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Worthington SteelC
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2026-06-27
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Investor releaseQuarter not tagged2026-06-27

How To Earn $500 A Month From Worthington Steel Stock Ahead Of Q4 Earnings

Benzinga

Benzinga and Yahoo Finance LLC may earn commission or revenue on some items through the links below. Worthington Steel, Inc. will release its fourth quarter earnings report after the closing bell on Wednesday, June 24. Analysts expect the company to report quarterly earnings of 73 cents per share, down from $1.05 per share in the year-ago period. The consensus estimate for Worthington Steel’s quarterly revenue is $992 million. It reported $832.9 million last year, according to Benzinga Pro. Ahead of quarterly earnings, Keybanc analyst Samuel McKinney, on June 2, maintained Worthington Steel with an Overweight rating and raised the price target from $38 to $46. Don’t Miss: The Average Family’s Finances Are More Complicated Than Ever. These Tools Aim To Make Them Easier To Manage. Think Your ‘Safe’ Stocks Protect You? You’re Ignoring the Real Growth Triggers — Here’s What to Add Now With the recent buzz around Worthington Steel, some investors may be eyeing potential gains from the company’s dividends too. As of now, Worthington Steel has an annual dividend yield of 1.61%, which is a quarterly dividend amount of 16 cents per share (64 cents a year). So, how can investors exploit its dividend yield to pocket a regular $500 monthly? To earn $500 per month or $6,000 annually from dividends alone, you would need an investment of approximately $372,750 or around 9,375 shares. For a more modest $100 per month or $1,200 per year, you would need $74,550 or around 1,875 shares. To calculate: Divide the desired annual income ($6,000 or $1,200) by the dividend ($0.64 in this case). So, $6,000 / $0.64 = 9,375 ($500 per month), and $1,200 / $0.64 = 1,875 shares ($100 per month). Note that dividend yield can change on a rolling basis, as the dividend payment and the stock price both fluctuate over time. See Also: Caught With Nothing Saved for Retirement? These 5 Game‑Changing Tips Could Still Save You How that works: The dividend yield is computed by dividing the annual dividend payment by the stock’s current price. For example, if a stock pays an annual dividend of $2 and is currently priced at $50, the dividend yield would be 4% ($2/$50). However, if the stock price increases to $60, the dividend yield drops to 3.33% ($2/$60). Conversely, if the stock price falls to $40, the dividend yield rises to 5% ($2/$40). Similarly, changes in the dividend payment can impact the yie...

Investor releaseQuarter not tagged2026-06-25

Worthington Steel Inc (WS) Q4 2026 Earnings Call Highlights: Navigating Challenges and Seizing ...

GuruFocus.com

This article first appeared on GuruFocus. Net Sales: Increased by 12% to $929.2 million. Adjusted EBITDA: $75.2 million. Adjusted Earnings Per Share: $0.74. Net Loss: $48.7 million, or $0.98 per share. Pre-tax Acquisition Related Expenses: $15.5 million. Pre-tax Loss on Foreign Currency Forward Contract: $11.5 million. Pre-tax Income from Klockner Securities: $17.2 million. Pre-tax Non-cash Impairment in Electrical Steel: $94.5 million. Total Shipments: Approximately 939,000 tons, down 4% year over year. Direct Sale Volume: Increased 3% year over year. Automotive Direct Shipments: Increased 5% year over year. Energy Volume: Up 24% due to new program wins in the solar market. Agriculture Volume: Up 11% due to improved OEM equipment demand and share gains. Construction Market Shipments: Down 14% year over year. Heavy Truck Shipments: Down 14% year over year. Free Cash Flow: $8 million. Capital Expenditures: $37.1 million in the quarter. Cash Flow from Operations: $45 million. Net Debt: $172 million, up $11 million sequentially. Quarterly Dividend: $0.16 per share, payable September 29, 2026. Warning! GuruFocus has detected 5 Warning Sign with WS. Is WS fairly valued? Test your thesis with our free DCF calculator. Release Date: June 25, 2026 For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript. Worthington Steel Inc (NYSE:WS) completed the largest acquisition in its history by becoming the majority shareholder of Klockner & Company, significantly expanding its scale, capabilities, and market reach. The acquisition of Klockner provides Worthington Steel Inc (NYSE:WS) with a broader set of products and processing capabilities, enhancing its offerings in aluminum, stainless, long products, plate, and fabrication. The company reported a 12% increase in net sales to $929.2 million, demonstrating strong revenue growth. Worthington Steel Inc (NYSE:WS) continues to make progress in operational efficiency, applying Lean Flow principles to reduce inventory and improve cycle times at its facilities. The company is advancing its use of artificial intelligence, achieving over 90% accuracy in automating customer order management processes, which enhances scalability and reduces manual effort. Worthington Steel Inc (NYSE:WS) reported a net loss attributable to controlling interest of $48.7 million, or 98 cents per share, compared...

TranscriptFY2026 Q42026-06-25

FY2026 Q4 earnings call transcript

Earnings source - 62 paragraphs
Operator

Thank you for standing by, and welcome to Worthington Steel's fourth quarter fiscal 2026 earnings call. After today's prepared remarks, we will host a question and answer session. If you would like to ask a question, please press star one to raise your hand. To withdraw your question, press star one again. I would now like to turn the call over to Melissa Dykstra, Vice President of Corporate Communications and Investor Relations. Melissa, please go ahead.

Melissa Dykstra

Thank you, operator. Good morning and welcome to Worthington Steel's fourth quarter fiscal year 2026 earnings call. On our call today, we have Jeff Gilmore, Worthington Steel's President and Chief Executive Officer, and Tim Adams, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. Before we begin, I'd like to remind everyone that certain statements made today are forward-looking within the meaning of the 1995 Private Securities Litigation Reform Act. These statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those suggested. We issued our earnings release yesterday after the market closed. Please refer to it for more detail on factors that could cause actual results to differ materially. Unless noted as reported, today's discussion will reference non-GAAP financial measures, which adjust for certain items included in our GAAP results and are presented on a standalone basis.

