DOW vs. STLD: Dow vs. Steel Dynamics Stock Comparison
How do Dow (DOW) and Steel Dynamics (STLD) stack up? This page sets them side by side across company profile, performance and risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividends, and valuation, with selected fundamentals also measured against each stock's industry-group peers.
Company Profile
Dow (DOW) and Steel Dynamics (STLD) both fall under the Materials industry group, but DOW is classified in Chemicals while STLD is classified in Metals & Mining.
| Profile Item | DOW | STLD |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Dow Inc. | Steel Dynamics, Inc. |
| Country/Region | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Materials | Materials |
| GICS Industry Group | Materials | Materials |
| GICS Industry | Chemicals | Metals & Mining |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Commodity Chemicals | Steel |
| Market Capitalization | 22.73 billion USD | 31.70 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | Nasdaq |
| Listing Date | March 20, 2019 | November 22, 1996 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | DOW | STLD |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 46.93% | 52.02% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | -8.46% | 29.83% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | -6.94% | 30.20% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
Steel Dynamics (STLD) has an aggressive beta of 1.46, indicating higher sensitivity to broad-market moves, while Dow (DOW) is defensive at 0.44 and tends to be less market-sensitive — they sit on opposite ends of the beta spectrum.
| Metric | DOW | STLD |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 41.81% | 36.62% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.44 | 1.46 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -64.37% | -32.20% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 8.52M | 1.06M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | DOW | STLD |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 1.02 | 1.30 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 1.62 | 1.92 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Dow (DOW) reports a negative ROE of -3.24%; negative ROE can reflect losses or negative shareholders’ equity, so it is harder to read as capital efficiency. Meanwhile Steel Dynamics (STLD) reports 20.81%, ranking against industry peers normally.
DOW
Materials industry group
-3.24%
- Max
- 52.88%
- Q3
- 19.49%
- Median
- 8.76%
- DOW
- -3.24%
- Q1
- -3.41%
- Min
- -32.81%
STLD
Materials industry group
20.81%
- Max
- 52.88%
- STLD
- 20.81%
- Q3
- 19.49%
- Median
- 8.76%
- Q1
- -3.41%
- Min
- -32.81%
Net Margin (TTM)
Dow (DOW) reports a negative net margin of -2.11%, usually indicating a net loss over the period. Meanwhile Steel Dynamics (STLD) reports 8.82%, ranking against industry peers normally.
DOW
Materials industry group
-2.11%
- Max
- 38.66%
- Q3
- 15.98%
- Median
- 5.28%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- DOW
- -2.11%
- Min
- -20.40%
STLD
Materials industry group
8.82%
- Max
- 38.66%
- Q3
- 15.98%
- STLD
- 8.82%
- Median
- 5.28%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- -20.40%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Both Dow (DOW) at 6.78% and Steel Dynamics (STLD) at 15.46% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.
DOW
Materials industry group
6.78%
- Max
- 66.70%
- Q3
- 28.92%
- Median
- 12.56%
- DOW
- 6.78%
- Q1
- 3.28%
- Min
- -14.07%
STLD
Materials industry group
15.46%
- Max
- 66.70%
- Q3
- 28.92%
- STLD
- 15.46%
- Median
- 12.56%
- Q1
- 3.28%
- Min
- -14.07%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | DOW | STLD |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | -3.24% | 20.81% |
| ROA (TTM) | 1.87% | 9.45% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | -2.11% | 8.82% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 6.78% | 15.46% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 11.01% | 15.90% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Steel Dynamics (STLD) at 3.63% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while Dow (DOW) at -6.97% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.
EPS Growth
Steel Dynamics (STLD) at -18.80% is around its peer norm for EPS growth, while Dow (DOW) at -335.67% falls below its industry range, a notably weak earnings reading.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | DOW | STLD |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | -6.97% | 3.63% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | -11.11% | -6.53% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | -335.67% | -18.80% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | -- | -27.45% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Both Dow (DOW) at 1.76 and Steel Dynamics (STLD) at 3.15 carry current ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges, suggesting balanced short-term liquidity relative to peers.
