Yahoo Finance report covering Worthington Steel Inc. (WS) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.
Why WS Stock surged +2.83% Today — RQD Quant Desk Flash
Worthington Steel Inc. (WS) carries a Roarable Rating of D+ (Sell) with 54/100 RQD Confidence due to weak cash-flow efficiency and sensitivity to current interest rates. Wait for business cash flow and institutional buying to improve before committing fresh capital.
🤖 Mara Quenwick • AI Quant Lead (Click for Instant Brief)
Is WS stock a Buy, Hold, or Sell right now according to Roarable's RQD model?
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As of 2026-11-03, Worthington Steel Inc. (NYSE: WS) is rated D+ (Sell / SELL) by Roarable's 5-pillar RQD engine with a composite confidence score of 54/100 at a spot price of $41.81 (+2.83% 1D, market cap $2.08B). Pillar breakdown: Fundamental Cash Engine 12/20, Institutional 13F & Options Flow 13/20, SEC Balance-Sheet Forensics 12/20, FRED Macro Regime Fit 9/20, and Executive Insider Alignment 8/20. Across 270 tracked Materials issuers, WS ranks #63 in composite RQD confidence.
🤖 Ellis Vennor • AI Peer & Flow Quant (Click for Instant Brief)
How does WS compare to WOR and ROCK in the Materials sector?
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Within the Materials sector (Steel/Iron Ore), WS carries a Roarable D+ (54/100 RQD), trailing P/E of N/A, gross margin of 11.7%, and ROIC of -0.1%. By comparison, WOR (Worthington Enterprises Inc.) holds a C+ grade (69/100 RQD, P/E 20.3x, ROIC 5.5%, cap $3.09B) and ROCK (Gibraltar Industries Inc.) posts a D+ grade (52/100 RQD, P/E N/A, ROIC 11.6%, cap $1.19B). Among the 5-stock peer group, WOR leads on earnings multiple (20.3x) while ROCK leads on capital efficiency (11.6% ROIC).
🤖 Gideon Ashmere • AI SEC 10-K Forensics (Click for Instant Brief)
What are the biggest fundamental strengths and SEC risk factors for WS?
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Per WS's SEC EDGAR XBRL 10-K filing (FY2025, filed 2026-05-31, CIK 0001968487), Worthington Steel Inc. generated $3.44B in revenue (+11.3% YoY), -$13.0M in net income, and $80.0M in free cash flow against $2.15B in total assets and $41.7M in total debt. Key quantitative strengths: Established market leader in Materials with deep daily trading liquidity. Primary risk factors monitored: Company executives have done more routine share selling than personal cash buying lately. Institutional options positioning shows a 50% call / 50% put premium split.
Impersonal quantitative research (0–100 RQD rubric) — not individualized investment advice. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Full Disclaimer
20D Institutional Volume Accumulation (±10.7% realized swing band)
SEC XBRL FY 2025 (10-K): 2.3% FCF Margin ($80.0M FCF) & 11.7% Gross Margin
Disciplined Float (-0.12% YoY Shares) & executive Form 4 sales trim 12 pts from alignment
⚔️ Adversarial Opposing Case: What Could Spark a WS Turnaround Squeeze
While WS currently carries a cautious 54/100 (D+) rating due to Insider Conviction & Share Dilution (8/20), shorts face asymmetric squeeze risk if free cash flow inflects or management executes accretive buybacks.
Established market leader in Materials with deep daily trading liquidity.
Options & Short-Covering Gamma: Reclaiming the 50-day SMA ($36.96) and Max Pain ($43.90) forces dealer call-delta covering toward $51.63.
Forensic Repair Trigger: Halting share dilution (Disciplined Float (-0.12% YoY Shares)) or retiring high-cost debt immediately upgrades the SEC 10-K Forensic pillar.
Why WS Stock surged +2.83% Today — RQD Quant Desk Flash
Worthington Steel Inc. (WS) surged +2.83% to $41.81, trading at 66% of its 52-week range ($27.22 – $49.17). Stretched risk/reward at current multiples (-0% return on capital) under elevated 10-year interest-rate pressure.
- ▸Technical Tape: Trading at 66% of its 52-week range ($27.22 – $49.17) with RSI-14 at 54.8 (NEUTRAL RANGE).
