Based on key financial metrics such as the price-to-sales ratio, shareholder yield and the price-earnings ratio, the following 6 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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6 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 6 undervalued stocks in the Metals & Mining - Iron & Steel industry for Friday, July 05, 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.

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.

Ascent Industries Co’s Value Grade

Value Grade:

Ascent Industries Co. is a diverse industrials company. The Company is focused on the production of stainless-steel pipe and tube and specialty chemicals. The Company’s business is divided into two reportable operating segments, Tubular Products and Specialty Chemicals. The Tubular Products segment serves markets through pipe and tube production and customers in the appliance, architectural, automotive, and commercial transportation, brewery, chemical, petrochemical, pulp and paper, mining, power generation (including nuclear), water and waste-water treatment, liquid natural gas (LNG), food processing, pharmaceutical, oil and gas and other industries. The Specialty Chemicals segment produces specialty products for the pulp and paper, coatings, adhesives, sealants, and elastomers (CASE), textile, automotive, household, industrial and institutional (HII), agricultural, water and waste-water treatment, construction, oil and gas and other industries.

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.

Ascent Industries Co has a Value Score of 81, which is considered to be undervalued.

When you look at Ascent Industries Co’s price-to-sales ratio at 0.56 compared to the industry median at 0.56, this company has a higher price relative to revenue compared to its peers. This could make Ascent Industries Co’s stock fairly attractive for value investors.

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. Ascent Industries Co’s shareholder yield is lower than its industry median ratio of 1.99%. 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. Ascent Industries Co’s price-to-book ratio is lower than its industry median ratio of 1.14. This could make Ascent Industries Co more attractive to investors looking for a new addition to their portfolio.

Lastly, let’s take a look at Ascent Industries Co’s price-to-free-cash-flow ratio (P/FCF), which can indicate a company’s market value relative to its operating cash flow. Ascent Industries Co’s price-to-free-cash-flow ratio is lower than its industry median ratio of 13.79. This could make Ascent Industries Co more attractive because the lower P/FCF ratio indicates that Ascent Industries Co 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.

Cleveland-Cliffs Inc’s Value Grade

Value Grade:

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 86, which is considered to be undervalued.

Cleveland-Cliffs Inc’s price-earnings ratio is 21.3 compared to the industry median at 11.7. This means that it has a higher price relative to its earnings compared to its peers. This makes Cleveland-Cliffs Inc less attractive for value investors.

Cleveland-Cliffs Inc’s price-to-book ratio is lower than its peers. This could make Cleveland-Cliffs Inc fairly attractive for value investors when compared to the industry median at 1.14.

You can read more about Cleveland-Cliffs 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.

Kumba Iron Ore Ltd - ADR’s Value Grade

Value Grade:

Kumba Iron Ore Limited is a supplier of iron ore to the global steel industry. The Company is engaged in exploration, extraction, beneficiation, marketing, sale and shipping of iron ore. It produces iron ore at Sishen and Kolomela mines in the Northern Cape Province. The Company's segments include Sishen mine, Kolomela mine, Logistics and Shipping operations and Others. It operates primarily in South Africa, with mining operations in the Northern Cape Province and a port operation in Saldanha Bay, Western Cape. It has an approximately 75.37% interest in Sishen Iron Ore Company Proprietary Limited (SIOC). Its Sishen mine is near the town of Kathu in the Northern Cape Province. Its Kolomela mine is near Postmasburg in the Northern Cape Province. Its logistics processes and infrastructure serve as the link between its operations and its clients. Its Northern Cape operations are serviced by a dedicated iron ore rail link. Its product range includes hematite (Fe2O3) and magnetite (Fe3O4).

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.

Kumba Iron Ore Ltd - ADR has a Value Score of 63, which is considered to be undervalued.

Kumba Iron Ore Ltd - ADR’s price-earnings ratio is 6.9 compared to the industry median at 11.7. This means that it has a lower price relative to its earnings compared to its peers. This makes Kumba Iron Ore Ltd - ADR more attractive for value investors.

