5 Undervalued Metals & Mining - Iron & Steel Stocks for Thursday, May 30

By Jenna Brashear
May 30, 2024
Diamond graphic indicating best value stocks in their industry
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Based on key financial metrics such as the price-to-sales ratio, shareholder yield and the price-earnings ratio, the following 5 stocks made the list for top value stocks in the Metals & Mining - Iron & Steel industry. Those looking for value stocks to add to their portfolio may want to use this list as a starting point for further investment research.

Why Focus on Undervalued Metals & Mining - Iron & Steel Stocks?

Value investors seek to buy stocks at a discount to their intrinsic value. Long-term returns show that such strategies are advantageous. Value stocks, as a group, tend to outperform growth stocks over extended periods of time. Typically, value investors perform financial analysis of numerous metrics, don’t follow the herd and are long-term investors.

AAII’s A+ Investor Value Grade is derived from a stock’s Value Score. The Value Score is the percentile rank of the average of the percentile ranks of the price-to-sales ratio, price-earnings ratio, enterprise-value-to-EBITDA (EV/EBITDA) ratio, shareholder yield, price-to-book-value ratio and price-to-free-cash-flow ratio. The score is variable, meaning it can consider all six ratios or, should any of the six ratios not be valid, the remaining ratios that are valid. To be assigned a Value Score, stocks must have a valid (non-null) ratio and corresponding ranking for at least two of the six valuation ratios.

What Goes Into AAII’s Value Grade?

Stock evaluation requires access to huge amounts of data as well as the knowledge and time to sift through it all, make sense of financial ratios, read income statements and analyze recent stock movement. AAII created A+ Investor, a robust data suite that condenses data research in an actionable and customizable way suitable for investors of all knowledge levels, to help investors with that task.

AAII’s proprietary stock grades come with A+ Investor. These offer intuitive A–F grades for more than just value. It is possible for a stock to appear cheap based on one valuation metric but appear expensive on another. It is also possible for one valuation ratio to be associated with outperforming stocks during certain periods of time but not others. Some stocks may even have null values for certain metrics like the price-earnings ratio or the price-to-book ratio but not others. An example of this would be a company with losses instead of profits or a negative book value because of heavy borrowing. Negative earnings or book value result in non-meaningful ratios that are left blank or null.

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5 Undervalued Metals & Mining - Iron & Steel Stocks

Of course, there are countless value stocks that are worth mentioning, but this is a concise list of the top 5 undervalued stocks in the Metals & Mining - Iron & Steel industry for Thursday, May 30, 2024. Let’s take a closer look at their individual scores to see how they measure up against each other and the Metals & Mining - Iron & Steel industry median.

Company Ticker Price/Sales Price/Earnings EV/EBITDA Shareholder Yield Price/Book Value Price/Free Cash Flow Value Grade
Cleveland-Cliffs Inc CLF 0.38 22.4 7.9 4.5% 1.15 4.7 A
ArcelorMittal SA (ADR) MT 0.31 28.6 5.9 7.8% 0.38 16.3 A
Metallus Inc MTUS 0.75 13.8 4.3 0.9% 1.37 12.1 B
Northwest Pipe Co NWPX 0.75 14.6 8.1 0.2% 1.00 na B
Plaintree Systems Inc. (USA) PTEEF 0.03 na na 0.0% 2.29 0.6 A

The Value Grade is assigned based on how each stock’s composite valuation compares to all other stocks.

The process for assigning grades starts with each variable for a given stock. The percentile rankings for all valid ratios that a stock has are calculated. So, for instance, a stock could have a price-to-book ranking in the 43rd percentile, a price-earnings ranking in the 67th percentile, a price-to-sales ranking in the 23rd percentile, etc. Then, those rankings are averaged for each stock. (A minimum of two valid variables are required, though all six will be used if available.)

Once the average of the individual variables is calculated, that average is ranked against all stocks. Put another way, each stock’s composite valuation is compared to all other stocks. These ranks are then sorted into quintiles from the cheapest 20% (a grade of A) to the most expensive 20% (a grade of F).

As always, we recommend that you conduct proper due diligence and research before investing in any security. We also suggest that investors utilize numerous grades, not just value, when it comes to deciding whether a company is a good fit for their allocation needs.

