Global Materials | Industrials | Commodities

Rahul Jain

Equity Bottom-Up

Steel Authority of India / Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>SAIL has been a consistent under-performer despite having huge iron ore reserves, multi-location steel plants and wide product spectrum and exclusive sales to Indian Railways</li>
<li>Legacy plants, ageing manpower and operational inefficiencies have resulted in slower growth compared to peers and a significant loss in overall market share, high inventories and single digit RoEs</li>
<li>SAIL trades at 0.8x P/B, in line with history, but weak volume visibility and elevated debt warrant a deeper discount—0.6x book better reflects risk-reward, in our view.</li>
</ul>


SAIL has been a consistent under-performer despite having huge iron ore reserves, multi-location steel plants and wide product spectrum and exclusive sales to Indian Railways
Legacy plants, ageing manpower and operational inefficiencies have resulted in slower growth compared to peers and a significant loss in overall market share, high inventories and single digit RoEs
SAIL trades at 0.8x P/B, in line with history, but weak volume visibility and elevated debt warrant a deeper discount—0.6x book better reflects risk-reward, in our view.


Steel Authority of India: Weak on Expansion

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Nimish Maheshwari

Market & Forensics Analyst

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Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul>
<li>India proposes a 12% safeguard duty on key flat steel imports for 200 days, targeting low-cost shipments from FTA partners like Japan and South Korea.</li>
<li>The move supports domestic steelmakers like <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/jsw-steel-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:18561:1" rel="noopener">JSW Steel Ltd (JSTL IN)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/tata-steel-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:20934:1" rel="noopener">Tata Steel Ltd (TATA IN)</a> by restoring pricing power, creating room for further price hikes of INR 1,000–1,500/Ton.</li>
<li>Near-Term profitability looks up for flat-steel players, but risks from WTO pushback, MSME cost pressures, and the policy’s temporary nature warrant cautious optimism.</li>
</ul>


India proposes a 12% safeguard duty on key flat steel imports for 200 days, targeting low-cost shipments from FTA partners like Japan and South Korea.
The move supports domestic steelmakers like JSW Steel Ltd (JSTL IN) and Tata Steel Ltd (TATA IN) by restoring pricing power, creating room for further price hikes of INR 1,000–1,500/Ton.
Near-Term profitability looks up for flat-steel players, but risks from WTO pushback, MSME cost pressures, and the policy’s temporary nature warrant cautious optimism.


India’s 12% Safeguard Duty: A Tailwind for Domestic Steelmakers or a Risk to Downstream Industries?

<ul>
<li>NMDC has aggressive growth plans to double its output over the next 5-6 years. Near-term guidance is also strong with plans to grow at &gt;10% in FY26.</li>
<li>New levies, delays in execution and lacklustre pricing outlook remain a key concern. However, well-aligned to surging demand from steadily growing domestic steel industry.</li>
<li>Valuations: Trades at 9x TTM PE which is a slight premium to 5 yr average. Stock offers about 4-5% dividend yield and has payout ratio of &gt;30% provides downside support. </li>
</ul>


NMDC has aggressive growth plans to double its output over the next 5-6 years. Near-term guidance is also strong with plans to grow at &gt;10% in FY26.
New levies, delays in execution and lacklustre pricing outlook remain a key concern. However, well-aligned to surging demand from steadily growing domestic steel industry.
Valuations: Trades at 9x TTM PE which is a slight premium to 5 yr average. Stock offers about 4-5% dividend yield and has payout ratio of &gt;30% provides downside support. 


NMDC: Proxy to Rising Steel Demand with a High Dividend Yield.

<ul>
<li>On March 19, 2025, India's Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR) recommended a 12% provisional safeguard duty on imports of certain steel products for 200 days.</li>
<li>Past measures have produced mixed results but given the massive expansion plans of most large steel majors they have been aggressively lobbying for its implementation.</li>
<li>Outperformance to continue? <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/jsw-steel-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:18561:1" rel="noopener">JSW Steel Ltd (JSTL IN)</a>,<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/tata-steel-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:20934:1" rel="noopener">Tata Steel Ltd (TATA IN)</a> ,<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/jindal-steel-power-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:6614:1" rel="noopener">Jindal Steel &amp; Power (JSP IN)</a>have significantly outperformed benchmark Nifty over the last 6 months despite weak earnings.</li>
</ul>


On March 19, 2025, India's Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR) recommended a 12% provisional safeguard duty on imports of certain steel products for 200 days.
Past measures have produced mixed results but given the massive expansion plans of most large steel majors they have been aggressively lobbying for its implementation.
Outperformance to continue? JSW Steel Ltd (JSTL IN),Tata Steel Ltd (TATA IN) ,Jindal Steel &amp; Power (JSP IN)have significantly outperformed benchmark Nifty over the last 6 months despite weak earnings.


Steel: New Safeguard Measures Imply Outperformance Could Continue.

