| FORT WAYNE, INDIANA, March 12, 2007— Steel Dynamics, Inc.
(NASDAQ:STLD) today announced it is raising its estimate of first
quarter 2007 earnings due primarily to higher shipping volumes and
somewhat stronger margins than initially projected. The company now
expects first-quarter diluted earnings per share to be about 10 percent
higher than its preliminary first-quarter estimate of $0.85 to $0.90 per
share, revising its estimated range to $0.94 to $0.98 per share. SDI’s
preliminary estimate was made January 23, 2007, in the company’s
earnings release. By comparison, diluted earnings per share for the
first quarter of 2006 was $0.76 and for the fourth quarter of 2006 was
$1.03 per share.
“Market conditions for flat-rolled steels have improved since
mid-January with a recovery in both demand and pricing due in part to
decreased import activity and lower inventories at steel service
centers,” said Keith Busse, President and CEO. “End-use market demand
appears to be up slightly year-over-year in some sectors, yet relatively
flat in others.”
Meanwhile, both pricing and shipping volume for long products have
remained strong. SDI’s margins in this sector are also expected to be
slightly stronger than originally forecast. About half of SDI’s
shipments are flat-rolled products and half are long products—which
includes structural steel, engineered bars, merchant bars, and specialty
shapes.
“Steel scrap prices are trending much higher in the first quarter
than previously forecast,” Busse said. “However, we currently expect to
be able to maintain our margins in the second quarter. With continued
strong order entry in the second quarter, the preliminary outlook is for
a solid quarter. We continue to expect 2007 to be another strong year
for SDI, with a higher volume of shipments and good prospects for
continued strong margins.”
Forward Looking Statements
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