PKX
POSCO Holdings Inc.
Steel
Market Cap$103.23B
5Y Perf.+131.2%
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Stock Comparison
PKX vs STLD
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
STLD
Steel Dynamics, Inc.
Steel
Market Cap$34.40B
5Y Perf.+794.1%
PKX vs STLD — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | PKX | STLD |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Steel | Steel |
| Market Cap | $103.23B | $34.40B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $52.26T | $19.01B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $883.00B | $1.37B |
| Gross Margin | 7.9% | 14.0% |
| Operating Margin | 3.8% | 9.4% |
| Forward P/E | 0.0x | 15.9x |
| Total Debt | $28.53T | $4.21B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $7.05T | $770M |
PKX vs STLD — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
PKX
STLD
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| POSCO Holdings Inc. (PKX) | 100 | 231.2 | +131.2% |
| Steel Dynamics, Inc. (STLD) | 100 | 894.1 | +794.1% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: PKX vs STLD
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: STLD leads in 4 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for growth and revenue expansion and profitability and margin quality. POSCO Holdings Inc. is the stronger pick specifically for valuation and capital efficiency and capital preservation and lower volatility. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
PKX
POSCO Holdings Inc.
The Defensive Pick
PKX is the clearest fit if your priority is sleep-well-at-night.
- Lower volatility, beta 0.99, Low D/E 45.7%, current ratio 1.89x
- Lower P/E (0.0x vs 15.9x)
- Beta 0.99 vs STLD's 1.32, lower leverage
Best for: sleep-well-at-night
STLD
Steel Dynamics, Inc.
The Income Pick
STLD carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and growth exposure.
- Dividend streak 15 yrs, beta 1.32, yield 0.8%
- Rev growth 3.6%, EPS growth -18.8%, 3Y rev CAGR -6.5%
- 9.0% 10Y total return vs PKX's 127.1%
Best for: income & stability and growth exposure
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | STLD | 3.6% revenue growth vs PKX's -5.1% |
| Value | PKX | Lower P/E (0.0x vs 15.9x) |
| Quality / Margins | STLD | 7.2% margin vs PKX's 1.7% |
| Stability / Safety | PKX | Beta 0.99 vs STLD's 1.32, lower leverage |
| Dividends | STLD | 0.8% yield, 15-year raise streak, vs PKX's 0.6% |
| Momentum (1Y) | PKX | +87.2% vs STLD's +79.9% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | STLD | 8.5% ROA vs PKX's 0.9%, ROIC 9.2% vs 1.7% |
PKX vs STLD — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2024
FY 2025
PKX vs STLD — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLSTLDLAGGINGPKX
PKXPOSCO Holdings Inc.
1leads
STLDSteel Dynamics, Inc.
5leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs PKXMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
STLD5/6
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
STLD3/5
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
STLD8/9
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
STLD4/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
PKX2/2
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
STLD2/2
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
STLD leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
PKX is the larger business by revenue, generating $52.26T annually — 2749.0x STLD's $19.0B. STLD is the more profitable business, keeping 7.2% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to PKX's 1.7%. On growth, STLD holds the edge at +19.1% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | PKXPOSCO Holdings In… | STLDSteel Dynamics, I… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $52.26T | $19.0B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $5.07T | $2.4B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $883.0B | $1.4B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | -$1.47T | $665M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +7.9% | +14.0% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +3.8% | +9.4% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +1.7% | +7.2% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | -2.8% | +3.5% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -99.9% | +19.1% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +100.0% | +93.1% |
STLD leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
STLD leads this category, winning 3 of 5 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 29.7x trailing earnings, STLD trades at a 88% valuation discount to PKX's 247.8x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, STLD's 18.7x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than PKX's 28.8x.
| Metric | PKXPOSCO Holdings In… | STLDSteel Dynamics, I… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $103.2B | $34.4B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $117.8B | $37.8B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 247.79x | 29.72x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 0.01x | 15.95x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 1.18x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 28.84x | 18.67x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 2.21x | 1.89x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 2.61x | 3.95x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | — | 68.60x |
STLD leads this category, winning 3 of 5 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
STLD leads this category, winning 8 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
STLD delivers a 15.3% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $15 in annual profit, vs $1 for PKX. PKX carries lower financial leverage with a 0.46x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to STLD's 0.47x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), STLD scores 5/9 vs PKX's 4/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | PKXPOSCO Holdings In… | STLDSteel Dynamics, I… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +1.4% | +15.3% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +0.9% | +8.5% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +1.7% | +9.2% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +2.3% | +10.9% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 4 | 5 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.46x | 0.47x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $21.48T | $3.4B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $7.05T | $770M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $28.53T | $4.2B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 2.39x | 20.39x |
STLD leads this category, winning 8 of 9 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
STLD leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in STLD five years ago would be worth $40,972 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $11,186 for PKX. Over the past 12 months, PKX leads with a +87.2% total return vs STLD's +79.9%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors STLD at 35.3% vs PKX's 7.6% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | PKXPOSCO Holdings In… | STLDSteel Dynamics, I… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +60.2% | +35.2% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +87.2% | +79.9% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +24.5% | +147.6% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +11.9% | +309.7% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +127.1% | +904.7% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +7.6% | +35.3% |
STLD leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
PKX leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
PKX is the less volatile stock with a 0.99 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than STLD's 1.32 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500.