Melissa Dykstra

You can find definitions of each non-GAAP measure and GAAP to non-GAAP reconciliations within our earnings release. Today's call is being recorded, and a replay will be available later today on worthingtonsteel.com. Now, I'll turn it over to Jeff Gilmore.

Geoff Gilmore

Good morning, and thank you for joining us. Before I get into the quarter, I want to start with the most important development since our last call. On June 3rd, we completed the Klöckner & Co. transaction and became the majority shareholder of the company. This is the largest acquisition in Worthington Steel's history, and it is a defining step in building our future. I want to say thank you to our teams across Worthington Steel and to our new colleagues at Klöckner. This was a demanding quarter with a lot happening at once. Through it all, our team stayed focused on safety, serving customers, and executing every day while we took a major strategic step as a company. The transaction builds directly on what we have been working towards since becoming a standalone public company.

Geoff Gilmore

A business anchored in value-added processing, disciplined capital allocation, and continuous improvement through the Worthington Business System. The Klöckner acquisition materially expands our scale, our capabilities, and our reach. It gives us a broader set of products and processing capabilities, a larger and more complementary footprint, and increased end market diversification. Klöckner brings an established footprint and a portfolio that broadens our offerings to include aluminum, stainless, long products, plate and fabrication, while complementing our strengths in carbon flat roll and our growing position in electrical steel. Put simply, this transaction gives us more ways to serve our customers, more avenues for profitable growth, and further strengthens our ability to deliver strong performance through cycles. That diversification matters. A broader, more balanced portfolio paired with more value-added processing can improve the quality of earnings through the cycle and reduce reliance on any single end market or product category.

Geoff Gilmore

We also see a clear opportunity to create value over time through practical levers we understand well: operating discipline, procurement scale, network efficiency, and best practice sharing. As we continue integration planning, these opportunities are becoming even more evident, and we remain confident about our ability to achieve our synergy targets as we move through the required process and achieve operational control. With that in mind, I also want to spend a few minutes on where we are in the Klöckner takeover process. As you know, the transaction closed on June 3rd, and Worthington owns approximately 62% of Klöckner's outstanding shares. There are still several steps to take before Worthington Steel and Klöckner operate as one company. In late March, we announced our intention to pursue a domination and profit and loss transfer agreement or DPLTA.

Geoff Gilmore

At a high level, this is a German corporate structure that, once approved and effective, allows the parent company to direct the management board of the subsidiary and assures alignment across the combined organization. For Worthington Steel, the practical benefit is that it supports more effective coordination, helps us move faster once the appropriate approvals are in place, and creates a clearer path to realizing a lot of the synergies we identified. Like the tender offer process, approval of a DPLTA has to follow the required German legal steps, including shareholder approval. We believe it is an important part of bringing the companies together in a disciplined way. Additionally, we have announced our intention to pursue a delisting of Klöckner shares. Now that the transaction is closed, we believe the business is better positioned as part of Worthington Steel's operating platform as a non-listed company.

Geoff Gilmore

Over time, delisting should simplify the structure, eliminate public company requirements, and reduce administrative burden. It should give us greater flexibility to focus on operating performance, customer service, integration, and value creation. It does not change the fundamentals of why we pursued the acquisition. We remain focused on building a stronger, more diversified metals processing company with a clear path to long-term value. With the close behind us, our focus turns to execution. Integration is not something you just announce. It is something you deliver. Our teams are focused on day one readiness, integration governance, and aligning priorities so we can bring the organizations together effectively and begin capturing the value we've committed to. We will be deliberate. We will protect customer service, we will focus on cultural integration, and we will share more each quarter.

Geoff Gilmore

Before we move on to discuss the quarter, I want to recognize the teams who got us here. Closing a highly structured cross-border transaction, raising more than $1 billion of new capital, and securing regulatory approvals sooner than expected requires real discipline and intense coordination across legal, finance, treasury, operations, IT, HR, communications, and many other functions. I want to thank everyone on our team who had a hand in bringing the transaction to a successful close. With that, let's turn to our results for the fourth quarter. As we mentioned during our last call, we expected several non-recurring items related to the Kloeckner transaction. In addition, we also recorded one-time non-cash impairment charges related to the impairment of certain electrical steel assets in both Europe and the United States. Our results reflect that, and Tim will walk through those items in more detail.

Geoff Gilmore

Net sales increased by 12% to $929.2 million. Adjusted EBITDA was $75.2 million, adjusted earnings per share were $0.74. From a macro standpoint, the quarter reflected stable to soft conditions. Customers remained deliberate and inventory disciplined, we continued to see sensitivity to interest rates and broader uncertainty. Trade policy continues to be an important factor, the industry needs consistency. Customers make long-term sourcing and investment decisions based on rules that must be reliable. As we head toward USMCA negotiations, we welcome steps that tighten enforcement and ensure the agreement delivers on its intent to support North American supply chains and North American manufacturing. At the same time, we remain cautiously optimistic that conditions will improve with the end of the war with Iran and the easing of macro uncertainty.

Geoff Gilmore

The pace and timing will depend heavily on various factors, particularly the interest rate path and broader geopolitical stability. If those factors move in a constructive direction, we believe demand can improve as we move through the year. Let me break down what we saw in our key markets and what we are watching in the coming months. In automotive, the broader North American market has been steadier than many expected, even with the affordability and macro noise still out there. Production and build plans are holding up, the mix continues to shift in a pragmatic way, with OEMs placing more emphasis on hybrids while EV growth has slowed as expected. For us, the takeaway is simple: this is an environment where execution and share matter. We like how we are positioned in the programs and applications where quality and reliability win. In construction, conditions remain mixed.

Geoff Gilmore

There are small pockets that continue to do well, including data center-related activity, we saw broader weakness as sustained improvement is still sensitive to interest rates and confidence. Until rates move down more meaningfully, customers are going to stay disciplined and selective. We will stay close to demand signals, protect mix, and be ready to move when the market turns. We saw improvements in the ag sector this quarter, partially due to share gains. Looking more broadly, the ag market remains relatively weak. The tone is still cautious, recovery is likely to be gradual rather than immediate, influenced by farm economics and policy conditions. We are staying disciplined, supporting customers, focusing on the work where we can add value, we are positioned to benefit as the cycle improves. Our shipments to the heavy truck and trailer segment were down this quarter.

