STLD vs NUE vs RS vs CLF

For growth investors, Nucor Corporation (NUE) is the stronger pick with 5.

7% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -3. 0% for Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. (CLF). Reliance Steel & Aluminum Co. (RS) offers the better valuation at 26. 6x trailing P/E (19. 1x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Steel Dynamics, Inc. (STLD) a "Buy" — based on 27 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.

On trailing P/E, Reliance Steel & Aluminum Co.

(RS) is the cheapest at 26. 6x versus Nucor Corporation at 30. 9x. On forward P/E, Steel Dynamics, Inc. is actually cheaper at 15. 9x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Steel Dynamics, Inc. wins at 0. 63x versus Reliance Steel & Aluminum Co. 's 0. 96x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Steel Dynamics, Inc.

(STLD) delivered a total return of +309. 7%, compared to -47. 3% for Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. (CLF). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: STLD returned +904. 7% versus CLF's +197. 0%. 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), Nucor Corporation (NUE) is pulling ahead at 5.

7% 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.

Steel Dynamics, Inc.

(STLD) is the more profitable company, earning 6. 5% net margin versus -7. 9% for Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. — meaning it keeps 6. 5% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: NUE leads at 8. 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.

The PEG ratio (forward P/E divided by expected earnings growth rate) is the most precise measure of undervaluation relative to growth potential.

By this metric, Steel Dynamics, Inc. (STLD) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 63x versus Reliance Steel & Aluminum Co. 's 0. 96x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Steel Dynamics, Inc. (STLD) trades at 15. 9x forward P/E versus 19. 1x for Reliance Steel & Aluminum Co. — 3. 1x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for CLF: 4. 3% to $11. 11.

In this comparison, RS (1.

3% yield), NUE (1. 0% yield), STLD (0. 8% yield) pay 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, +450. 7% 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: +450. 7%, CLF: +197. 0%), 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.

STLD, NUE, RS pay 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.