Focused on building reliable datasets, financial models, and research tools for value-minded investors. Committed to turning complex data into practical guidance for value-investing and long-term wealth.
Dr. Charlie Tian is the founder and CEO of GuruFocus.com, a leading global investment research platform established in 2004. With a Ph.D. in physics, Dr. Tian transitioned from science to finance, applying a data-driven, disciplined approach to value investing.
Steel DynamicsSTLD +0.29%88 Forward Rate of Return (Yacktman) % is -5.13% as of Jun. 2026. GuruFocus rates STLD with a GF Score™ of 88/100 and a GF Value™ of $169.99 (Significantly Overvalued). The stock has 4 warning signs investors should review. Among 497 Steel companies, Steel Dynamics ranks worse than 63.78% on this metric.
Yacktman defines forward rate of return as the normalized free cash flow yield plus real growth plus inflation. Steel Dynamics's forward rate of return for was -5.13%.
The historical rank and industry rank for Steel Dynamics's Forward Rate of Return (Yacktman) % or its related term are showing as below:
STLD'
s Forward Rate of Return (Yacktman) % Range Over the Past 10 Years
Min: -7.94 Med: 25.45 Max: 39.71
Current: -5.52
During the past 13 years, Steel Dynamics's highest Forward Rate of Return was 39.71. The lowest was -7.94. And the median was 25.45.
STLD's Forward Rate of Return (Yacktman) % is ranked worse than 63.78% of 497
companies
in the Steel industry
Industry Median: 3.28
vs STLD: -5.52
Unlike the Earnings Yield %, the Forward Rate of Return uses the normalized Free Cash Flow of the past five years, and considers growth. The forward rate of return can be thought of as the return that investors buying the stock today can expect from it in the future.
Steel Dynamics (NAS:STLD) Forward Rate of Return (Yacktman) % Explanation
Unlike the Earnings Yield, the Forward Rate of Return uses the normalized Free Cash Flow of the past five years, and considers growth. The forward rate of return can be thought of as the return that investors buying the stock today can expect from it in the future.
For the growth part of the Forward Rate of Return calculation, GuruFocus uses the 5-year average growth rate of EBITDA per share as the growth rate, and the growth rate is always capped at 20%. For the Free Cash Flow we use per share data averaged over five years. The reason we use five years is to make it comparable to the growth rate.
Be Aware
In the Forward Rate of Return calculation, the growth rate is added directly to today's free cash flow yield. Therefore the calculation is reliable only if the company can grow at the same rate in the future as it did in the past. Investors should pay close attention to this when researching growth stocks. A more accurate measurement for return is Return on Capital.
Steel Dynamics Forward Rate of Return (Yacktman) % Related Terms
Steel Dynamics Forward Rate of Return (Yacktman) % Historical Data
* Premium members only.
The historical data trend for Steel Dynamics's Forward Rate of Return (Yacktman) % can be seen below:
* For Operating Data section: All numbers are indicated by the unit behind each term and all currency related amount are in USD. * For other sections: All numbers are in millions except for per share data, ratio, and percentage. All currency related amount are indicated in the company's associated stock exchange currency.
Steel Dynamics Forward Rate of Return (Yacktman) % Chart
STLD vs RS, NUE, TX: Forward Rate of Return (Yacktman) % Comparison
For the Steel subindustry, Steel Dynamics's Forward Rate of Return (Yacktman) %, along with its competitors' market caps and Forward Rate of Return (Yacktman) % data, can be viewed below:
* Competitive companies are chosen from companies within the same industry, with headquarter located in same country, with closest market capitalization; x-axis shows the market cap, and y-axis shows the term value; the bigger the dot, the larger the market cap. Note that "N/A" values will not show up in the chart.
Steel Dynamics Forward Rate of Return (Yacktman) % vs Steel Industry
For the Steel industry and Basic Materials sector, Steel Dynamics's Forward Rate of Return (Yacktman) % distribution charts can be found below:
* The bar in red indicates where Steel Dynamics's Forward Rate of Return (Yacktman) % falls into.