Geoff Gilmore

We are seeing signs of improvement in the Class 8 sector and are more optimistic about the back half of calendar year 2026. We expect a rebound in the trailer market to push back into 2027. There are several other highlights I'd like to point out. On the transformation front, we continue to build repeatable operating capabilities that will improve performance across our network. Last quarter, I described using lean flow principles at our Delta, Ohio, facility to reduce inventory, improve cycle times, and lower working capital intensity by aligning material release and production directly to customer demand. This quarter, we successfully applied those same concepts at our Bowling Green, Kentucky, facility. Working closely with one of our largest customers and key supply chain partners, the team redesigned how raw material enters the operation, transitioning from a traditional push system to a demand-driven pull and replenish model.

Geoff Gilmore

The result was roughly a 37% reduction in inventory while maintaining 100% on-time delivery performance. More importantly, the redesign removed a significant raw material storage constraint within the facility, freeing floor space, and creating additional flexibility to support future demand and growth without additional capital investment. Importantly, the methodology is proving transferable. We are beginning to package the lessons learned from Delta and Bowling Green into a scalable operating model that can be deployed across our footprint. As we enter fiscal 2027, we are already expanding these flow concepts into our specialty strip business while evaluating where these concepts may apply across the Kloeckner footprint. Over time, we believe this supports a broader objective of structurally lowering working capital, improving operating flexibility, accelerating acquisition synergies, and creating additional capacity for growth without relying on higher inventory levels. We also continue to make practical progress with artificial intelligence.

Geoff Gilmore

This quarter, we expand our automation work into customer order management at Spartan Steel Coating. Our teams developed an AI agent to process highly variable work orders from a key customer. This work historically required employees to review emails, interpret different order formats, identify specifications, and manually enter information into our ERP system. Because the orders varied so much, this was not a good fit for traditional rules-based automation. We created an AI agent trained with historical transaction data. The agent can understand multiple order formats, identify the correct specifications, and create transactions automatically. In testing, it achieved greater than 90% accuracy, and we expect to deploy it later this quarter. The important point is that we did not ask the customer to change how they do business with us. We built the tool to adapt to the work.

Geoff Gilmore

This is where we see real opportunity with AI, improving scalability and controls, reducing manual effort, and freeing our teams to focus on higher-value work that supports customers and growth. We also received important recognition from key customers I would like to highlight. Worthington Steel earned John Deere's partner level supplier rating for the 14th consecutive year. We were also recognized earlier this month as a General Motors Supplier of the Year for 2025, our fourth time achieving that distinction and our third year in a row. Those recognitions matter because they reflect how we show up through safety, quality, delivery, partnership, and consistency over time, and I want to recognize the teams behind those results. To the teams serving Deere and GM, thank you. Those awards were earned by your hard work and superior performance. Another area of strong performance for Worthington Steel is our culture.

Geoff Gilmore

We were selected for the 14th consecutive year as a Top Workplace in Central Ohio. This recognition is based on feedback directly from our employees, so I find it especially meaningful. Top Workplace is a designation that our colleagues at Kloeckner are recognized for as well, and I find it particularly inspiring as we bring our two cultures together over the coming months. To close, I would say this quarter reflects two things at once, steady execution in a mixed macro environment, and a major strategic step forward with the completion of the Kloeckner transaction shortly after the fiscal year-end. We remain focused on what we can control, safety, customer service, operational discipline, and transformation, and we will bring that same approach to integration. I will now turn the call over to Tim for more detail on the quarter and the financials.

Tim Adams

Thank you, Jeff, and good morning, everyone. I will frame my comments around three areas this morning. First, the underlying operating performance in the fourth quarter. Second, the items that make reported results difficult to compare year-over-year, and third, cash flow, capital allocation, and the balance sheet as we enter fiscal 2027. Our reported results include several significant items, including Kloeckner-related transaction and financing costs, as well as a non-cash impairment in our electrical steel reporting unit. Those items had a meaningful impact on results, so I will separate them from the performance of the ongoing business. Operationally, the quarter was mixed. We grew net sales and direct volumes, continued to see positive momentum in automotive and certain other end markets, and generated free cash flow while continuing to fund strategic growth projects.

Tim Adams

At the same time, adjusted EBIT was lower year-over-year, driven primarily by tighter spreads, lower toll processing volumes, and continued pressure in electrical steel. In the fourth quarter, we reported a net loss attributable to controlling interest of $48.7 million, or $0.98 per share, as compared with earnings of $55.7 million, or $1.10 per share, in the prior year quarter. Reported results included several items affecting comparability, most notably the non-cash impairment in electrical steel and several Kloeckner-related transaction financing and investment items. I will cover those items first, then move to the operating bridge. The Kloeckner-related items fall into four categories. First, we incurred $15.5 million of pre-tax acquisition related expenses, primarily advisory, legal, and regulatory fees. Second, we recognized an $11.5 million pre-tax loss on the foreign currency forward contract used to hedge a portion of the purchase price.

Tim Adams

Third, we recognized $17.2 million of pre-tax income related to the Kloeckner securities we held during the quarter, primarily mark-to-market gains. Fourth, we expensed $16.2 million of previously deferred bridge financing costs, which are reported in interest expense. In addition to the Kloeckner-related items, we recognized a $94.5 million pre-tax non-cash impairment in our electrical steel reporting unit or $1.31 per share. The charge included impairments to both goodwill and certain long-lived assets and reflects a reset in our near-term expectations for certain electrical steel end markets. In Europe, economic activity has remained softer than anticipated. While in the U.S., we have experienced increased foreign competition and a temporary slowdown in industrial motor demand. These factors affected our near-term outlook and the valuation of certain assets.

