Time Warner Inc.’s (TWX) “Man of Steel” remake of the everlasting Superman theme rung up over $113 million in box office sales over its first weekend. The film has been seen as a response to last year’s conclusion to the Batman trilogy, and could open up on a whole new and potentially lucrative franchise of films for the movie studio.
While Time Warner is sure to be pleased with the results, six stocks in the Steel & Iron industry have had a lot to be happy about over the last year as well. The following plays represent U.S. steel & iron companies that have performed positively over the past six and twelve months, and that furthermore have strong earnings per share growth forecasted for the next fiscal year. To sweeten the deal, each has an analyst rating of “buy or better”.
Nucor Corporation (NUE) – Nucor has a market cap of $14.25 billion, and shares currently trading at $44.70, up 10.25 percent over the past six months and 28.34 over the past year. Earnings per share, currently $1.39, is expected to 102 percent in the next fiscal year.
Steel Dynamics Inc. (STLD) – Founded in 1993, the Fort Wayne, Indiana company has a market cap of $3.28 billion, with shares currently trading at $14.92, up 16.65 percent over the past six months and 48 percent over the past year. The company’s EPS, $0.72, is expected to grow over 53 percent in the next fisca year.
Commercial Metals Company (CMC) – The Irving, Texas company has a market cap of $1.7 billion, with shares trading at $14.61, up 6.8 percent over the past six months and 29 percent over the past year. EPS of $0.94 is expected to grow 85 percent in the next fiscal year.
Gibraltar Industries Inc. (ROCK) – The Buffalo, New York company has a market cap of $482.3 million, with shares trading at $15.62, up 4.83 percent over the past six months and over 51 percent in the last year. EPS of $0.25 is expected to increase over 46 percent in the next fiscal year.
Insteel Industries Inc. (IIIN) – The Mount Airy, North Carolina company has a market cap of $320.34 million, with shares trading at $17.95, up 53 percent over the past six months, and 81 percent over the past year. EPS of $0.43 is expected to increase 52 percent in the next fiscal year.
Northwest Pipe Co. (NWPX) – The Vancouver, Washington company has the smallest market cap on the list at $255.84 million, but its shares are the second most expensive, at $27.11, up 29 percent over the past six months and 18 percent over the past year. EPS of $2.22 is expected to grow 29 percent in the next fiscal year.
