminum flat rolled products mill and one of the two supporting satellite recycled aluminum slab centers, which are being funded by available cash and cash flow from operations. Our liquidity of $2.0 billion and anticipated future operating cash flow generation is sufficient to provide for our planned 2026 capital requirements.
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Cash Dividends. As a reflection of continued confidence in our current and future cash flow generation capability and financial position, we increased our quarterly cash dividend by 6% to $0.53 per share in the first quarter of 2026 (from $0.50 per share for each quarter in 2025), resulting in declared cash dividends of $76.6 million during the first quarter of 2026, compared to $74.7 million during the same period in 2025. We paid cash dividends of $72.5 million and $69.5 million during the first quarters of 2026 and 2025, respectively. Our board of directors approves the payment of dividends on a quarterly basis. The determination to pay cash dividends in the future is at the discretion of our board of directors, after taking into account various factors provided by executive management, including our financial condition, results of operations, outstanding indebtedness, current and anticipated cash needs and growth plans.
Other. Our board of directors has authorized share repurchase programs during prior years, the most recent of which occurred in February 2025 for a program of up to $1.5 billion of the company’s common stock. Under the share repurchase programs, purchases take place as and when we determine in open market or private transactions made based upon the market price of our common stock, the nature of other investment opportunities or growth projects, our cash flows from operations, and general economic conditions. The share repurchase programs do not require us to acquire any specific number of shares, and may be modified, suspended, extended, or terminated by us at any time. The share repurchase programs do not have an expiration date. There were $115.1 million and $250.1 million of share repurchases during the first quarters of 2026 and 2025, respectively. As of March 31, 2026, we had $687.0 million remaining available to purchase under the February 2025 share repurchase program.
Our ability to meet our debt service obligations and reduce our total debt will depend upon our future performance which, in turn, will depend upon general economic, financial, and business conditions, along with competition, legislation and regulatory factors that are largely beyond our control. In addition, we cannot assure that our operating results, cash flows, access to credit markets and capital resources will be sufficient for repayment of our indebtedness in the future. We believe that based upon current levels of operations and anticipated growth, cash flows from operations, together with other available sources of funds, including borrowings under our Facility, if necessary, will be adequate for the next twelve months for making required payments of principal and interest on our indebtedness, funding working capital requirements, and funding anticipated capital expenditures.
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ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
Commodity Risk
In the normal course of business, we are exposed to the market risk and price fluctuations related to the sale of our products and to the purchase of raw materials used in our operations, such as metallic raw materials, electricity, water, natural gas and its transportation services, fuel, air products, zinc, and electrodes. Our risk strategy associated with product sales has generally been to obtain competitive prices for our products and to allow operating results to reflect market price movements dictated by supply and demand.
Our risk strategy associated with the purchase of raw materials utilized within our operations has generally been to make some commitments with suppliers relating to future expected requirements for some commodities such as electricity, water, natural gas and its transportation services, fuel, air products, zinc, and electrodes. Certain of these commitments contain provisions which require us to “take or pay” for specified quantities without regard to actual usage for periods of generally up to 5 years for physical commodity requirements and commodity transportation requirements, with some extending beyond, and for up to 14 years for air products and 26 years for water products. We utilized such “take or pay” requirements during the past three years under these contracts. We believe that production requirements will be such that consumption of the products or services purchased under these commitments will occur in the normal production process.
In our metals recycling, aluminum, and steel operations, we have certain fixed price contracts with various customers and suppliers for future delivery of nonferrous and ferrous metals. Our risk strategy has been to enter into base metal financial contracts with the goal to protect the profit margin, within certain parameters, that was contemplated when we entered into the transaction with the customer or vendor. As of March 31, 2026, substantially all of these financial contracts have a settlement date within the next twelve months. We believe the customer contracts associated with the financial contracts will be fully consummated.
ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
| (a) | Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures |
As required, we carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures, as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act). Based on this evaluation, our principal executive officer and principal financial officer concluded that, as of March 31, 2026, the end of the period covered by this quarterly report, our disclosure controls and procedures were designed to provide and were effective to provide reasonable assurance that the information required to be disclosed by us in the reports we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the applicable rules and forms, and that it is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our principal executive and principal financial officers, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
| (b) | Changes in Internal Controls Over Financial Reporting |
No changes in our internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act) occurred during the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2026, that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
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PART II OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
We are involved in various litigation matters, including administrative proceedings, regulatory proceedings, governmental investigations, environmental matters, and commercial and construction contract disputes, none of which are currently expected to have a material impact on our financial condition, results of operations, or liquidity.
We may also be involved from time to time in various governmental investigations, regulatory proceedings or judicial actions seeking penalties, injunctive relief, and/or remediation under federal, state and local environmental laws and regulations. The United States EPA has conducted such investigations and proceedings involving us, in some instances along with state environmental regulators, under various environmental laws, including RCRA, CERCLA, the Clean Water Act and the Clean Air Act. Some of these matters have resulted in fines or penalties, exclusive of interest and costs, which did not exceed $1 million in aggregate, as of March 31, 2026.
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
No material changes have occurred to the indicated risk factors as disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025.
ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS
(c) Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
We purchased the following equity securities registered by us pursuant to Section 12 of the Exchange Act during the three-month period ended March 31, 2026.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Period | | Total Number of Shares Purchased | | Average Price Paid per Share | | Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Programs (1) | | Maximum Dollar Value of Shares That May Yet be Purchased Under the Programs | |||||
Quarter ended March 31, 2026 | | | | | | | | | | | | ||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
January 1 - 31 | | 103,374 | | | $ | 175.36 | | | 103,374 | | | $ | 783,021 |
February 1 - 28 | | - | | | | - | | | - | | | | 783,021 |
March 1 - 31 | | 544,171 | | | | 178.18 | | | 544,171 | | | | 687,033 |
| | 647,545 | | | | | | | 647,545 | | | | |
| (1) | In February 2025, our board of directors authorized a share repurchase program of up to $1.5 billion of the company’s common stock. |
ITEM 3. DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES
None.
ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES
None.
ITEM 5. OTHER INFORMATION
During the three-month period ended March 31, 2026, none of the Company’s directors or executive officers
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ITEM 6. EXHIBITS
Reference is made to the Exhibit Index preceding the signature page hereto, which Exhibit Index is hereby incorporated into this item.
EXHIBIT INDEX
| |
Articles of Incorporation | |
| |
3.1 | Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of Steel Dynamics, Inc., reflecting all amendments thereto through May 11, 2023, incorporated herein by reference from Exhibit 3.1 to our Form 10-Q filed August 8, 2023 (File No.: 000-21719). |
| |
3.2 | Amended and Restated Bylaws of Steel Dynamics, Inc., reflecting all amendments thereto through January 31, 2024, incorporated herein by reference from Exhibit 3.2 to our Form 10-K filed February 29, 2024 (File No.: 000-21719). |
| |
Executive Officer Certifications | |
| |
31.1* | Certification of Chief Executive Officer required by Item 307 of Regulation S-K as promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission and pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. |
| |
31.2* | Certification of Chief Financial Officer required by Item 307 of Regulation S-K as promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission and pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. |
| |
32.1* | Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. |
| |
32.2* | Certification of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. |
| |
XBRL Documents | |
| |
101.INS* | XBRL Instance Document - the instance document does not appear in the Interactive Data File because its XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document. |
| |
101.SCH* | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document |
| |
101.CAL* | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Document |
| |
101.DEF* | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Definition Document |
| |
101.LAB* | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Document |
| |
101.PRE* | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Presentation Document |
| |
104* | Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as Inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101) |
* | Filed concurrently herewith |
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SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
April 27, 2026 | | |
| | |
| | STEEL DYNAMICS, INC. |
| | |
| By: | /s/ Theresa E. Wagler |
| | Theresa E. Wagler |
| | Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer |
| | (Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer) |
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