Cleveland-Cliffs Inc’s Value Grade

Value Grade:

Metric Score CLF Industry Median
Price/Sales 14 0.38 0.62
Price/Earnings 59 22.4 13.7
EV/EBITDA 34 7.9 7.3
Shareholder Yield 20 4.5% 1.9%
Price/Book Value 35 1.15 1.16
Price/Free Cash Flow 10 4.7 15.2

Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. is a flat-rolled steel producer and engaged in manufacturing iron ore pellets in North America. The Company is vertically integrated from mined raw materials, direct reduced iron, and ferrous scrap to primary steelmaking and downstream finishing, stamping, tooling, and tubing. It offers advanced high-strength steels (AHSS), hot-dipped galvanized, aluminized, galvalume, electrogalvanized, galvanneal, hot-rolled coil (HRC), cold-rolled coil, plate, tinplate, grain oriented electrical steel (GOES), non-oriented electrical steel (NOES), stainless steels, tool and die, stamped components, rail, slab and cast ingot. Its tubular components and tooling and stamping segments provide carbon and stainless steel tubing products, advanced-engineered solutions, tool design and build, hot and cold stamped steel components and complex assemblies. It serves various markets, such as automotive, infrastructure and manufacturing, steel producers, and distributors and converters.

Stocks with a Value Score from 81 to 100 are considered deep value, those with a score between 61 and 80 are value and so on.

Cleveland-Cliffs Inc has a Value Score of 85, which is considered to be undervalued.

When you look at Cleveland-Cliffs Inc’s price-to-sales ratio at 0.38 compared to the industry median at 0.62, this company has a lower price relative to revenue compared to its peers. This could make Cleveland-Cliffs Inc’s stock more attractive for value investors.

Cleveland-Cliffs Inc’s price-earnings ratio is 22.36 compared to the industry median at 13.66. This means it has a higher share price relative to earnings compared to its peers. This could make Cleveland-Cliffs Inc less attractive for value investors.

Now, let’s assess Cleveland-Cliffs Inc’s EV/EBITDA ratio, also known as enterprise multiple. At 7.9, when compared to the industry median of 7.3, the company may be considered overvalued in relation to its peers. Value investors could use the enterprise multiple to identify stocks that are considered overvalued or undervalued relative to their industry.

Shareholder yield is the sum of a stock’s dividend yield (paid over previous 12 months minus special dividends) and the percentage of net share buybacks over the previous 12 months. Cleveland-Cliffs Inc’s shareholder yield is higher than its industry median ratio of 1.86%. Value investors may look for an attractive shareholder yield because it can be a powerful tool for identifying if the company has a good management team.

As one of the most common value metrics, the price-to-book ratio evaluates a company’s current market price relative to its book value. Cleveland-Cliffs Inc’s price-to-book ratio is lower than its industry median ratio of 1.16. This could make Cleveland-Cliffs Inc more attractive to investors looking for a new addition to their portfolio.

Lastly, let’s take a look at Cleveland-Cliffs Inc’s price-to-free-cash-flow ratio (P/FCF), which can indicate a company’s market value relative to its operating cash flow. Cleveland-Cliffs Inc’s price-to-free-cash-flow ratio is lower than its industry median ratio of 15.17. This could make Cleveland-Cliffs Inc more attractive because the lower P/FCF ratio indicates that Cleveland-Cliffs Inc is undervalued. The P/FCF ratio metric can also be viewed over a long-term time frame to see if the company's cash flow to share price value is generally improving or worsening.

ArcelorMittal SA (ADR)’s Value Grade

Value Grade:

Metric Score MT Industry Median
Price/Sales 12 0.31 0.62
Price/Earnings 69 28.6 13.7
EV/EBITDA 20 5.9 7.3
Shareholder Yield 10 7.8% 1.9%
Price/Book Value 7 0.38 1.16
Price/Free Cash Flow 46 16.3 15.2

ArcelorMittal SA is a Luxembourg-based holding company. The Company, via its subsidiaries, owns and operates steel, iron ore manufacturing and coal mining facilities in Europe, North and South America, Asia, and Africa. The Company is organized in five operating segments: NAFTA; Brazil; Europe; Africa and Commonwealth of Independent States (ACIS), and Mining. The NAFTA, Brazil, Europe, and ACIS segments produce flat, long, and tubular products including slabs, hot-rolled coil, cold-rolled coil, coated steel products, among others. The Mining segment provides steel operations and comprises all mines owned by the Company in the Americas, Europe, Africa, and countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).

Stocks with a Value Score from 81 to 100 are considered deep value, those with a score between 61 and 80 are value and so on.

ArcelorMittal SA (ADR) has a Value Score of 87, which is considered to be undervalued.

