STLD vs. VALE: Steel Dynamics vs. Vale Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

How do Steel Dynamics (STLD) and Vale (VALE) 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

Steel Dynamics (STLD) and Vale (VALE) are both classified in the Steel sub-industry within the broader Metals & Mining industry, placing them in the closest GICS peer bucket.

Steel Dynamics (STLD) trades as ordinary local shares, while Vale (VALE) trades as an ADR — compare with FX exposure, depositary-program fees, and dividend-withholding-tax differences in mind.

Company profile comparison for Steel Dynamics (STLD) and Vale (VALE)
Profile Item	STLD	VALE
Name	Steel Dynamics, Inc.	Vale S.A. American Depositary Shares
Country/Region	United States	Brazil
GICS Sector	Materials	Materials
GICS Industry Group	Materials	Materials
GICS Industry	Metals & Mining	Metals & Mining
GICS Sub-Industry	Steel	Steel
Market Capitalization	31.70 billion USD	49.32 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	Nasdaq	NYSE
Listing Date	November 22, 1996	March 21, 2002
Security Type	Common Stock	ADR

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

STLD

VALE

GSPC

Steel Dynamics (STLD) vs. Vale (VALE), 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 Steel Dynamics (STLD) and Vale (VALE). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Steel Dynamics (STLD) and Vale (VALE)
Metric	STLD	VALE
Total Return (1Y)	52.02%	6.20%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	29.83%	3.12%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	30.20%	8.31%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

STLD

VALE

GSPC

Steel Dynamics (STLD) vs. Vale (VALE), 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 Steel Dynamics (STLD) and Vale (VALE). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Steel Dynamics (STLD) has an aggressive beta of 1.46, indicating higher sensitivity to broad-market moves, while Vale (VALE) is defensive at 0.48 and tends to be less market-sensitive — they sit on opposite ends of the beta spectrum.

Risk profile metrics for Steel Dynamics (STLD) and Vale (VALE)
Metric	STLD	VALE
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	36.62%	33.88%
Beta (5Y)	1.46	0.48
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-32.20%	-49.81%
Avg. Volume (3M)	1.06M	32.62M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

STLD and VALE 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 Steel Dynamics (STLD) and Vale (VALE)
Metric	STLD	VALE
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	1.30	0.06
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	1.92	0.08

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Steel Dynamics (STLD) at 20.81% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Vale (VALE) at 0.26% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for STLD.

STLD

Materials industry group

20.81%

Max: 52.88%
STLD: 20.81%
Q3: 19.49%
Median: 8.76%
Q1: -3.41%
Min: -32.81%

VALE

Materials industry group

0.26%

Max: 52.88%
Q3: 19.49%
Median: 8.76%
VALE: 0.26%
Q1: -3.41%
Min: -32.81%

Steel Dynamics (STLD) vs. Vale (VALE): A comparison of their ROE against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Both Steel Dynamics (STLD) at 8.82% and Vale (VALE) at 1.01% keep about the typical share of revenue as profit for their industries — neither bottom line stands out from peers.

STLD

Materials industry group

8.82%

Max: 38.66%
Q3: 15.98%
STLD: 8.82%
Median: 5.28%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: -20.40%

VALE

Materials industry group

1.01%

Max: 38.66%
Q3: 15.98%
Median: 5.28%
VALE: 1.01%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: -20.40%

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

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Steel Dynamics (STLD) at 15.46% and Vale (VALE) at 19.31% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.

STLD

Materials industry group

15.46%

Max: 66.70%
Q3: 28.92%
STLD: 15.46%
Median: 12.56%
Q1: 3.28%
Min: -14.07%

VALE

Materials industry group

19.31%

Max: 66.70%
Q3: 28.92%
VALE: 19.31%
Median: 12.56%
Q1: 3.28%
Min: -14.07%

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

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Steel Dynamics (STLD) and Vale (VALE)
Metric	STLD	VALE
ROE (TTM)	20.81%	0.26%
ROA (TTM)	9.45%	6.97%
Net Margin (TTM)	8.82%	1.01%
Operating Margin (TTM)	15.46%	19.31%
Gross Margin (TTM)	15.90%	32.06%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Steel Dynamics (STLD) at 3.63% and Vale (VALE) at 0.91% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

Steel Dynamics (STLD) vs. Vale (VALE): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both Steel Dynamics (STLD) at -18.80% and Vale (VALE) at -61.81% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

Steel Dynamics (STLD) vs. Vale (VALE): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Steel Dynamics (STLD) and Vale (VALE)
Metric	STLD	VALE
Revenue Growth (YoY)	3.63%	0.91%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	-6.53%	-4.32%
EPS Growth (YoY)	-18.80%	-61.81%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	-27.45%	-48.60%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Steel Dynamics (STLD) at 3.15 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Vale (VALE) at 1.10 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for VALE.

