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    Analysis

    Final Thoughts

    Written by Ethan Bernard


    ChatGPT has spoken. In my last Final Thoughts, I examined three questions from our latest survey. I included participants’ comments from each question. At the end, I subjected my piece to the analysis of the SMU Magic 8-ball. It proclaimed: “Better not tell you now.” Well, I couldn’t let things rest there, and, as promised, called in on ChatGPT for some analysis.

    First off, let me tell you the parameters. The survey questions were as follows: 1) When do you think steel prices will peak? 2) Where do you think HRC prices will be in two months? 3) How will your company perform this month compared to your forecast? I plugged in the more than 60+ comments we received to those questions as raw data into ChatGPT. I asked ChatGPT not to bring in any outside data.

    Ethan Bernard

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    AZZ raises fiscal 2027 guidance after record second-quarter sales

    AZZ Inc. raised its fiscal 2027 guidance after reporting record second-quarter sales and adjusted earnings, supported by higher volumes and pricing in both its Metal Coatings and Precoat Metals segments. AZZ reported fiscal second-quarter sales of $486.9 million for the three months ended Aug. 31, up 16.7% from the prior-year quarter. Net income fell 34.6% year over year (y/y) to $58.45 million. “During the quarter, we benefited from organic sales growth, the continued ramp-up of our new Washington, Missouri facility within our Precoat Metals segment, and the completion of a strategic Metal Coatings acquisition in the Pacific Northwest,” noted President and CEO Tom Ferguson.

    US flat-rolled steel import licenses hit a 14-month high

    US flat-rolled steel import licenses climbed in September, extending a recovery after several months of depressed inbound shipments. Licenses rose 4.9% month on month to 679,889 short tons (st), their highest level in 14 months and 29.1% above the 12-month moving average (12MMA) for August, according to Commerce Department data. The increase was led by cold-rolled sheet and other metallic-coated products, with particularly sharp gains in licenses from Turkey, Taiwan, and South Korea. Hot-rolled sheet licenses eased from August’s 19-month high, while galvanized sheet, coiled plate and cut-to-length plate also slipped month on month. Even so, licenses for hot-rolled sheet and both plate categories remained elevated relative to their recent averages, pointing to continued strength across several product lines.