Tim Adams

While these conditions have impacted results in the short term, they do not change our confidence in the long-term fundamentals of the electrical steel market. Electrification trends, grid investment, and demand for energy-efficient applications continue to support attractive growth opportunities for our business. We remain focused on improving performance through commercial execution, operational excellence, and our transformation initiatives, and expect momentum to build, especially with our new transformer core facility in Canada coming online. Importantly, the impairment does not affect our liquidity, our cash generation, or our ability to invest in the business. It also does not change our view that electrical steel remains an important long-term growth platform, particularly in selected automotive applications and in transformer cores as our new Canadian facility comes online.

Tim Adams

Finally, in the quarter, we recognized a $1.4 million pre-tax pension gain or $0.01 per share, primarily related to a pension curtailment in Switzerland related to headcount reductions. The prior year quarterly results included several non-recurring items, including $1.7 million or $0.01 per share of pre-tax restructuring charges, primarily related to severance costs associated with our closure of the Worthington Samuel Coil Processing facility in Cleveland and an early retirement program in our TWB Company joint venture. Additionally, in the prior year quarter, we recognized a $4 million gain in miscellaneous income associated with a currency hedge on the Sitem purchase price. Excluding these items, we generated adjusted earnings of $0.74 per share in the current year quarter, compared with $1.05 per share in the prior year quarter.

Tim Adams

In the fourth quarter, we reported adjusted EBIT of $54 million, which was down $16.1 million from the prior year quarter adjusted EBIT of $70.1 million. The year-over-year decrease was driven primarily by lower direct spreads, including the impact of the year-over-year change in inventory holding gains, lower toll processing volumes, and higher SG&A, largely related to compensation and benefits, partially offset by higher direct volumes and an improved toll mix. Total shipments were approximately 939,000 tons, down 44,000 tons or 4% year-over-year, as lower toll volumes more than offset volume growth in direct sales. Direct sale volume made up 65% of our mix in the current year quarter, compared with 60% in the prior year quarter. Direct volume increased 3% compared with the year-over-year quarter. The legacy business was up 1% over the prior year quarter, increasing direct spreads by $2.1 million.

Tim Adams

Our increased shipments to the automotive market remained a bright spot. Direct shipments to automotive increased 5% year-over-year. The increase in automotive volume reflects the impact of a key automotive OEM returning to a more normal build schedule after curtailing production last fiscal year, as well as share gains from new programs. We continue to work closely with key automotive customers to develop the right solutions to meet their needs. We take a team approach in working with our customers, ensuring we have the right people executing on desired project outcomes. Outside of automotive, energy volume was up 24% due to new program wins in the solar market, and agriculture volume was up 11%, primarily due to improved OEM equipment demand and share gains.

Tim Adams

These gains were partially offset by lower shipments to the construction market, down 14%, where we saw increased competition as well as the tightness in the steel market limiting our ability to "spot and short-term contract business." Heavy truck was down 14% compared to the prior year due to ongoing market weakness. Direct spreads, excluding volume gains, were down $8.7 million year-over-year, excluding the impact of the Sitem acquisition. Direct spreads were impacted by a $6.1 million unfavorable swing in pre-tax inventory holding gains. In the current year quarter, we had estimated pre-tax inventory holding gains of $14.7 million, compared to estimated pre-tax inventory holding gains of $20.8 million in the prior year quarter. Additionally, direct spreads were unfavorably impacted by the continued compression of value-added market spreads, as well as the increasing market spread between steel raw material prices and scrap recovery.

Tim Adams

Hot rolled coil prices ended the calendar year around $900 per ton and have increased each month since then, ending at nearly $1,075 per ton in May. We expect the market price for steel to remain volatile in the near term, with expected mill maintenance outages resulting in continued extended lead times and a tight market for flat-rolled steel. Given that many of our contracts use lagging index-based pricing mechanisms, we estimate pre-tax inventory holding gains in the first quarter of fiscal 2027 will be in the range of $10 million to $15 million. Our toll processing volumes declined 15% year-over-year due to a combination of closing our Cleveland area Worthington Samuel Coil Processing facility in fiscal 2025 and near-term demand headwinds.

Tim Adams

The impact of the volume decline was $4 million, partially offset by $1.6 million of improved mix due to the addition of some spot tolling business at higher toll spreads. Turning to the other drivers for adjusted EBIT this quarter, manufacturing expenses excluding Sitem were up $2.3 million, an increase of 1%, primarily due to inflationary pressures. SG&A expense, excluding the $15.5 million impact of Kloeckner-related acquisition expenses, was up $6.8 million, primarily due to increased compensation and benefits expense in the legacy business and $4.3 million of incremental SG&A with the addition of Sitem. Finally, equity earnings from Serviacero, our Mexico-based joint venture, decreased $400,000 due to lower direct volumes, partially offset by the favorable impact of exchange rate movements. Turning to cash flows in the balance sheet, for the quarter, cash flow from operations was $45 million, and free cash flow was $8 million.

Tim Adams

Capital expenditures were $37.1 million in the quarter related to several projects, including the previously announced electrical steel investments. For legacy Worthington Steel, we expect fiscal 2027 capital expenditures to be approximately $60 million, which includes maintenance projects that keep our key assets market-ready. We take a disciplined approach to capital allocation, balancing investment and growth with maintaining balance sheet strength. On a trailing 12-month basis, we generated $80 million of free cash flow. At May 31, prior to the Kloeckner settlement and related financing, we ended the quarter with $85 million of cash and net debt of $172 million, up $11 million sequentially, driven primarily by the strategic capital spend. Earlier this week, we announced a quarterly dividend of $0.16 per share, payable September 29, 2026. To close, the fourth quarter had a number of moving pieces, but underlying results were resilient.

Tim Adams

At the same time, the business remained cash generative, direct volumes grew, and we ended fiscal 2026 with liquidity and financial flexibility. Shortly after year-end, we completed the acquisition of a majority interest in Kloeckner, which shifts our focus from transaction execution to integration, synergy capture, working capital discipline, and debt reduction. We will provide additional color on the combined Worthington and Kloeckner company next quarter and expect to report combined results. As we make that transition, you can expect that we will announce earnings a couple of weeks later than usual. As we begin fiscal 2027, our financial priorities are clear: support the integration of Kloeckner, execute on our synergy plans, complete strategic growth projects already underway, improve performance in electrical steel, and maintain disciplined capital allocation.

