CLF vs RS

For growth investors, Reliance Steel & Aluminum Co.

(RS) is the stronger pick with 3. 3% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -3. 0% for Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. (CLF). Reliance Steel & Aluminum Co. (RS) offers the better valuation at 26. 9x trailing P/E (19. 3x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. (CLF) a "Hold" — based on 43 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.

Over the past 5 years, Reliance Steel & Aluminum Co.

(RS) delivered a total return of +126. 6%, compared to -45. 5% for Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. (CLF). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: RS returned +454. 9% versus CLF's +227. 4%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Reliance Steel & Aluminum Co.

(RS) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 75β versus Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. 's 2. 36β — meaning CLF is approximately 215% more volatile than RS relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Reliance Steel & Aluminum Co. (RS) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 28% versus 115% for Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Reliance Steel & Aluminum Co.

(RS) is pulling ahead at 3. 3% versus -3. 0% for Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. (CLF). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Reliance Steel & Aluminum Co. grew EPS -10. 2% year-over-year, compared to -91. 1% for Cleveland-Cliffs Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, RS leads at -5. 7% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.

Reliance Steel & Aluminum Co.

(RS) is the more profitable company, earning 5. 2% net margin versus -7. 9% for Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. — meaning it keeps 5. 2% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: RS leads at 7. 2% versus -7. 5% for CLF. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — RS leads at 26. 8%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.

Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for CLF: -0.

4% to $11. 11.

In this comparison, RS (1.

3% yield) pays a dividend. CLF does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Reliance Steel & Aluminum Co.

(RS) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 75), 1. 3% yield, +454. 9% 10Y return). Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. (CLF) carries a higher beta of 2. 36 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (RS: +454. 9%, CLF: +227. 4%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.

Both stocks operate in the Basic Materials sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.

RS pays a dividend while CLF does not, making them suitable for different income and tax situations. These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.