| Metric | PKXPOSCO Holdings In… | STLDSteel Dynamics, I… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.99x | 1.32x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $85.55 | $238.68 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $42.35 | $119.89 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +99.7% | +99.5% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 82.3 | 76.1 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 198K | 1.1M |
PKX leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
STLD leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates PKX as "Buy" and STLD as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply -9.8% upside for PKX (target: $77) vs -20.7% for STLD (target: $188). For income investors, STLD offers the higher dividend yield at 0.83% vs PKX's 0.56%.
| Metric | PKXPOSCO Holdings In… | STLDSteel Dynamics, I… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $77.00 | $188.40 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 9 | 27 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +0.6% | +0.8% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 0 | 15 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $706.77 | $1.96 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | +2.6% |
STLD leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Key Takeaway
STLD leads in 5 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Valuation Metrics). PKX leads in 1 (Risk & Volatility).
Best OverallSteel Dynamics, Inc. (STLD)Leads 5 of 6 categories
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PKX vs STLD: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is PKX or STLD a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Steel Dynamics, Inc.
(STLD) is the stronger pick with 3. 6% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -5. 1% for POSCO Holdings Inc. (PKX). Steel Dynamics, Inc. (STLD) offers the better valuation at 29. 7x trailing P/E (15. 9x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate POSCO Holdings Inc. (PKX) a "Buy" — based on 9 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.
02Which has the better valuation — PKX or STLD?
On trailing P/E, Steel Dynamics, Inc.
(STLD) is the cheapest at 29. 7x versus POSCO Holdings Inc. at 247. 8x. On forward P/E, POSCO Holdings Inc. is actually cheaper at 0. 0x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.
03Which is the better long-term investment — PKX or STLD?
Over the past 5 years, Steel Dynamics, Inc.
(STLD) delivered a total return of +309. 7%, compared to +11. 9% for POSCO Holdings Inc. (PKX). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: STLD returned +904. 7% versus PKX's +127. 1%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
04Which is safer — PKX or STLD?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), POSCO Holdings Inc.
(PKX) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 99β versus Steel Dynamics, Inc. 's 1. 32β — meaning STLD is approximately 34% more volatile than PKX relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, POSCO Holdings Inc. (PKX) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 46% versus 47% for Steel Dynamics, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — PKX or STLD?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Steel Dynamics, Inc.
(STLD) is pulling ahead at 3. 6% versus -5. 1% for POSCO Holdings Inc. (PKX). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Steel Dynamics, Inc. grew EPS -18. 8% year-over-year, compared to -83. 4% for POSCO Holdings Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, STLD leads at -6. 5% 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.
06Which has better profit margins — PKX or STLD?
Steel Dynamics, Inc.
(STLD) is the more profitable company, earning 6. 5% net margin versus 1. 0% for POSCO Holdings Inc. — meaning it keeps 6. 5% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: STLD leads at 8. 1% versus 2. 7% for PKX. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — STLD leads at 13. 0%, 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.
07Is PKX or STLD more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, POSCO Holdings Inc.
(PKX) trades at 0. 0x forward P/E versus 15. 9x for Steel Dynamics, Inc. — 15. 9x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for PKX: -9. 8% to $77. 00.
08Which pays a better dividend — PKX or STLD?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
Steel Dynamics, Inc. (STLD) offers the highest yield at 0. 8%, versus 0. 6% for POSCO Holdings Inc. (PKX).
09Is PKX or STLD better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Steel Dynamics, Inc.
(STLD) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (0. 8% yield, +904. 7% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (STLD: +904. 7%, PKX: +127. 1%), 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.
10What are the main differences between PKX and STLD?
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.
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.
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(PKX: -99.9% · STLD: 19.1%)P/E Ratio<
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