Tim Adams

I want to thank our Worthington Steel teams for their continued focus on safety, customer service, and execution, and I want to extend a warm welcome to our new colleagues at Kloeckner. We are excited about what we will build together. At this point, we would be happy to take your questions.

Operator

We will now begin the question and answer session. If you would like to ask a question, please press star one to raise your hand. To withdraw your question, press star one again. We ask that you pick up your handset when asking a question to allow for optimum sound quality. If you are muted locally, please remember to unmute your device. Please stand by while we compile the Q&A roster. Our first question comes from the line of Samuel McKinney with KeyBanc Capital Markets. Samuel, your line is now open.

Samuel McKinney

Hey, Jeff and Tim. Good morning.

Tim Adams

Hi, Sam.

Samuel McKinney

Hey. Metal spreads expanded really nicely off the trough last quarter. We've seen the spreads widen even further since the end of your fourth quarter. Can you talk about the potential upside that provides you guys as we move forward, as it seems like they should continue to get better in the periods ahead?

Tim Adams

Well, let's talk about how the spreads change from sequential as well as year-over-year. Sequentially, we saw an improvement because of volume. That was gross margins up because of that. We continue to focus on high value-added products to push those spreads. You've got the noise in there from increased steel prices, right? When you look at a year-over-year basis, what you see is the contractual business is really based on the market spread, right? It's based on the margin per ton is locked over that contract period. What you're seeing as the price of steel moves, the index pricing is also going to move. Our gross margin's going to move around with steel prices.

Tim Adams

Year-over-year, what you're seeing is a pretty sizable jump, about $175 jump in the price of steel. That's reflected in those spreads. I think, Sam, the last part of that question, things to possibly look forward to. We've been talking over the last several quarters about the compressed spread between hot-rolled and galvanized and hot-rolled and cold-rolled strip.

Geoff Gilmore

Historically, just speaking about galvanized, that average spread had probably around $170-$180 per ton. That got as low as $95, which you're well aware of. More recently, we've seen that approach $200 per ton or a little bit north. Certainly with galvanized and cold-rolled strip being a heavy portion of our value-added business, that's something for us to start looking forward to over the next six, 12 months, assuming that holds intact, and I don't know why it would not.

Samuel McKinney

Given the automotive build rate trends this year versus last, if you could just frame up for us how you're thinking about volume impacts as we move into the new fiscal year in the context of the market share wins you talked about.

Geoff Gilmore

We're looking at it very similarly. If you look at 2025, I think, you ended up around 15.3 million units, and we'll probably finish up near that level at the end of this calendar year. We're still cautiously optimistic. Obviously, interest rates, USMCA, if we can get past some of that clarity, there certainly could be some upside. We're certainly still well off pre-COVID levels. We would certainly look forward to that. Sam, as you know, we've been more than able to offset the softness there, and that was due to market share gains. We've completely offset that. I can't remember the specific numbers, but similar to last quarter and the quarter prior, if you look at Stellantis build rates and what they're up, we're up north of that.

Geoff Gilmore

Where you've seen a little bit of softening, maybe at GM and Ford, we're up over that, as well, or down less. Our commercial team has just done an excellent job positioning us, and we've been fortunate that our customers have rewarded us with that market share. I will tell you that we continue to do well in that market, and we have several indications that more market share gains will be coming and meaningful. Not something that, Sam, you should expect this quarter. That's probably calendar year 2027 as we start new programs, new contracts. Even then, it'll take time to filter in just like it did for the market share gains that I spoke of to start.

Samuel McKinney

Understood. I appreciate all the color. Thanks, guys.

Geoff Gilmore

Thank you, Sam.

Operator

Your next question comes from the line of Martin Englert with Seaport. Martin, your line is now open.

Martin Englert

Hello. Good morning, everyone.

Geoff Gilmore

Hey, Martin.

Martin Englert

Question on auto supply chain, are you seeing any shift away from aluminum back towards steel or anticipating one through the balance of this year after maintenance shutdowns in the summer or for calendar year 2027?

Geoff Gilmore

Yeah. We've not heard of any major shifts quite yet. It is absolutely something that the automotive companies are considering. They're always looking at substitute products, but in lieu of what's occurred in the aluminum market, it certainly makes going back to steel an attractive opportunity. I specifically said heard and not we haven't seen because, Martin, you're aware that's just not an area we play in. A lot of where aluminum substituted for steel or may go back is on the exterior of the vehicle, so think closures, exposed parts, and that's just not an area where we play in at Worthington Steel. We are solely propulsion systems, and then more on the interior part of the automobile as well.

Martin Englert

Okay. Kind of similar to that, just looking at potential shifts, are you seeing any pickup in relocation and reshoring of the auto supply chain from Mexico to the U.S.?

Geoff Gilmore

No, we have not seen a lot of movement at this point. We don't anticipate. I think there's a lot of plans in place. Certainly, customers, the OEMs, are evaluating those opportunities. Until we have more clarity, excuse me, on the USMCA, I don't anticipate those decisions being made. If we're able to accomplish and get that agreement in place smoother and sooner rather than later, I certainly would expect that we will start to hear those types of announcements.

Martin Englert

Okay. Within the tolling business, what portion of the volumes are being processed for steel mills generally?

Geoff Gilmore

Generally, our toll mix is pretty heavily weighted towards the mills. I would say 75% or so is weighted towards the mills.

Martin Englert

Okay. In your prepared remarks, you noted construction, elevated interest rates as maybe a continued headwind in some areas. What are you hearing within the supply chain regarding other inflationary factors, such as high steel and metals prices, as well as other input costs? General inflationary factors inhibiting activity, pausing activity, canceling projects that were previously planned.

