Is WS a good stock to buy right now?

Based on our 6-factor quantitative model, Worthington Steel, Inc. (WS) receives a "Reduce" rating with a composite score of 40.3/100. It is ranked #3,508 out of 4,446 stocks. Key factor scores: Quality 29/100, Value 46/100, Momentum 51/100. The timing signal is "Bearish". This is quantitative analysis only — not investment advice.

What is the stock rating for WS?

Worthington Steel, Inc. (WS) has a "Reduce" rating and 2-star score. The composite score of 40.3 ranks it #3,508 among 4,446 U.S. stocks. Ratings are updated weekly using academically-proven factor models.

What sector is WS in?

Worthington Steel, Inc. operates in the Materials sector (Steel Works industry) with a market cap of $1.55 billion. It is classified as a small-cap stock.

Does WS pay a dividend?

Yes, WS pays a dividend with a current yield of 1.90%. The Materials sector average yield is 0.49%. For every $1,000 invested, you would receive approximately $19.00 in annual dividend income.

What is WS's P/E ratio?

WS has a trailing P/E ratio of 17.50x. The Materials sector average is 26.5x. This P/E is in a moderate range relative to the broader market.

How profitable is WS?

WS's quality factor score is 29/100. Gross margin: 11.6%. ROE: 7.1% vs sector average 3.3%. Margins are moderate to low, reflecting competitive market dynamics.

How is WS valued compared to peers?

WS's value factor score is 46/100 (higher = cheaper). Key multiples: P/E 17.5x, EV/EBITDA 8.7x. Valuation is roughly in line with peers.

What is WS's debt level?

WS's debt-to-equity ratio is 6%. Sector average: 41%. Low leverage suggests conservative financial management.

WS has a beta of 1.32, meaning it amplifies market moves. Stability score: 41/100.

Does WS have high short interest?

WS's short interest factor score is 51/100 (higher = less short selling). Moderate short interest.

WS Stock Analysis: Top Small-Cap Reduce (Score 40.3/100) | Blank Capital Research

Data Series	1D	5D	1M	YTD	1Y	3Y	5Y	10Y
WS	+1.80%	+15.87%	-3.02%	+1.24%	+48.77%	-	-	-
Industry Proxy XLB	+0.56%	+3.07%	+4.17%	+14.58%	-33.54%	-	-	-
U.S. Market SPY	-0.07%	+3.60%	+0.34%	-0.36%	+29.52%	-	-	-
Alpha vs Market	+1.87%	+12.26%	-3.35%	+1.60%	+19.24%	-	-	-
Alpha vs Sector	+1.24%	+12.79%	-7.19%	-13.33%	+82.31%	-	-	-

Metric	WS	Benchmark
P/E Ratio	17.5x	-34%
EV/EBITDA	8.7x	+45%
Price / Book	1.2x

Stock Entity	Score▼	Quality	Value	Momentum	P/E Ratio	ROE	Gross Margin	Net Margin	Rev Growth	D/E Ratio	Market Cap	Compare
CF CF Industries Holdings, Inc.	57	50	72	66	11.8x	21.1%	36.2%	24.9%	5.5%	41.0x	$19.7B	VS
NTR Nutrien Ltd.	57	37	70	64	54.2x	11.5%	29.0%	2.7%	-	52.0x	$35.9B	VS
UAN CVR PARTNERS, LP	56	50	71	67	12.0x	42.4%	28.5%	17.8%	23.1%	265.0x	$1.3B	VS
LXU LSB INDUSTRIES, INC.	54	50	54	73	41.2x	-3.3%	8.6%	-4.5%	11.0%	85.0x	$1.1B	VS
AA Alcoa Corp	54	50	61	71	18.7x	16.6%	10.0%	8.0%	3.1%	40.0x	$19.0B	VS
MEOH METHANEX CORP	53	34	76	72	24.6x	47.8%	19.1%	6.7%	-	149.0x	$4.6B	VS
NGVT Ingevity Corp	53	50	68	66	53.4x	-638.7%	38.1%	-12.1%	-14.7%	5,459.0x	$2.5B	VS
SEE SEALED AIR CORP/DE	52	50	67	59	11.2x	44.7%	30.2%	10.4%	0.5%	318.0x	$6.2B	VS
ACU ACME UNITED CORP	51	50	71	51	16.4x	9.0%	39.4%	5.2%	-11.5%	45.0x	$171M	VS
APD Air Products & Chemicals, Inc.	51	50	49	50	179.2x	2.4%	31.6%	2.2%	3.9%	114.0x	$64.4B	VS
WS Worthington Steel, Inc.	40	29	46	51	17.5x	7.1%	11.6%	2.7%	18.0%	6.0x	$1.6B