ArcelorMittal SA (ADR)’s price-earnings ratio is 28.6 compared to the industry median at 13.7. This means that it has a higher price relative to its earnings compared to its peers. This makes ArcelorMittal SA (ADR) less attractive for value investors.

ArcelorMittal SA (ADR)’s price-to-book ratio is higher than its peers. This could make ArcelorMittal SA (ADR) less attractive for value investors when compared to the industry median at 1.16.

You can read more about ArcelorMittal SA (ADR)’s key financial metrics like shareholder yield, price-to-free-cash-flow and EV/EBITDA ratio, or learn more about its Momentum and Growth Grades, by subscribing to A+ Investor.

Metallus Inc’s Value Grade

Value Grade:

Metric Score MTUS Industry Median
Price/Sales 27 0.75 0.62
Price/Earnings 37 13.8 13.7
EV/EBITDA 11 4.3 7.3
Shareholder Yield 38 0.9% 1.9%
Price/Book Value 41 1.37 1.16
Price/Free Cash Flow 35 12.1 15.2

Metallus Inc., formerly TimkenSteel Corporation, manufactures alloy steel, as well as carbon and micro-alloy steel using electric arc furnace (EAF) technology. The Company's portfolio includes special bar quality (SBQ) bars, seamless mechanical tubing (tubes), manufactured components, such as precision steel components, and billets. The Company manages raw material recycling programs, which are used internally as a feeder system for its melt operations and allow it to sell scrap not used in its operations to third parties. The Company's products and solutions are used in a range of demanding applications in various market sectors, including automotive; oil and gas; industrial equipment; mining; construction; rail; defense; heavy truck; agriculture, and power generation. Its production of manufactured components takes place at two downstream manufacturing facilities: Tryon Peak (Columbus, North Carolina) and St. Clair (Eaton, Ohio).

Stocks with a Value Score from 81 to 100 are considered deep value, those with a score between 61 and 80 are value and so on.

Metallus Inc has a Value Score of 80, which is considered to be undervalued.

Metallus Inc’s price-earnings ratio is 13.8 compared to the industry median at 13.7. This means that it has a higher price relative to its earnings compared to its peers. This makes Metallus Inc less attractive for value investors.

Metallus Inc’s price-to-book ratio is lower than its peers. This could make Metallus Inc more attractive for value investors when compared to the industry median at 1.16.

You can read more about Metallus Inc’s key financial metrics like shareholder yield, price-to-free-cash-flow and EV/EBITDA ratio, or learn more about its Momentum and Growth Grades, by subscribing to A+ Investor.

Northwest Pipe Co’s Value Grade

Value Grade:

Metric Score NWPX Industry Median
Price/Sales 27 0.75 0.62
Price/Earnings 39 14.6 13.7
EV/EBITDA 35 8.1 7.3
Shareholder Yield 42 0.2% 1.9%
Price/Book Value 29 1.00 1.16
Price/Free Cash Flow na na 15.2

Northwest Pipe Company is a manufacturer of water-related infrastructure products. The Company also manufactures storm water and wastewater technology products, precast and reinforced concrete products, pump lift stations, steel casing pipe, bar-wrapped concrete cylinder pipe, and offers pipeline system joints, fittings, and specialized components. The Company provides solution-based products for a wide range of markets under the ParkUSA, Geneva Pipe and Precast, Permalok, and Northwest Pipe Company lines. The Company's Engineered Steel Pressure Pipe (SPP) segment manufactures large-diameter, high-pressure steel pipeline systems for use in water infrastructure applications, which are primarily related to drinking water systems. The Company's Precast Infrastructure and Engineered Systems (Precast) segment manufactures storm water and wastewater technology products, high-quality precast and reinforced concrete products.

Stocks with a Value Score from 81 to 100 are considered deep value, those with a score between 61 and 80 are value and so on.

Northwest Pipe Co has a Value Score of 74, which is considered to be undervalued.

Northwest Pipe Co’s price-earnings ratio is 14.6 compared to the industry median at 13.7. This means that it has a higher price relative to its earnings compared to its peers. This makes Northwest Pipe Co less attractive for value investors.

Northwest Pipe Co’s price-to-book ratio is higher than its peers. This could make Northwest Pipe Co less attractive for value investors when compared to the industry median at 1.16.

You can read more about Northwest Pipe Co’s key financial metrics like shareholder yield, price-to-free-cash-flow and EV/EBITDA ratio, or learn more about its Momentum and Growth Grades, by subscribing to A+ Investor.

