5 Undervalued Metals & Mining - Iron & Steel Stocks for Monday, September 09

By Jenna Brashear
September 09, 2024
Diamond graphic indicating best value stocks in their industry
Featured Tickers:
ASTL HIHO MSB PTEEF SPLP

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 Monday, September 09, 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
Algoma Steel Group Inc ASTL 0.58 na 9.9 6.4% 0.98 na A
Highway Holdings Limited HIHO 1.23 na na 4.6% 1.29 na B
Mesabi Trust MSB 8.22 10.5 9.7 7.7% na na B
Plaintree Systems Inc. (USA) PTEEF 0.07 23.6 3.5 0.0% 0.79 na A
Steel Partners Holdings LP SPLP 0.41 4.3 1.8 5.5% 0.75 3.3 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.

Algoma Steel Group Inc’s Value Grade

Value Grade:

Metric Score ASTL Industry Median
Price/Sales 23 0.58 0.53
Price/Earnings na na 10.4
EV/EBITDA 47 9.9 6.6
Shareholder Yield 12 6.4% 3.0%
Price/Book Value 29 0.98 1.09
Price/Free Cash Flow na na 15.6

Algoma Steel Group Inc. (Algoma) is a Canada-based integrated producer of hot and cold rolled steel products including sheet and plate. The Company delivers customer-driven product solutions to applications in the automotive, construction, energy, defense, and manufacturing sectors. The Company is a key supplier of steel products to customers in North America and is the only producer of discrete plate products in Canada. Its plate products include AR225, Heat Treated Plate, AlgoLaser, AlgoGrip and The Heavies. Its plate products include Hot Rolled Sheet - DSPC, Hot Rolled Sheet - 106'' Mill, AR200, Cold Rolled and Floor Plate. The Company has a raw steel production capacity of an estimated 2.8 million tons per year. Its Direct Strip Production Complex is a thin slab caster coupled with direct hot rolling in North America. In addition, its heat-treated plate facility provides a full range of heat-treated products for abrasion resistant, ballistic and other specialty plate applications.

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.

Algoma Steel Group Inc has a Value Score of 87, which is considered to be undervalued.

When you look at Algoma Steel Group Inc’s price-to-sales ratio at 0.58 compared to the industry median at 0.53, this company has a higher price relative to revenue compared to its peers. This could make Algoma Steel Group Inc’s stock less attractive for value investors.

Now, let’s assess Algoma Steel Group Inc’s EV/EBITDA ratio, also known as enterprise multiple. At 9.9, when compared to the industry median of 6.6, 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. Algoma Steel Group Inc’s shareholder yield is higher than its industry median ratio of 3.02%. 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. Algoma Steel Group Inc’s price-to-book ratio is lower than its industry median ratio of 1.09. This could make Algoma Steel Group Inc more attractive to investors looking for a new addition to their portfolio.

Highway Holdings Limited’s Value Grade

Value Grade:

Metric Score HIHO Industry Median
Price/Sales 41 1.23 0.53
Price/Earnings na na 10.4
EV/EBITDA na na 6.6
Shareholder Yield 18 4.6% 3.0%
Price/Book Value 40 1.29 1.09
Price/Free Cash Flow na na 15.6

Highway Holdings Limited is a holding company. The Company manufactures and supplies various metal, plastic and electric parts, components and products to its original equipment manufacturing (OEM) clients, which are used by the Company's customers in the manufacturing of products, such as photocopiers, laser printers, compact disc players, laser disc players, computer equipment, electrical components, electrical connectors, vacuum cleaners, light fixtures, electro motors, pumps, automobiles and dishwasher, and other washing machine components. The Company operates in two segments: the metal stamping and mechanical OEM segment, and the electric OEM segment. The metal stamping and mechanical OEM segment focuses on the manufacture and sale of metal parts and components, whereas the electric OEM segment focuses on the manufacture and sale of plastic and electronic parts, components and machines.

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.

Highway Holdings Limited has a Value Score of 78, which is considered to be undervalued.

Highway Holdings Limited’s price-to-book ratio is lower than its peers. This could make Highway Holdings Limited more attractive for value investors when compared to the industry median at 1.09.

You can read more about Highway Holdings Limited’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.