Kumba Iron Ore Ltd - ADR’s price-to-book ratio is lower than its peers. This could make Kumba Iron Ore Ltd - ADR more attractive for value investors when compared to the industry median at 1.14.

You can read more about Kumba Iron Ore Ltd - 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.

Plaintree Systems Inc. (USA)’s Value Grade

Value Grade:

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 80, 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 1.14.

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.

Companhia Siderurgica Nacional SA (ADR)’s Value Grade

Value Grade:

Companhia Siderurgica Nacional is a Brazil-based company engaged in the steel industry. The Company operates throughout the entire steel production chain, from the mining of iron ore to the production and sale of a range of steel products, including coated galvanized flat steel and tinplate. The Company operates in five segments: Steel, Mining, Cement, Logistics and Energy. The Steel segment focuses on the production, distribution and sale of flat steel, long steel, metallic containers, and galvanized steel, with operations in Brazil, the United States, Portugal, and Germany. The Mining segment encompasses the activities of iron ore and tin mining. The Cement segment is responsible for the cement production, distribution, and sale operations. The logistics segment manages port terminal for containers, as well as railway networks. The Energy segment includes generation of electric power. The Company is controlled by Vicunha Acos SA.

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.

Companhia Siderurgica Nacional SA (ADR) has a Value Score of 72, which is considered to be undervalued.

Companhia Siderurgica Nacional SA (ADR)’s price-earnings ratio is 979.7 compared to the industry median at 11.7. This means that it has a higher price relative to its earnings compared to its peers. This makes Companhia Siderurgica Nacional SA (ADR) less attractive for value investors.

Companhia Siderurgica Nacional SA (ADR)’s price-to-book ratio is higher than its peers. This could make Companhia Siderurgica Nacional SA (ADR) less attractive for value investors when compared to the industry median at 1.14.

You can read more about Companhia Siderurgica Nacional 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.

Worthington Steel Inc’s Value Grade

Value Grade:

Worthington Steel, Inc. is a steel processor and producer of electrical steel laminations and automotive lightweighting solutions. It is engaged in processing and selling flat-rolled steel coils. Its product lines and processing capabilities include carbon flat-roll steel processing, electrical steel laminations and tailor welded products. It performs a variety of value-added processes based on customer requirements including pickling, specialty re-rolling, hot dip galvanizing, and blanking. It manufactures precision magnetic steel laminations for the automotive (including applications for electrified vehicles), industrial motor, generator and transformer industries. Tailor Welded Products include Tailor Welded Blanks and Aluminum Tailor Welded Blanks. Tailor Welded Blanks are made from individual sheets of steel of different thickness, strength and coating which are joined together by laser welding. Aluminum Tailor Welded Blanks are processed using friction stir welding technology.

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.

Worthington Steel Inc has a Value Score of 84, which is considered to be undervalued.

Worthington Steel Inc’s price-earnings ratio is 10.5 compared to the industry median at 11.7. This means that it has a lower price relative to its earnings compared to its peers. This makes Worthington Steel Inc more attractive for value investors.

Worthington Steel Inc’s price-to-book ratio is lower than its peers. This could make Worthington Steel Inc more attractive for value investors when compared to the industry median at 1.14.

You can read more about Worthington Steel 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.

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 6 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.

• Ascent Industries Co stock has a Value Grade of A.
• Cleveland-Cliffs Inc stock has a Value Grade of A.
• Kumba Iron Ore Ltd - ADR stock has a Value Grade of B.
• Plaintree Systems Inc. (USA) stock has a Value Grade of B.
• Companhia Siderurgica Nacional SA (ADR) stock has a Value Grade of B.
• Worthington Steel Inc stock has a Value Grade of A.

Now that you have a bit more background about each of the 6 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.

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.

• 6 Undervalued Metals & Mining - Iron & Steel Stocks for Friday, July 05
• 7 Undervalued Metals & Mining - Iron & Steel Stocks for Thursday, July 04
• 4 Undervalued Metals & Mining - Iron & Steel Stocks for Wednesday, July 03
• Why Radius Recycling Inc’s (RDUS) Stock Is Up 8.25%

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