Geoff Gilmore

I haven't heard anything or any market intelligence of cancellations. I just think it definitely, because of rising steel costs or other inflation, the pressure of higher interest rates just becomes that much more. We start to feel a bit more optimistic about construction in the second half, probably the later second half. That's really going to come with lower interest rates, and then just getting past all the uncertainty with the geopolitical issues and inflation tariffs. Until we get more clarity there, I think projects will continue to sit on the sidelines, outside of data centers.

Martin Englert

Okay. You had brought up an example, and I think I asked you maybe a quarter or a couple quarters back about you are pursuing some AI applications internally. You gave an example in the prepared remarks about customer specifications and creating an agent for that application. You noted 90% accuracy in testing. What bridges the 10% to get you to 100% there?

Geoff Gilmore

Yeah, I just think a little bit more practice and testing with it. AI is fascinating, and it's certainly a game changer, we believe. It's critical. The information that you feed it has to be 100% accurate. Just like any other process you're doing, you have to work through it, trial and error, and we have to feel positive that we are providing the AI with all the accurate information, the right information, and we'll get there pretty smoothly and easily, Martin.

Martin Englert

Okay. Do you have a specific budget for AI spend for the upcoming fiscal year?

Geoff Gilmore

No, we don't. We haven't set a specific budget. We do a budgeting process. It's certainly an area. We took on, obviously, quite a bit of debt for the deal, and we want to be mindful of paying debt down. An area that we want to continue to invest in is artificial intelligence, and we are pretty close to announcing some partnerships with two different firms for different reasons to help us accelerate our AI journey.

Martin Englert

Okay. Could we take a minute and just review synergies with Klöckner? I know you've touched on this before, but I believe you're targeting on $150 million. Maybe discuss key categories that you expect to realize that $150 million within, revisit the time horizon. Is there an upper bound, lower bound, or a ±$150 million that you're thinking about?

Geoff Gilmore

We're going to stick with $150 million EBITDA synergies. We also had said we think there's another $150 million of working capital opportunities as well. Martin, I would split that 50/50 year one and in year two. That's what we've said publicly. The only other context I can provide to you is that we are highly confident in our ability to achieve this, as well as cutting the debt in half within the same time period. Until we reach DPLTA, we're not really able to start integration. That's what was exciting about accelerating the closing. It allows us to get to DPLTA sooner and start working closely, collaborating, and putting our plans in place and getting to some action. That's what we're most excited about.

Operator

There are no further questions at this time. I will now turn the call back to Geoffrey Gilmore, President and CEO, for closing remarks.

Geoff Gilmore

Just want to say thank you again for joining us this morning. I really want to close by emphasizing that our strategy remains intact. Electrical steel continues to be a key part of our growth strategy. Now we're turning to the next phase of the Kloeckner transaction with focus and confidence, ready to execute, integrate thoughtfully, and create value over time. Thanks for joining us.

Geoff Gilmore

This concludes today's call. Thank you for attending. You may now disconnect.

Investor releaseQuarter not tagged2026-06-24

Worthington Steel Reports Fourth Quarter Fiscal 2026 Results

Business Wire

COLUMBUS, Ohio, June 24, 2026--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Worthington Steel, Inc. (NYSE: WS), a market-leading, value-added metals processing company, today reported financial results for the fiscal 2026 fourth quarter ended May 31, 2026. Fourth Quarter Highlights (all comparisons to the fourth quarter of fiscal 2025): Net sales of $929.2 million increased 12% compared to $832.9 million. Operating loss of $57.6 million compared to operating income of $66.4 million due primarily to non-cash impairments in the Electrical Steel reporting unit and acquisition related expenses in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2026. Net loss attributable to controlling interest of $48.7 million compared to net earnings attributable to controlling interest of $55.7 million. Net loss per diluted share attributable to controlling interest of $0.98 compared to net earnings per diluted share attributable to controlling interest of $1.10; adjusted net earnings per diluted share attributable to controlling interest of $0.74 compared to $1.05. Adjusted EBIT of $54.0 million compared to $70.1 million. In January 2026, the Company entered into a business combination agreement with Klöckner & Co SE ("Kloeckner") and launched a voluntary public cash takeover offer for all outstanding Kloeckner shares at €11.00 per share. During the fourth quarter, shares representing a majority of Kloeckner’s outstanding share capital were tendered into the offer, satisfying the minimum acceptance threshold. On June 3, 2026, subsequent to the end of fiscal 2026, the Company completed settlement of the offer and its acquisition of a majority interest in Kloeckner, securing approximately 62% of Kloeckner’s outstanding shares following settlement (the "Kloeckner Acquisition"), representing a significant milestone toward eventual operating control and value capture. Recognized as a John Deere Partner-level Supplier for the 14th consecutive year and received John Deere’s inaugural Community Engagement Award. Named a Top Workplace in Columbus by Columbus CEO magazine, marking the 14th consecutive year the Company has earned this recognition. Declared a quarterly dividend of $0.16 per share payable on September 29, 2026, to shareholders of record at the close of business on September 15, 2026. "Worthington Steel closed fiscal 2026 with continued progress against our long-term strategy," said Geoff Gilmore, president and chief...

Investor releaseQuarter not tagged2026-06-24

Worthington Steel: Fiscal Q4 Earnings Snapshot

Associated Press

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Worthington Steel (WS) on Wednesday reported a loss of $48.7 million in its fiscal fourth quarter. The Columbus, Ohio-based company said it had a loss of 98 cents per share. Earnings, adjusted for non-recurring costs, were 74 cents per share. The steel processing company posted revenue of $929.2 million in the period. For the year, the company reported profit of $17.3 million, or 34 cents per share. Revenue was reported as $3.44 billion. _____ This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on WS at https://www.zacks.com/ap/WS