Mesabi Trust’s Value Grade

Value Grade:

Metric Score MSB Industry Median
Price/Sales 88 8.22 0.53
Price/Earnings 23 10.5 10.4
EV/EBITDA 46 9.7 6.6
Shareholder Yield 9 7.7% 3.0%
Price/Book Value na na 1.09
Price/Free Cash Flow na na 15.6

Mesabi Trust is a royalty trust organized to derive income from an iron mine (the Peter Mitchell Mine) located near Babbitt, Minnesota, at the eastern end of the Mesabi Iron Range. The Trust is a pass-through entity. It operates in one segment, which is iron ore mining. The mine is operated by Northshore Mining Company (Northshore), a subsidiary of Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. (CCI). Northshore mines the ore, which is in the form of taconite, a hard rock containing approximately 21% recoverable iron, crushes it, separates the iron particles from the non-metallic, and forms the resulting concentrate into pellets which are shipped for use in steel-producing blast furnaces of customers of CCI. Northshore pays royalties to the Trust primarily based on the selling price of pellets shipped from Northshore’s pellet plant at Silver Bay, Minnesota, on Lake Superior approximately 45 miles from the mine, plus a significantly smaller royalty based on tons of ore extracted at the mine.

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.

Mesabi Trust has a Value Score of 62, which is considered to be undervalued.

Mesabi Trust’s price-earnings ratio is 10.5 compared to the industry median at 10.4. This means that it has a higher price relative to its earnings compared to its peers. This makes Mesabi Trust less attractive for value investors.

You can read more about Mesabi Trust’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 3 0.07 0.53
Price/Earnings 61 23.6 10.4
EV/EBITDA 8 3.5 6.6
Shareholder Yield 48 0.0% 3.0%
Price/Book Value 21 0.79 1.09
Price/Free Cash Flow na na 15.6

Plaintree Systems Inc. is a diversified company with technologies and manufacturing capabilities in structural design and aerospace. Its Specialty Structures division includes the Triodetic Group, which is a design/build manufacturer 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, and others; and Spotton Corporation, a design and manufacturer of high-end custom hydraulic and pneumatic valves and cylinders. Its Applied Electronics division includes Hypernetics, Summit Aerospace USA Inc. and Elmira Stove Works Inc. businesses. Hypernetics is a manufacturer of avionic components for various applications. Summit Aerospace USA Inc. provides high precision machining for the aerospace and defense markets. Elmira Stove Works Inc a manufacturer of high-end heritage and retro-styled kitchen appliances under the brand names Northstar, Fireview and Heritage.

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-earnings ratio is 23.6 compared to the industry median at 10.4. This means that it has a higher price relative to its earnings compared to its peers. This makes Plaintree Systems Inc. (USA) less attractive for value investors.

Plaintree Systems Inc. (USA)’s price-to-book ratio is higher than its peers. This could make Plaintree Systems Inc. (USA) less attractive for value investors when compared to the industry median at 1.09.

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.

Steel Partners Holdings LP’s Value Grade

Value Grade:

Metric Score SPLP Industry Median
Price/Sales 16 0.41 0.53
Price/Earnings 4 4.3 10.4
EV/EBITDA 4 1.8 6.6
Shareholder Yield 15 5.5% 3.0%
Price/Book Value 20 0.75 1.09
Price/Free Cash Flow 6 3.3 15.6

Steel Partners Holdings L.P. is a diversified global holding company. It owns and operates businesses and has interests in various companies, including diversified industrial products, energy, defense, supply chain management and logistics, banking, and youth sports. Its segments include Diversified Industrial, Energy, Financial Services and Supply Chain. The Diversified Industrial segment consists of manufacturers of engineered niche industrial products, including joining materials, tubing, building materials, performance materials, electrical products, cutting replacement products and services, and a packaging business. The Energy segment provides drilling and production services to the oil and gas industry and owns a youth sports business. Financial Services segment consists primarily of the operations of WebBank, a Utah chartered industrial bank, which engages in a full range of banking activities. The Supply Chain segment provides supply chain management and logistics services.

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.

Steel Partners Holdings LP has a Value Score of 99, which is considered to be undervalued.

Steel Partners Holdings LP’s price-earnings ratio is 4.3 compared to the industry median at 10.4. This means that it has a lower price relative to its earnings compared to its peers. This makes Steel Partners Holdings LP more attractive for value investors.

Steel Partners Holdings LP’s price-to-book ratio is higher than its peers. This could make Steel Partners Holdings LP less attractive for value investors when compared to the industry median at 1.09.

You can read more about Steel Partners Holdings LP’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.

  • Algoma Steel Group Inc stock has a Value Grade of A.
  • Highway Holdings Limited stock has a Value Grade of B.
  • Mesabi Trust stock has a Value Grade of B.
  • Plaintree Systems Inc. (USA) stock has a Value Grade of A.
  • Steel Partners Holdings LP 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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