DOW
Materials industry group
1.76
- Max
- 5.96
- Q3
- 3.30
- Median
- 2.24
- DOW
- 1.76
- Q1
- 1.45
- Min
- 0.16
STLD
Materials industry group
3.15
- Max
- 5.96
- Q3
- 3.30
- STLD
- 3.15
- Median
- 2.24
- Q1
- 1.45
- Min
- 0.16
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Steel Dynamics (STLD) at 0.45 carries an industry-typical debt-to-equity mix, while Dow (DOW) at 1.08 uses more debt funding than most peers.
DOW
Materials industry group
1.08
- Max
- 1.98
- DOW
- 1.08
- Q3
- 0.89
- Median
- 0.47
- Q1
- 0.13
- Min
- 0.00
STLD
Materials industry group
0.45
- Max
- 1.98
- Q3
- 0.89
- Median
- 0.47
- STLD
- 0.45
- Q1
- 0.13
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | DOW | STLD |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 1.76 | 3.15 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 1.08 | 0.45 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 3.21 | 1.09 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Dow (DOW) at 4.38% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while Steel Dynamics (STLD) at 0.94% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, DOW the richer one.
DOW
Materials industry group
4.38%
- Max
- 4.52%
- DOW
- 4.38%
- Q3
- 1.85%
- Median
- 0.38%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
STLD
Materials industry group
0.94%
- Max
- 4.52%
- Q3
- 1.85%
- STLD
- 0.94%
- Median
- 0.38%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Dow (DOW) reports payout ratio above 100% at 700.00%, meaning dividends exceeded current-period earnings and sustainability needs extra context. Meanwhile Steel Dynamics (STLD) reports 15.44%, ranking against industry peers normally.
DOW
Materials industry group
700.00%
- DOW
- 700.00%
- Max
- 83.62%
- Q3
- 41.37%
- Median
- 9.54%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
STLD
Materials industry group
15.44%
- Max
- 83.62%
- Q3
- 41.37%
- STLD
- 15.44%
- Median
- 9.54%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | DOW | STLD |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 4.38% | 0.94% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 700.00% | 15.44% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
An earnings multiple is available for just one side: Steel Dynamics (STLD) trades at 16.46 times trailing earnings, ranked against its peers, while Dow (DOW) has no P/E ratio this period.
DOW
Materials industry group
--
- Max
- 59.00
- Q3
- 32.93
- Median
- 18.82
- Q1
- 11.96
- Min
- 3.93
- DOW
- --
STLD
Materials industry group
16.46
- Max
- 59.00
- Q3
- 32.93
- Median
- 18.82
- STLD
- 16.46
- Q1
- 11.96
- Min
- 3.93
P/S Ratio (TTM)
Dow (DOW) at 0.53 sits in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile while Steel Dynamics (STLD) at 1.43 prices around its industry’s middle — DOW costs less per dollar of sales, though read it alongside growth and margins.
DOW
Materials industry group
0.53
- Max
- 9.62
- Q3
- 4.34
- Median
- 1.87
- Q1
- 0.73
- DOW
- 0.53
- Min
- 0.00
STLD
Materials industry group
1.43
- Max
- 9.62
- Q3
- 4.34
- Median
- 1.87
- STLD
- 1.43
- Q1
- 0.73
- Min
- 0.00
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
On P/B ratio, both Dow (DOW) at 1.41 and Steel Dynamics (STLD) at 3.23 are valued close to their industries’ norm against book — neither stands out from peers.
DOW
Materials industry group
1.41
- Max
- 6.59
- Q3
- 3.55
- Median
- 2.08
- DOW
- 1.41
- Q1
- 1.26
- Min
- -0.17
STLD
Materials industry group
3.23
- Max
- 6.59
- Q3
- 3.55
- STLD
- 3.23
- Median
- 2.08
- Q1
- 1.26
- Min
- -0.17
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | DOW | STLD |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | -- | 16.46 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 0.53 | 1.43 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 1.41 | 3.23 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 3.95% | 1.36% |