STLD

Materials industry group

3.15

Max: 5.96
Q3: 3.30
STLD: 3.15
Median: 2.24
Q1: 1.45
Min: 0.16

VALE

Materials industry group

1.10

Max: 5.96
Q3: 3.30
Median: 2.24
Q1: 1.45
VALE: 1.10
Min: 0.16

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

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both Steel Dynamics (STLD) at 0.45 and Vale (VALE) at 0.55 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.

STLD

Materials industry group

0.45

Max: 1.98
Q3: 0.89
Median: 0.47
STLD: 0.45
Q1: 0.13
Min: 0.00

VALE

Materials industry group

0.55

Max: 1.98
Q3: 0.89
VALE: 0.55
Median: 0.47
Q1: 0.13
Min: 0.00

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

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Steel Dynamics (STLD) and Vale (VALE)
Metric	STLD	VALE
Current Ratio (MRQ)	3.15	1.10
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	0.45	0.55
Net Debt / EBITDA	1.09	1.20

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Steel Dynamics (STLD) at 0.94% pays an industry-typical yield; Vale (VALE) at 49.02% is above its entire peer range — the higher number, but one that calls for a look at payout sustainability before treating it as an advantage.

STLD

Materials industry group

0.94%

Max: 4.52%
Q3: 1.85%
STLD: 0.94%
Median: 0.38%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

VALE

Materials industry group

49.02%

VALE: 49.02%
Max: 4.52%
Q3: 1.85%
Median: 0.38%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

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

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Vale (VALE) reports payout ratio above 100% at 526.96%, meaning dividends exceeded current-period earnings and sustainability needs extra context. Meanwhile Steel Dynamics (STLD) reports 15.44%, ranking against industry peers normally.

STLD

Materials industry group

15.44%

Max: 83.62%
Q3: 41.37%
STLD: 15.44%
Median: 9.54%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

VALE

Materials industry group

526.96%

VALE: 526.96%
Max: 83.62%
Q3: 41.37%
Median: 9.54%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

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

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Steel Dynamics (STLD) and Vale (VALE)
Metric	STLD	VALE
Dividend Yield (TTM)	0.94%	49.02%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	15.44%	526.96%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Steel Dynamics (STLD) at 16.46 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Vale (VALE) at 72.44 sits above its peer range — an unusually expensive price for VALE’s trailing earnings.

STLD

Materials industry group

16.46

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

VALE

Materials industry group

72.44

VALE: 72.44
Max: 59.00
Q3: 32.93
Median: 18.82
Q1: 11.96
Min: 3.93

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

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Vale (VALE) at 0.23 sits in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile while Steel Dynamics (STLD) at 1.43 prices around its industry’s middle — VALE costs less per dollar of sales, though read it alongside growth and margins.

STLD

Materials industry group

1.43

Max: 9.62
Q3: 4.34
Median: 1.87
STLD: 1.43
Q1: 0.73
Min: 0.00

VALE

Materials industry group

0.23

Max: 9.62
Q3: 4.34
Median: 1.87
Q1: 0.73
VALE: 0.23
Min: 0.00

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

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

On P/B ratio, both Steel Dynamics (STLD) at 3.23 and Vale (VALE) at 1.27 are valued close to their industries’ norm against book — neither stands out from peers.

STLD

Materials industry group

3.23

Max: 6.59
Q3: 3.55
STLD: 3.23
Median: 2.08
Q1: 1.26
Min: -0.17

VALE

Materials industry group

1.27

Max: 6.59
Q3: 3.55
Median: 2.08
VALE: 1.27
Q1: 1.26
Min: -0.17

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

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Steel Dynamics (STLD) and Vale (VALE)
Metric	STLD	VALE
P/E Ratio (TTM)	16.46	72.44
P/S Ratio (TTM)	1.43	0.23
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	3.23	1.27
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	1.36%	17.51%