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/arcelormittal-sa-8b816bb6-eb73-416f-a30a-56f93d1deb03" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:38577:1" rel="noopener">ArcelorMittal (MT US)</a> reported an EBITDA decline for the third year in a row to US$7b in CY24. Targets $0.4b/0.6b of $1.9bn of planned strategic EBITDA growth in 2025/2026.</li>
<li>Management has guided a slightly positive apparent global demand growth 2.5-3.5% ex China. Expects restocking demand in Europe. </li>
<li>Trades at 0.5x P/B vs 2-3x P/B for Indian steel mills <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/jsw-steel-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:18561:1" rel="noopener">JSW Steel Ltd (JSTL IN)</a> , <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/tata-steel-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:20934:1" rel="noopener">Tata Steel Ltd (TATA IN)</a> , <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/jindal-steel-power-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:6614:1" rel="noopener">Jindal Steel &amp; Power (JSP IN)</a> </li>
</ul>



ArcelorMittal (MT US) reported an EBITDA decline for the third year in a row to US$7b in CY24. Targets $0.4b/0.6b of $1.9bn of planned strategic EBITDA growth in 2025/2026.
Management has guided a slightly positive apparent global demand growth 2.5-3.5% ex China. Expects restocking demand in Europe. 
Trades at 0.5x P/B vs 2-3x P/B for Indian steel mills JSW Steel Ltd (JSTL IN) , Tata Steel Ltd (TATA IN) , Jindal Steel &amp; Power (JSP IN) 


ArcelorMittal (MT US) Is Deep Discount to Indian Mills Warranted?

India

JSW Steel Limited is an integrated steel producer with manufacturing facilities in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and the western state of Maharashtra. The Company produces products including hot rolled coils, cold rolled coils, wire rods, galvanized coils and sheets.

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JSW Steel Ltd (JSTL IN)

Steel Authority of India: Weak on Expansion

Despite its vast resources, SAIL's operational inefficiencies have led to underperformance and a loss in market share. A deeper discount on its...

Rahul Jain

India’s 12% Safeguard Duty: A Tailwind for Domestic Steelmakers or a Risk to Downstream Industries?

India proposes safeguard duty on flat steel imports to support domestic steelmakers like JSW Steel and Tata Steel, allowing for price hikes but...

Nimish Maheshwari

NMDC: Proxy to Rising Steel Demand with a High Dividend Yield.

NMDC aims to double output in 5-6 years, with strong near-term growth plans despite concerns over levies and pricing. Stock trades at slight...

Rahul Jain

Steel: New Safeguard Measures Imply Outperformance Could Continue.

India's DGTR recommends 12% safeguard duty on steel imports, large steel companies lobbying for it, JSW Steel, Tata Steel, and Jindal Steel have...

Rahul Jain

ArcelorMittal (MT US) Is Deep Discount to Indian Mills Warranted?

ArcelorMittal reports EBITDA decline for third year, targets strategic growth in 2025/2026. Expects positive global demand growth and trades at...

Rahul Jain

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)

Steel Authority of India: Weak on Expansion

​Despite its vast resources, SAIL's operational inefficiencies have led to underperformance and a loss in market share. A deeper discount on its...

Rahul Jain

India’s 12% Safeguard Duty: A Tailwind for Domestic Steelmakers or a Risk to Downstream Industries?

​India proposes safeguard duty on flat steel imports to support domestic steelmakers like JSW Steel and Tata Steel, allowing for price hikes but...

Nimish Maheshwari

NMDC: Proxy to Rising Steel Demand with a High Dividend Yield.

​NMDC aims to double output in 5-6 years, with strong near-term growth plans despite concerns over levies and pricing. Stock trades at slight...

Rahul Jain

Steel: New Safeguard Measures Imply Outperformance Could Continue.

​India's DGTR recommends 12% safeguard duty on steel imports, large steel companies lobbying for it, JSW Steel, Tata Steel, and Jindal Steel have...

Rahul Jain

ArcelorMittal (MT US) Is Deep Discount to Indian Mills Warranted?

​ArcelorMittal reports EBITDA decline for third year, targets strategic growth in 2025/2026. Expects positive global demand growth and trades at...

Rahul Jain

Despite its vast resources, SAIL's operational inefficiencies have led to underperformance and a loss in market share. A deeper discount on its...

India proposes safeguard duty on flat steel imports to support domestic steelmakers like JSW Steel and Tata Steel, allowing for price hikes but...

NMDC aims to double output in 5-6 years, with strong near-term growth plans despite concerns over levies and pricing. Stock trades at slight...

India's DGTR recommends 12% safeguard duty on steel imports, large steel companies lobbying for it, JSW Steel, Tata Steel, and Jindal Steel have...

ArcelorMittal reports EBITDA decline for third year, targets strategic growth in 2025/2026. Expects positive global demand growth and trades at...