MLM vs. STLD: Martin Marietta Materials vs. Steel Dynamics Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

How do Martin Marietta Materials (MLM) 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

Martin Marietta Materials (MLM) and Steel Dynamics (STLD) both fall under the Materials industry group, but MLM is classified in Construction Materials while STLD is classified in Metals & Mining.

Company profile comparison for Martin Marietta Materials (MLM) and Steel Dynamics (STLD)
Profile Item	MLM	STLD
Name	Martin Marietta Materials, Inc.	Steel Dynamics, Inc.
Country/Region	United States	United States
GICS Sector	Materials	Materials
GICS Industry Group	Materials	Materials
GICS Industry	Construction Materials	Metals & Mining
GICS Sub-Industry	Construction Materials	Steel
Market Capitalization	36.85 billion USD	31.70 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	Nasdaq
Listing Date	February 17, 1994	November 22, 1996
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

MLM

STLD

GSPC

Martin Marietta Materials (MLM) vs. Steel Dynamics (STLD), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Trailing Returns

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Trailing total returns for Martin Marietta Materials (MLM) and Steel Dynamics (STLD). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Martin Marietta Materials (MLM) and Steel Dynamics (STLD). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Martin Marietta Materials (MLM) and Steel Dynamics (STLD)
Metric	MLM	STLD
Total Return (1Y)	-12.23%	52.02%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	6.32%	29.83%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	5.43%	30.20%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

MLM

STLD

GSPC

Martin Marietta Materials (MLM) vs. Steel Dynamics (STLD), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Return Distribution

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Distribution of monthly total returns for Martin Marietta Materials (MLM) and Steel Dynamics (STLD). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Martin Marietta Materials (MLM) and Steel Dynamics (STLD)
Metric	MLM	STLD
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	29.72%	36.62%
Beta (5Y)	1.02	1.46
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-33.19%	-32.20%
Avg. Volume (3M)	805.11K	1.06M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

MLM and STLD are plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. The dashed Capital Allocation Line runs from the risk-free rate through the shared industry median.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for Martin Marietta Materials (MLM) and Steel Dynamics (STLD)
Metric	MLM	STLD
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	-0.56	1.30
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	-0.75	1.92

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Steel Dynamics (STLD) at 20.81% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Martin Marietta Materials (MLM) at 6.02% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for STLD.

MLM

Materials industry group

6.02%

Max: 52.88%
Q3: 19.49%
Median: 8.76%
MLM: 6.02%
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%

Martin Marietta Materials (MLM) vs. Steel Dynamics (STLD): A comparison of their ROE against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Martin Marietta Materials (MLM) at 31.88% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of Steel Dynamics (STLD) at 8.82%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.

MLM

Materials industry group

31.88%

Max: 38.66%
MLM: 31.88%
Q3: 15.98%
Median: 5.28%
Q1: 0.00%
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%

Martin Marietta Materials (MLM) vs. Steel Dynamics (STLD): A comparison of their net margin against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Martin Marietta Materials (MLM) at 22.29% and Steel Dynamics (STLD) at 15.46% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.

MLM

Materials industry group

22.29%

Max: 66.70%
Q3: 28.92%
MLM: 22.29%
Median: 12.56%
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%

Martin Marietta Materials (MLM) vs. Steel Dynamics (STLD): A comparison of their operating margin against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Martin Marietta Materials (MLM) and Steel Dynamics (STLD)
Metric	MLM	STLD
ROE (TTM)	6.02%	20.81%
ROA (TTM)	3.27%	9.45%
Net Margin (TTM)	31.88%	8.82%
Operating Margin (TTM)	22.29%	15.46%
Gross Margin (TTM)	26.74%	15.90%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Martin Marietta Materials (MLM) at 8.62% and Steel Dynamics (STLD) at 3.63% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

Martin Marietta Materials (MLM) vs. Steel Dynamics (STLD): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both Martin Marietta Materials (MLM) at -42.09% and Steel Dynamics (STLD) at -18.80% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