Investor releaseQuarter not tagged2026-06-24

Worthington Steel Declares Quarterly Dividend

Business Wire

COLUMBUS, Ohio, June 24, 2026--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The board of directors of Worthington Steel, Inc. (NYSE: WS) has declared a quarterly dividend of $0.16 per common share. The dividend is payable on September 29, 2026, to shareholders of record at the close of business on September 15, 2026. Worthington Steel will host a conference call to discuss its fiscal 2026 fourth quarter results at 8:30 a.m. ET on Thursday, June 25, 2026. The conference call can be accessed by registering online at the link below. A live webcast of the call will be available through Events & Presentations in the Investors section of the Company’s website at www.WorthingtonSteel.com and will be archived for one year. Live Conference Call Schedule To automatically receive Worthington Steel financial news by email, please visit https://ir.worthingtonsteel.com and subscribe to email alerts. About Worthington Steel Worthington Steel (NYSE:WS) is a metals processor that partners with customers to deliver highly technical and customized solutions. Worthington Steel’s expertise in carbon flat-roll steel processing, electrical steel laminations and tailor welded solutions is driving steel toward a more sustainable future. As one of the most trusted metals processors in North America, Worthington Steel and its approximately 6,000 employees harness the power of steel to advance our customers’ visions through value-added processing capabilities including galvanizing, pickling, configured blanking, specialty cold reduction, lightweighting and electrical lamination. Headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, Worthington Steel operates 37 facilities in seven states and 10 countries. Following a people-first Philosophy, commitment to sustainability and proven business system, Worthington Steel’s purpose is to generate positive returns by providing trusted and innovative solutions for customers, creating opportunities for employees and strengthening its communities. Safe Harbor Statement Worthington Steel wishes to take advantage of the safe harbor provisions included in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the "Act"). Statements by Worthington Steel which are not historical information constitute "forward looking statements" within the meaning of the Act. All forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ from those projected. Factors...

Investor releaseQuarter not tagged2026-06-24

Worthington Steel Fiscal Q4 Adjusted Earnings Fall, Revenue Rises; Shares Down After Hours

MT Newswires

Worthington Steel (WS) reported fiscal Q4 adjusted net income late Wednesday of $0.74 per diluted sh

Investor releaseQuarter not tagged2026-06-01

Worthington Steel to Webcast Discussion of Fourth Quarter 2026 Results on June 25

Business Wire

COLUMBUS, Ohio, June 01, 2026--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Worthington Steel, Inc., (NYSE: WS) announced today that it will report the results for its fiscal fourth quarter after the market closes on Wednesday, June 24, 2026. The Company will host a conference call to discuss its fiscal fourth quarter results at 8:30 a.m. ET on Thursday, June 25, 2026. The conference call can be accessed by registering online at the link below. A live webcast will be available in the Investor Relations section of the Company’s website at www.WorthingtonSteel.com and will be archived for one year. Live Conference Call Schedule About Worthington Steel Worthington Steel (NYSE:WS) is a metals processor that partners with customers to deliver highly technical and customized solutions. Worthington Steel’s expertise in carbon flat-roll steel processing, electrical steel laminations and tailor welded solutions is driving steel toward a more sustainable future. As one of the most trusted metals processors in North America, Worthington Steel and its approximately 6,000 employees harness the power of steel to advance our customers’ visions through value-added processing capabilities including galvanizing, pickling, configured blanking, specialty cold reduction, lightweighting and electrical lamination. Headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, Worthington Steel operates 37 facilities in seven states and 10 countries. Following a people-first Philosophy, commitment to sustainability and proven business system, Worthington Steel’s purpose is to generate positive returns by providing trusted and innovative solutions for customers, creating opportunities for employees and strengthening its communities. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260529185358/en/ Contacts Melissa Dykstra Vice President, Corporate Communications and Investor RelationsPhone: [email protected]

Investor releaseQuarter not tagged2026-05-06

Klöckner & Co SE Q1 Earnings Call Highlights

MarketBeat

Q1 results were shaped by U.S. divestments: group shipments fell materially year‑over‑year due to the sale of eight U.S. sites, but on a like‑for‑like basis shipments and sales rose ~2.1%, and EBITDA before material special effects increased to €46m (from an adjusted €34m a year earlier) despite gross profit dropping to €298m with a steady margin of 19%. Cash flow weakened seasonally with net working capital up €279m, operating cash flow of -€270m, free cash flow of -€306m, and net financial debt rising to about €1.092bn. Strategic moves include a shift to higher value‑added products (HFP share rose to 87% in Q1 2026) and capacity investments, while Worthington Steel has secured roughly 61.87% of Klöckner’s shares with closing expected in H2 2026, subject to approvals. Interested in Klöckner & Co SE? Here are five stocks we like better. Klöckner & Co SE (ETR:KCO) reported higher earnings in the first quarter of 2026, supported by a rising price environment in the U.S. and Europe and improved profitability in its European segment, while year-over-year comparisons were heavily influenced by the late-2025 sale of eight U.S. distribution sites. CEO Guido Kerkhoff said group shipments declined “considerably” year-over-year, primarily due to the divestment of the eight U.S. distribution locations at the end of 2025. Excluding those sites, shipments increased 2.1% year-over-year, which management attributed to “positive momentum in Europe.” Sales also came in “considerably below” the prior-year quarter due to lower reported volumes, though on a divestment-adjusted basis, sales increased slightly by 2.1%. → 3 Emerging Markets ETFs to Maximize Exposure to High-Potential Countries Gross profit fell to EUR 298 million from EUR 370 million in the prior-year quarter, reflecting lower sales volumes. Gross profit margin held steady year-over-year at 19%. Kerkhoff added that on a like-for-like basis gross profit increased slightly, and the gross profit margin also rose. Profitability improved on an EBITDA basis. Klöckner posted EBITDA before material special effects of EUR 46 million in Q1 2026, up from a divestment-adjusted EUR 34 million in Q1 2025. Kerkhoff said the quarter benefited from a “favorable pricing environment” after “pronounced volatility” a year earlier, with prices rising in both regions. He noted that in the U.S. the increase was “slow but steady,” produci...