Plaintree Systems Inc. (USA)’s Value Grade

Value Grade:

Metric Score PTEEF Industry Median
Price/Sales 1 0.03 0.62
Price/Earnings na na 13.7
EV/EBITDA na na 7.3
Shareholder Yield 48 0.0% 1.9%
Price/Book Value 61 2.29 1.16
Price/Free Cash Flow 1 0.6 15.2

Plaintree Systems Inc. is a Canada-based diversified company with technologies and manufacturing capabilities in structural design and aerospace. Its segments include Applied Electronics and Specialty Structures. The Applied Electronics division includes Hypernetics, Summit Aerospace USA Inc. and Elmira Stove Works Inc. businesses. The Applied Electronics segment is a manufacturer of avionic components for various applications, including aircraft antiskid braking, aircraft instrument indicators, solenoids, high purity valves and permanent magnet alternators. The Specialty Structures segment is engaged in designing/building and manufacturing of steel, aluminum and stainless-steel specialty structures, such as commercial domes, foundations for unstable soil conditions and flood zones, for free form structures, barrel vaults, space frames and industrial dome coverings, and Spotton Corporation, a design and manufacturer of high-end custom hydraulic and pneumatic valves and cylinders.

Stocks with a Value Score from 81 to 100 are considered deep value, those with a score between 61 and 80 are value and so on.

Plaintree Systems Inc. (USA) has a Value Score of 86, which is considered to be undervalued.

Plaintree Systems Inc. (USA)’s price-to-book ratio is lower than its peers. This could make Plaintree Systems Inc. (USA) more attractive for value investors when compared to the industry median at 1.16.

You can read more about Plaintree Systems Inc. (USA)’s key financial metrics like shareholder yield, price-to-free-cash-flow and EV/EBITDA ratio, or learn more about its Momentum and Growth Grades, by subscribing to A+ Investor.

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Other Metals & Mining - Iron & Steel Stock Grades

Value is just one of the five Stock Grades included in our A+ Investor service. AAII members can see the top-graded stocks—those with grades of A or B for value, growth, momentum, earnings estimate revisions and quality—on the A+ Stock Grades Screener.

Also, if you want full access to all of AAII’s premium services, you can subscribe to one convenient bundled plan called AAII Platinum where you can try out A+ Investor, AAII Dividend Investing, the Stock Superstars Report, Growth Investing and VMQ Stocks. With the other premium services, you can dive deep into additional metrics, portfolios, commentary and information about Metals & Mining - Iron & Steel stocks as well as other industrys.

Choosing Which of the 5 Best Metals & Mining - Iron & Steel Stocks Is Right for You

Choosing which value stocks to invest in will ultimately depend on your individual goals and allocation; however, comparing similar value stocks in the same industry can help you analyze which might be better investments for you in the long run. So, let’s take a look at the Value Grade for all of our stocks.

  • Cleveland-Cliffs Inc stock has a Value Grade of A.
  • ArcelorMittal SA (ADR) stock has a Value Grade of A.
  • Metallus Inc stock has a Value Grade of B.
  • Northwest Pipe Co stock has a Value Grade of B.
  • Plaintree Systems Inc. (USA) stock has a Value Grade of A.

Now that you have a bit more background about each of the 5 undervalued stocks in the Metals & Mining - Iron & Steel industry as well as their overall grades, it’s time for you to conduct additional research to see if these could fit your portfolio needs based on your goals and risk tolerance. AAII can help you figure out both and identify which investments align with what works best for you.

We do so through a program of education that teaches you to invest for yourself and become an effective manager of your own wealth—no more relying on others for your financial independence. You can rely on AAII for timeless articles on financial planning and stock-picking, unbiased research and actionable analysis that makes you a better investor.

A+ Investor adds to that qualitative teaching by giving you a powerful data suite that helps you whittle down investment decisions to find stocks, exchange-traded funds (ETFs) or mutual funds that meet your needs.

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Additional Resources About Metals & Mining - Iron & Steel Stocks

Want to learn more about Metals & Mining - Iron & Steel stocks to see if they could be the right investment for you? Check out some additional resources and articles to help you on your financial journey.

AAII Disclaimer

We make no representations or warranties that any investor will, or is likely to, achieve profits similar to those shown, because past, hypothetical or simulated performance is not necessarily indicative of future results. Before making an investment decision, you should consider your circumstances and whether the information on our content is applicable to your situation. This information was prepared in good faith and we accept no liability for any errors or omissions. The full disclaimer can be read here.



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