Martin Marietta Materials (MLM) vs. Steel Dynamics (STLD): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Martin Marietta Materials (MLM) and Steel Dynamics (STLD)
Metric	MLM	STLD
Revenue Growth (YoY)	8.62%	3.63%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	-0.06%	-6.53%
EPS Growth (YoY)	-42.09%	-18.80%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	10.61%	-27.45%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Martin Marietta Materials (MLM) at 1.63 and Steel Dynamics (STLD) at 3.15 carry current ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges, suggesting balanced short-term liquidity relative to peers.

MLM

Materials industry group

1.63

Max: 5.96
Q3: 3.30
Median: 2.24
MLM: 1.63
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

Martin Marietta Materials (MLM) vs. Steel Dynamics (STLD): A comparison of their current ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both Martin Marietta Materials (MLM) at 0.75 and Steel Dynamics (STLD) at 0.45 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.

MLM

Materials industry group

0.75

Max: 1.98
Q3: 0.89
MLM: 0.75
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

Martin Marietta Materials (MLM) vs. Steel Dynamics (STLD): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Martin Marietta Materials (MLM) and Steel Dynamics (STLD)
Metric	MLM	STLD
Current Ratio (MRQ)	1.63	3.15
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	0.75	0.45
Net Debt / EBITDA	5.88	1.09

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Martin Marietta Materials (MLM) at 0.63% and Steel Dynamics (STLD) at 0.94% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.

MLM

Materials industry group

0.63%

Max: 4.52%
Q3: 1.85%
MLM: 0.63%
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%

Martin Marietta Materials (MLM) vs. Steel Dynamics (STLD): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both Martin Marietta Materials (MLM) at 24.85% and Steel Dynamics (STLD) at 15.44% keep payout ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges — dividend policies that share earnings without consuming too much of them.

MLM

Materials industry group

24.85%

Max: 83.62%
Q3: 41.37%
MLM: 24.85%
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%

Martin Marietta Materials (MLM) vs. Steel Dynamics (STLD): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Martin Marietta Materials (MLM) and Steel Dynamics (STLD)
Metric	MLM	STLD
Dividend Yield (TTM)	0.63%	0.94%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	24.85%	15.44%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Steel Dynamics (STLD) at 16.46 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Martin Marietta Materials (MLM) at 38.67 sits in the richer quartile — MLM needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.

MLM

Materials industry group

38.67

Max: 59.00
MLM: 38.67
Q3: 32.93
Median: 18.82
Q1: 11.96
Min: 3.93

STLD

Materials industry group

16.46

Max: 59.00
Q3: 32.93
Median: 18.82
STLD: 16.46
Q1: 11.96
Min: 3.93

Martin Marietta Materials (MLM) vs. Steel Dynamics (STLD): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Steel Dynamics (STLD) at 1.43 is priced about in line with its industry on P/S ratio, while Martin Marietta Materials (MLM) at 5.11 sits in the pricier quartile — MLM costs more per dollar of sales.

MLM

Materials industry group

5.11

Max: 9.62
MLM: 5.11
Q3: 4.34
Median: 1.87
Q1: 0.73
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

Martin Marietta Materials (MLM) vs. Steel Dynamics (STLD): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

On P/B ratio, both Martin Marietta Materials (MLM) at 2.09 and Steel Dynamics (STLD) at 3.23 are valued close to their industries’ norm against book — neither stands out from peers.

MLM

Materials industry group

2.09

Max: 6.59
Q3: 3.55
MLM: 2.09
Median: 2.08
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

Martin Marietta Materials (MLM) vs. Steel Dynamics (STLD): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Martin Marietta Materials (MLM) and Steel Dynamics (STLD)
Metric	MLM	STLD
P/E Ratio (TTM)	38.67	16.46
P/S Ratio (TTM)	5.11	1.43
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	2.09	3.23
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	4.54%	1.36%