- ▸Volatility Profile: Historical 20-day realized swing band of ±10.7% around $41.81 (no active unusual options sweep snapshot on file).
- ▸Fundamental Anchor: Roarable D+ (Sell) backed by 11.7% gross margin and $80.0M annual free cash flow.
Seeking Alpha report covering Worthington Steel Inc. (WS) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.
Yahoo Finance report covering Worthington Steel Inc. (WS) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.
Simply Wall St report covering Worthington Steel Inc. (WS) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.
CNBC report covering Worthington Steel Inc. (WS) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.
Investing.com report covering Worthington Steel Inc. (WS) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.
TradingView report covering Worthington Steel Inc. (WS) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.
Worthington Steel, Inc. (WS) has been upgraded to a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), reflecting growing optimism about the company's earnings prospects. This might drive the stock higher in the near term.
Worthington Steel has delivered a strong share price run over the past year, and the latest acquisition driven jump in sales puts fresh attention on what investors are paying for each dollar of its revenue. The key issue
Red-Light Warning Desk: Spotting SEC Cash-Flow & Dilution Risks Before Downgrades (Featuring WS)
- ✓Walkthrough of WS's RQD Radar, SEC cash-conversion gap & downside invalidation levels
- ✓3 asymmetric Bear/Hedge frameworks when 10-year Treasury yields stay elevated
- ✓Includes nightly RQD rating-change & forensic signal email alerts on your tracked stocks
WS Dilution Monitor, Expectations Hurdle, Butterfly Connections & Policy Exposure
Multi-year comparable XBRL diluted share count not disclosed (ETF or recent listing).
vs. +11.3% actual YoY revenue growth (assuming 9.25% cost of equity & 16.5x terminal multiple).
No active Ellis Vennor swing setup published on WS today. View full Setup Ledger →
No direct multi-tier Butterfly edges indexed yet for WS. Explore sector supply chains on /butterfly.
📊 Quantitative Sector Peer Comparison, SEC Filing Delta & Investment FAQ (WS)
1. Head-to-Head Materials Peer Comparison (WS vs. WOR, ROCK, SIM, SXC)
Industry: Steel/Iron Ore (26 Tracked Issuers)Across 270 tracked Materials securities in the Roarable RQD universe, Worthington Steel Inc. (WS) ranks #63 by composite RQD confidence (54/100, grade D+) and #107 by equity capitalization ($2.08B). Within this direct 5-issuer industry benchmark cohort, WOR leads on earnings valuation at 20.3x trailing P/E, while ROCK leads on capital efficiency and profitability with 11.6% ROIC and 26.9% gross margin. WOR currently holds the highest overall quantitative score in the immediate peer group at 69/100 (C+) compared with WS at 54/100 (D+).
| Ticker / Company | Roarable Grade | RQD Score | Trailing P/E | Gross Margin | ROIC | 1D Change | Market Cap | Head-to-Head |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WS
ACTIVE
Worthington Steel Inc. | D+ | 54/100 | — | 11.7% | -0.1% | +2.83% | $2.08B | Benchmark Subject |
| WOR Worthington Enterprises Inc. | C+ | 69/100 | 20.3x | 27.4% | 5.5% | +3.49% | $3.09B | /wor-vs-ws → |
| ROCK Gibraltar Industries Inc. | D+ | 52/100 | — | 26.9% | 11.6% | +3.77% | $1.19B | /rock-vs-ws → |
| SIM Grupo Simec S.A.B. de C.V. | D | 47/100 | — | — | — | +1.37% | $4.26B | /sim-vs-ws → |
| SXC SunCoke Energy Inc. | D | 51/100 | — | — | -2.9% | -1.24% | $961.6M | /sxc-vs-ws → |
2. Multi-Year SEC XBRL Revenue, Cash Flow & Balance-Sheet Trajectory (FY2023–FY2025)
SEC EDGAR 10-K • FILED 2026-05-31 • CIK 0001968487 ↗In its most recent audited fiscal period (FY2025, filed 2026-05-31), Worthington Steel Inc. (WS) reported GAAP revenue of $3.44B (+11.3% vs. FY2024 revenue of $3.09B , and +0.4% cumulative change since FY2023) , GAAP net income of -$13.0M, operating cash flow of $201.2M, and free cash flow of $80.0M (-19.9% YoY). On the balance sheet, WS closed FY2025 with $2.15B in total assets against $41.7M in total debt (Altman Z-Score: 3.60, Piotroski F-Score: 6/9).