Key Ratio	TTM	2026	2025	2024	2023
Gross Margin %	0.1%	0.1%	0.1%	0.1%	0.1%
Operating Margin %	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	0.1%	0.0%
EBITDA Margin %	0.1%	0.0%	0.1%	0.1%	0.1%
Net Margin %	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%
FCF Margin %	-33.7%	-	-	-	7.5%
ROE %	0.1%	0.0%	0.1%	0.2%	0.1%
ROA %	0.0%	0.0%	0.1%	0.1%	0.1%
ROIC %	0.1%	1.3%	8.6%	12.1%	9.3%

Line Item	TTM	2025	2024	2023
	$3.2B	$3.1B	$3.4B	$3.6B
	—	$2.7B	$3.0B	—
	$370M	$389M	$440M	$337M
Gross Margin	11.6%	12.6%	12.8%	9.3%
	—	$232M	$224M	—
Depreciation	—	$66M	$65M	$70M
Total Operating Expenses	—	$242M	$245M	—
	$107M	$147M	$195M	$120M
EBIT	$107M	$147M	$195M	$120M
EBITDA	$186M	$213M	$260M	$194M
Operating Margin	3.3%	4.8%	5.7%	3.3%
EBITDA Margin	5.9%	6.9%	7.6%	5.4%
	—	$7M	$6M	$3M
	—	$148M	$216M	—
Income Tax Expense	—	$29M	$46M	$29M
	$88M	$119M	$170M	$100M
Net Margin	2.7%	3.9%	5.0%	2.8%
	$0.38	$2.24	$3.14	$1.77
Diluted EPS	$0.38	$2.19	$3.11	$1.77
Weighted Avg Basic	—	50M	49M	—
Weighted Avg Diluted	—	51M	50M	—

Worthington Steel, Inc. (WS) Stock Analysis — April 2026 Rating, Price, and Forecast

Last updated: April 2026

Company Overview — What Does Worthington Steel, Inc. Do?

Worthington Steel, Inc. (WS) is a small-cap company in the Materials sector, operating within the Steel Works industry. The stock has a market capitalization of $1.6B, making it a notable participant in its sector. Investors researching WS stock will find a comprehensive, data-driven analysis below covering valuation, profitability, growth, dividends, and peer comparisons for the Steel Works space.

Worthington Steel, Inc. (WS) Stock Rating — Reduce (April 2026)

As of April 2026, Worthington Steel, Inc. receives a Reduce rating with a composite score of 40.3/100 and 2 out of 5 stars from the Blank Capital Research quantitative model.WS ranks #3,508 out of 4,446 stocks in our coverage universe. Within the Materials sector, Worthington Steel, Inc. ranks #251 of 284 stocks, placing it in the lower half of its Materials peers. The rating is generated by a multi-factor model that weighs quality (30%), momentum (25%), value (15%), investment (10%), stability (10%), and short interest (10%).

WS Stock Price and 52-Week Range

Worthington Steel, Inc. (WS) currently trades at $35.05. The stock gained $0.62 (1.8%) in the most recent trading session. The 52-week high for WS is $49.17, which means the stock is currently trading -28.7% from its annual peak. The 52-week low is $21.30, putting the stock 64.6% above its annual trough. Recent trading volume was 310K shares, suggesting relatively thin trading activity.

Is WS Overvalued or Undervalued? — Valuation Analysis

Worthington Steel, Inc. (WS) carries a value factor score of 46/100 in the Blank Capital model, indicating fair valuation relative to historical norms. The trailing price-to-earnings ratio is 17.50x, compared to the Materials sector average of 26.50x — a discount of 34%. The price-to-book ratio stands at 1.24x, versus the sector average of 2.83x. The price-to-sales ratio is 0.49x, compared to 0.74x for the average Materials stock. On an enterprise value basis, WS trades at 8.70x EV/EBITDA, versus 6.01x for the sector.

Overall, WS's valuation appears roughly in line with sector benchmarks, suggesting the market is pricing the stock fairly given its current fundamentals and growth trajectory. Neither deep value nor significantly overpriced, the stock occupies a middle ground on valuation.

Worthington Steel, Inc. Profitability — ROE, Margins, and Quality Score

Worthington Steel, Inc. (WS) earns a quality factor score of 29/100, signaling below-average profitability metrics relative to the broader market. The return on equity (ROE) is 7.1%, compared to the Materials sector average of 3.3%, which is below typical expectations for high-quality companies. Return on assets (ROA) comes in at 4.1% versus the sector average of 0.6%.