Investor releaseQuarter not tagged2026-04-03

KeyBanc Lowers Worthington Steel, Inc. (WS) PT After Weak Q3 Results

Insider Monkey

We recently compiled a list of the 10 Undervalued Smallcap Stocks Billionaires Are Quietly Loading Up On. Worthington Steel, Inc. is one of the cheap stocks to buy on our list. TheFly reported on March 27 that KeyBanc adjusted its price target for WS downward to $38 from $46 while maintaining an Overweight rating on the stock. The revision follows weaker-than-expected third-quarter results and an approximate 15% decline in the share price. The firm also lowered its fiscal 2026 earnings-per-share forecast due to continued pressure from tight galvanized spreads and reduced its fiscal 2027 EPS estimate, anticipating slower spread recovery and slightly lower production volumes after 2026. Earlier on March 25, Worthington Steel, Inc. (NYSE:WS) released its financial results for the third quarter of fiscal 2026, ending February 28. The company recorded net sales of $769.8 million, up 12% from the prior-year quarter, driven by higher direct volumes and increased average selling prices, partially offset by lower toll volumes. The business also reported that its operating income fell to $3.1 million from $18.3 million, while net earnings attributable to controlling interest were $10.4 million, or $0.20 per diluted share. Adjusted net earnings came to $13.6 million, or $0.27 per diluted share. The company also declared a quarterly dividend of $0.16 per share payable June 26, 2026, and advanced a public tender offer to acquire Kloeckner & Co SE, with completion expected in the second half of 2026. Worthington Steel, Inc. (NYSE:WS) is a U.S.-based diversified metals manufacturing company producing steel and metal products, including pressure cylinders, industrial steel, and fabricated steel solutions for automotive, construction, and industrial markets worldwide. While we acknowledge the potential of WS as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock. READ NEXT: 33 Stocks That Should Double in 3 Years and 15 Stocks That Will Make You Rich in 10 Years Disclosure: None. Follow Insider Monkey on Google News.

Investor releaseQuarter not tagged2026-03-31

Assessing Worthington Steel (WS) Valuation After Mixed Earnings Update And Dividend Declaration

Simply Wall St.

Find winning stocks in any market cycle. Join 7 million investors using Simply Wall St's investing ideas for FREE. Worthington Steel (WS) reported third quarter and nine month results, updating sales, net income and earnings per share figures year over year. The company also declared a quarterly dividend of $0.16 per share. See our latest analysis for Worthington Steel. Despite the latest quarterly update and dividend declaration, Worthington Steel’s share price has faced pressure, with a 30 day share price return showing a 30.9% decline and a year to date share price return showing an 18.3% decline, while the 1 year total shareholder return is 15.7%. This suggests longer term holders have had a different experience compared to recent buyers. If this earnings reaction has you reassessing your watchlist, it can be helpful to see what else the market is pricing into other materials and industrial names via 20 top founder-led companies With the share price under pressure, annual revenue and net income growth on the board, an indicated value score of 5 and a share price below the analyst target, is Worthington Steel now underrated, or is the market already pricing in future growth? Worthington Steel's most followed valuation narrative points to a fair value of $47 per share compared with the last close at $28.72, which creates a sizeable gap that this narrative attempts to justify using detailed growth and profitability assumptions. Read the complete narrative. Curious what sits behind that higher fair value? The narrative leans heavily on steady mid single digit revenue growth, firmer margins, and a richer future earnings multiple. These are all discounted using an 8.57% rate to arrive at $47. Result: Fair Value of $47 (UNDERVALUED) Have a read of the narrative in full and understand what's behind the forecasts. However, these upbeat assumptions can unravel if weak shipments in automotive and construction persist, or if steel pricing swings keep earnings and cash flow under pressure. Find out about the key risks to this Worthington Steel narrative. With sentiment in this article leaning cautious but curious, it helps to see the positives for yourself and move quickly while opinions are divided, starting with the 3 key rewards. If Worthington Steel has caught your attention, do not stop here, use the Simply Wall Street Screener to quickly surface fresh, differen...

Investor releaseQuarter not tagged2026-03-30

Worthington Steel's Q3 Earnings Miss Estimates, Sales up Y/Y

Zacks

Worthington Steel, Inc. WS reported adjusted earnings of 27 cents per share for the third quarter of fiscal 2026, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 47 cents. It had posted adjusted earnings of 35 cents in the year-ago quarter. Including one-time items, earnings per share were 20 cents in the quarter compared with 27 cents in the year-ago quarter. Net revenues increased 12% year over year to $770 million in the reported quarter. The figure, however, missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $857 million. The upside was driven by higher direct volumes and higher average direct selling prices. However, toll volumes decreased 22% in the reported quarter due to a combination of closing the Cleveland-area Worthington Samuel Coil Processing facility in May 2025 and weak demand from mill customers. Worthington Steel, Inc. price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | Worthington Steel, Inc. Quote The cost of goods sold in the third quarter of fiscal 2026 moved up 14.4% year over year to $693.7 million. Gross profit decreased 6.3% year over year to $76.1 million. The gross margin came in at 9.9% compared with the prior-year quarter’s 11.8%. The decrease was driven by lower toll volumes and a $3.2 million unfavorable impact from Sitem Group. The company reported an operating income of $3.1 million compared with the prior-year quarter’s $18.3 million. The operating margin in the quarter under review was 0.4% compared with 2.7% in the year-ago quarter. The decrease was driven primarily by an increase in selling, general and administrative expenses, and a decrease in gross margin. The SG&A expenses included expenses related to Sitem Group and professional fees related to the proposed acquisition of Kloeckner. Adjusted operating income in the quarter stood at $14 million, 47% lower than the prior year quarter’s $26.6 million. Adjusted operating margin in the quarter was 1.8% compared with 3.9% in the prior year quarter. Worthington Steel ended third-quarter fiscal 2026 with cash and cash equivalents of $90 million compared with $38 million at the end of t fiscal 2025. The long-term debt was $31.6 million at the end of the quarter, a substantial increase from $2.3 million as of the end of fiscal 2025. Cash flow from operating activities was $156.3 million in the nine-month period ended Feb. 28, 2026, under review compared with $176.4 million in the prior-year comparable period....

As of 2026-07-04 • Updated weeklySource: Earnings sourceIngestion runbook