| Fiscal Period | Filing Date | Revenue | Net Income | Operating Cash Flow | Free Cash Flow | Total Assets | Total Debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2025 (FY) | 2026-05-31 | $3.44B | -$13.0M | $201.2M | $80.0M | $2.15B | $41.7M |
| FY2024 (FY) | 2025-05-31 | $3.09B | $119.0M | $230.3M | $99.9M | $1.74B | $0 |
| FY2023 (FY) | 2024-05-31 | $3.43B | $170.0M | $199.5M | $199.5M | — | — |
3. WS Data-Verified Investor FAQ (RQD Rating, Sector Peers, SEC Forensics & Technicals)
✓ SCHEMA.ORG FAQPAGE JSON-LD ENABLEDIs WS stock a Buy, Hold, or Sell right now according to Roarable's RQD model?
As of 2026-11-03, Worthington Steel Inc. (NYSE: WS) is rated D+ (Sell / SELL) by Roarable's 5-pillar RQD engine with a composite confidence score of 54/100 at a spot price of $41.81 (+2.83% 1D, market cap $2.08B). Pillar breakdown: Fundamental Cash Engine 12/20, Institutional 13F & Options Flow 13/20, SEC Balance-Sheet Forensics 12/20, FRED Macro Regime Fit 9/20, and Executive Insider Alignment 8/20. Across 270 tracked Materials issuers, WS ranks #63 in composite RQD confidence.
How does WS compare to WOR and ROCK in the Materials sector?
Within the Materials sector (Steel/Iron Ore), WS carries a Roarable D+ (54/100 RQD), trailing P/E of N/A, gross margin of 11.7%, and ROIC of -0.1%. By comparison, WOR (Worthington Enterprises Inc.) holds a C+ grade (69/100 RQD, P/E 20.3x, ROIC 5.5%, cap $3.09B) and ROCK (Gibraltar Industries Inc.) posts a D+ grade (52/100 RQD, P/E N/A, ROIC 11.6%, cap $1.19B). Among the 5-stock peer group, WOR leads on earnings multiple (20.3x) while ROCK leads on capital efficiency (11.6% ROIC).
What are the biggest fundamental strengths and SEC risk factors for WS?
Per WS's SEC EDGAR XBRL 10-K filing (FY2025, filed 2026-05-31, CIK 0001968487), Worthington Steel Inc. generated $3.44B in revenue (+11.3% YoY), -$13.0M in net income, and $80.0M in free cash flow against $2.15B in total assets and $41.7M in total debt. Key quantitative strengths: Established market leader in Materials with deep daily trading liquidity. Primary risk factors monitored: Company executives have done more routine share selling than personal cash buying lately. Institutional options positioning shows a 50% call / 50% put premium split.
Where is WS trading relative to its 50-day, 200-day, and 52-week technical levels?
WS last traded at $41.81 (+2.83% on volume of 341,627 shares), positioning the stock +13.12% above its 50-day simple moving average ($36.96) and +10.99% above its 200-day simple moving average ($37.67). Across its 52-week range of $27.22 to $49.17, WS sits at the 66.5% percentile with a 14-day RSI of 54.8 (NEUTRAL RANGE) and an implied next-earnings move of ±10.7% ($37.34 to $46.28).
WS — Worthington Steel Inc.: What the Facts Mean to a Prospective Investor
1. Roarable Rating Brief: What This Means to a Prospective Investor
Worthington Steel Inc. (WS) earns a live Roarable RQD composite score of 54/100, corresponding to a D+ letter grade (Roarable Sell) at a spot price of $41.81 (+2.83% 1D, market capitalization $2.08B).
- Fundamental Cash Engine (12/20): Anchored by return on invested capital (ROIC) of -0.1%, gross margin of 11.7%, operating margin of 0.0%, and free cash flow yield of 3.71%.
- Whale 13F & Options Flow (13/20) + Insider Conviction (8/20): Tracks institutional 13F accumulation, CBOE options call/put positioning, and SEC Form 4 / Congressional PTR filings.