On a margin basis, Worthington Steel, Inc. reports gross margins of 11.6%, compared to 29.8% for the sector. The operating margin is 3.3% (sector: 6.0%). Net profit margin stands at 2.7%, versus 3.0% for the average Materials stock. Revenue growth is running at 18.0% on a trailing basis, compared to 1.8% for the sector. Profitability is below benchmark levels, which may reflect industry headwinds, elevated reinvestment, or structural challenges.

WS Debt, Balance Sheet, and Financial Health

Worthington Steel, Inc. has a debt-to-equity ratio of 6.0%, compared to the Materials sector average of 41.0%. The low leverage indicates a conservative balance sheet with significant financial flexibility. The current ratio is 1.80x, suggesting adequate working capital coverage. Total debt on the balance sheet is $72M.

WS has a beta of 1.32, meaning it is more volatile than the broader market — a $10,000 investment in WS would be expected to move 32.5% more than the S&P 500 on any given day. The stability factor score for Worthington Steel, Inc. is 41/100, reflecting average volatility within the normal range for its sector.

Worthington Steel, Inc. Revenue and Earnings History — Quarterly Trend

In TTM 2026, Worthington Steel, Inc. reported revenue of $3.17B and earnings per share (EPS) of $0.38. Net income for the quarter was $88M. Gross margin was 11.6%. Operating income came in at $107M.

In Q2 2026, Worthington Steel, Inc. reported revenue of $872M and earnings per share (EPS) of $0.38. Net income for the quarter was $22M. Gross margin was 10.7%. Revenue grew 18.0% year-over-year compared to Q2 2025. Operating income came in at $22M.

In Q1 2026, Worthington Steel, Inc. reported revenue of $873M and earnings per share (EPS) of $0.73. Net income for the quarter was $39M. Gross margin was 13.2%. Operating income came in at $48M.

In FY 2025, Worthington Steel, Inc. reported revenue of $3.09B and earnings per share (EPS) of $2.24. Net income for the quarter was $119M. Gross margin was 12.6%. Operating income came in at $147M.

Over the past 8 quarters, Worthington Steel, Inc. has demonstrated a growth trajectory, with revenue expanding from $834M to $3.17B. Investors analyzing WS stock should weigh these quarterly trends alongside the valuation and quality metrics discussed above.

WS Dividend Yield and Income Analysis

Worthington Steel, Inc. (WS) currently pays a dividend yield of 1.9%. At this yield, a $10,000 investment in WS stock would generate approximately $$190.00 in annual dividend income. This compares to the Materials sector average dividend yield of 0.5%, meaning WS offers above-average income for its sector.

WS Momentum and Technical Analysis Profile

Worthington Steel, Inc. (WS) has a momentum factor score of 51/100, reflecting neutral trend characteristics. The stock is neither significantly outperforming nor underperforming the broader market on a momentum basis. The investment factor score is 26/100, which measures capital allocation efficiency and asset growth patterns. The short interest score of 51/100 reflects moderate short selling activity.

WS vs Competitors — Materials Sector Ranking and Peer Comparison

Within the Materials sector, Worthington Steel, Inc. (WS) ranks #251 out of 284 stocks based on the Blank Capital composite score. This places WS in the lower half of all Materials stocks in our coverage universe. Key competitors and sector peers include CF Industries Holdings, Inc. (CF) with a score of 56.6/100, Nutrien Ltd. (NTR) with a score of 56.6/100, CVR PARTNERS, LP (UAN) with a score of 55.6/100, LSB INDUSTRIES, INC. (LXU) with a score of 53.6/100, and ACME UNITED CORP (ACU) with a score of 51.2/100.

Comparing WS against the S&P 500 benchmark is also instructive for understanding relative performance. Investors can view the full WS vs S&P 500 (SPY) comparison to assess how Worthington Steel, Inc. stacks up against the broader market across all factor dimensions.

WS Next Earnings Date

No upcoming earnings date has been announced for Worthington Steel, Inc. (WS) at this time. Check the earnings calendar for the latest scheduling updates across all stocks in our coverage universe.

Should You Buy WS? — Investment Thesis Summary

The quantitative profile for Worthington Steel, Inc. suggests caution. The quality score of 29/100 flags below-average profitability.

In summary, Worthington Steel, Inc. (WS) earns a Reduce rating with a composite score of 40.3/100 as of April 2026. The rating is derived from the Blank Capital Research methodology, which combines six factor dimensions into a single quantitative ranking. Investors should consider these quantitative signals alongside their own fundamental research, risk tolerance, and investment time horizon before making buy or sell decisions on WS stock.

Related Resources for WS Investors

Explore more research and tools: WS vs S&P 500 comparison, top Materials stocks, stock screener, our methodology, quality factor explained, value factor explained, momentum factor explained. Compare WS head-to-head with peers: WS vs CF, WS vs NTR, WS vs UAN.

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