Cleveland-Cliffs Commissions $150M Anneal Line at Coshocton Works

Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. CLF has commissioned its new cutting-edge Vertical Stainless Bright Anneal Line at its Coshocton Works facility in Coshocton, OH. This $150 million capital investment has been completed, and it will provide premium stainless steel for high-end automotive and critical appliance applications. The new annealing line replaces conventional acid-based processing with a 100% hydrogen atmosphere. It also incorporates a hydrogen recovery unit to recycle hydrogen and a 50/50 mix of fresh and used hydrogen in the process.

The stainless steel business has been Cleveland-Cliffs' most constant profit generator. This new line in Coshocton simply adds to that, with a projected speedy payback on this significant investment. By utilizing hydrogen and modern automation, the company is increasing the quality and productivity of this key product on which Cleveland-Cliffs customers rely. As CLF embraces the new competitive landscape in the domestic steel business, its profitability prospects are only improving.

Shares of CLF are down 52.2% in the past year compared with the Zacks Steel Producers industry’s 30% decline.

The company, on its first-quarter call, said that it expects a year-over-year reduction of approximately $50 per net ton in steel unit costs in 2025 compared with its earlier expectation of a $40 per net ton reduction, mainly due to the idling of underperforming assets. Capital expenditures are projected to total around $625 million compared with $700 million expected earlier.

CLF’s Rank & Key Picks

CLF currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).

Better-ranked stocks in the basic materials space include Carpenter Technology Corporation CRS, Centrus Energy Corp. LEU and Avino Silver & Gold Mines Ltd. ASM.

Carpenter Technology currently carries a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). CRS beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the last four quarters, with the average earnings surprise being 11.1%. The company's shares have soared 157.7% in the past year. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Centrus Energy's current-year earnings is pegged at 71 cents. LEU, carrying a Zacks Rank #1, surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate in three of the trailing four quarters while missing once, with the average earnings surprise being 272.7%. The company's shares have rallied 333.9% in the past year.

Avino Silver, which currently carries a Zacks Rank #1, beat the consensus estimate in each of the trailing four quarters. In this time frame, it delivered an earnings surprise of roughly 104.1%, on average. ASM's shares have rallied 271.5% in the past year.

 

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