- Macro Regime Fit (9/20) + Forensic Balance Sheet (12/20): Incorporates a 1.00x equity beta, Altman Z-Score of 3.60, Piotroski F-Score of 6/9, and Debt/Equity of 0.04x.
2. Business Model, Unit Margins & SEC Financial Trajectory
. (WS) is a NYSE-listed issuer in the Materials sector, operating in the Steel/Iron Ore industry. The company reported FY 2025 revenue of $3.44B.
In its latest audited SEC EDGAR 10-K filing for FY2025 (filed 2026-05-31), Worthington Steel Inc. (WS) reported $3.44B in annual revenue (up from $3.09B in FY2024, +11.3% YoY) and -$13.0M in GAAP net income. Over the multi-year SEC filing window from FY2023 ($3.43B revenue, $170.0M net income) through FY2025, WS scaled operating cash flow to $201.2M and free cash flow to $80.0M, backed by $2.15B in total assets against $41.7M in total debt.
3. Institutional Bull vs. Bear Thesis & Valuation Tradeoff
- 🐂 Primary Bull Case (D+ • RQD 54/100): Established market leader in Materials with deep daily trading liquidity. Free cash flow yield of 3.71% and institutional whale pillar of 13/20. With Fundamental Cash Engine at 12/20 and Institutional Whale Flow at 13/20, sustained execution supports upside toward the upper end of the $27.22 – $49.17 52-week range.
- 🐻 Primary Bear Case & Valuation Risk: Company executives have done more routine share selling than personal cash buying lately. Investors must weigh current valuation against 0.0% operating margins and a 1.00x macro beta.
4. 2nd-Order Butterfly Ripples & Key Questions to Watch
Upstream and downstream dependencies: — Sector correlations beyond the stated beta of 1.
- Key Question #1: Can WS sustain or expand its 0.0% operating margin and -0.1% ROIC against Steel/Iron Ore peers over the next 4 quarters?
- Key Question #2: Following FY2025 revenue of $3.44B and free cash flow of $80.0M, how will capital allocation balance growth reinvestment against $41.7M in total debt?
- Key Question #3: How sensitive is WS's equity valuation to Materials capital spending cycles and macro interest-rate shifts (Beta 1.00x)?
WS Live News Feed, Press Releases & Catalyst Wire
Real-time company headlines, analyst actions, and sector developments for Worthington Steel Inc. (WS) • Click "Debate This Headline" to argue it in the Roar Pit below
Yahoo Finance report covering Worthington Steel Inc. (WS) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.
Seeking Alpha report covering Worthington Steel Inc. (WS) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.
Yahoo Finance report covering Worthington Steel Inc. (WS) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.
Simply Wall St report covering Worthington Steel Inc. (WS) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.
CNBC report covering Worthington Steel Inc. (WS) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.
Investing.com report covering Worthington Steel Inc. (WS) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.
TradingView report covering Worthington Steel Inc. (WS) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.
Worthington Steel, Inc. (WS) has been upgraded to a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), reflecting growing optimism about the company's earnings prospects. This might drive the stock higher in the near term.
WS Bull vs. Bear Conversation Board — What's Your Call at $41.81?
Free cash flow yield of 3.71% and a balance sheet with Debt/Equity of 0.04 and Altman Z of 3.6 offer a financial cushion.
Free cash flow yield of 3.71% and a balance sheet with Debt/Equity of 0.04 and Altman Z of 3.6 offer a financial cushion.. When you look under the hood at WS, Fundamental Cash Engine is 12/20 with 11.7% gross margins and -0.1% ROIC. Bears are staring in the rearview mirror while institutional 13F flow (13/20) has been quietly accumulating below $49.17. My 12M target is $51.64.
@AlphaFlow_Cap Agree on the RQD 54/100 quality, though with 1.0 beta I'm scaling in with half-size at $40.66 and keeping dry powder in case we test $37.81.
ROIC of -0.1% and a swing from $147.0M to -$1.4M in operating income signal weakening core profitability.
Fading this rally in WS at $40.66. ROIC of -0.1% and a swing from $147.0M to -$1.4M in operating income signal weakening core profitability.. With a beta of 1.0 and the stock sitting at $40.66 (52-wk range $27.22–$49.17), the easy multiple expansion is already priced in.