Steel Dynamics Forward Rate of Return (Yacktman) % Calculation
Forward Rate of Return is a concept that Don Yacktman uses in his investment approach. Yacktman explained the forward rate of return concept in detail in his interview with GuruFocus. Yacktman defines forward rate of return as the normalized free cash flow yield plus real growth plus inflation. He said in the interview (March 2012, when the S&P 500 was at about 1400):
If the business is stable, this calculation is fairly straightforward. For instance, on the S&P 500 we would normalize earnings. We would then calculate what percentage of those earnings are not reinvested in the underlying businesses and are therefore free. Historically, for the S&P 500, this has been just under 50% of earnings. Currently, we expect the S&P to earn about 70 on a normalized basis, a number which is far below reported earnings due to our adjusting for record high profit margins. $70 X ½ / 1400 gives you a normalized free cash flow yield of approximately 2.5%.
The historical real growth rate of the S&P 500 (companies) is about 1.5%. Assuming an inflation rate of 2.5%, the forward rate of return on an investment in the S&P 500 is about 6.5% today (2.5% free cash flow yield plus 1.5% real growth plus 2.5% inflation).
* For Operating Data section: All numbers are indicated by the unit behind each term and all currency related amount are in USD. * For other sections: All numbers are in millions except for per share data, ratio, and percentage. All currency related amount are indicated in the company's associated stock exchange currency.
What does a Forward Rate of Return (Yacktman) % of -5.13% mean?
Steel Dynamics (STLD) has a Forward Rate of Return (Yacktman) % of -5.13% as of Jun. 2026. Yacktman's forward rate of return equals the sum of normalized free-cash-flow yield plus earnings growth. View historical data on Steel Dynamics and its competitors. According to the industry distribution chart, Steel Dynamics ranks #317 out of 497 companies in the Steel industry, placing it in the top 63.8%.
Is Steel Dynamics' Forward Rate of Return (Yacktman) % too high?
Steel Dynamics' current Forward Rate of Return (Yacktman) % is -5.13%. Based on the distribution chart, Steel Dynamics ranks #317 out of 497 companies in the Steel industry, which is below the industry midpoint. Overall, Steel Dynamics has a GF Score™ of 88/100 and is considered Significantly Overvalued, reflecting its overall financial health beyond just this single metric.
How does Steel Dynamics' Forward Rate of Return (Yacktman) % compare to RS and NUE?
According to the Steel industry distribution chart, Steel Dynamics ranks #317 out of 497 companies for Forward Rate of Return (Yacktman) %. This places Steel Dynamics in the lower half of its industry. The industry median Forward Rate of Return (Yacktman) % is 3.28. See the competitive comparison table and distribution chart on this page for a detailed peer-by-peer breakdown.
What is a good Forward Rate of Return (Yacktman) % for a Steel company?
The median Forward Rate of Return (Yacktman) % among Steel companies is 3.28, based on 497 companies in the industry. Companies in the top quartile (top 25%) have a Forward Rate of Return (Yacktman) % significantly above this median, while those in the bottom quartile fall well below. However, Forward Rate of Return (Yacktman) % should not be evaluated in isolation — investors should consider it alongside profitability, growth, and financial strength metrics. Use the industry distribution chart on this page to see where any company falls relative to its peers.
What does a high Forward Rate of Return (Yacktman) % mean?
A high Forward Rate of Return (Yacktman) % can signal that a stock is expensive relative to its fundamentals. Yacktman's forward rate of return equals the sum of normalized free-cash-flow yield plus earnings growth. View historical data on Steel Dynamics and its competitors. For the Steel industry, the median Forward Rate of Return (Yacktman) % is 3.28 — values significantly above this may indicate overvaluation, while values below may suggest a bargain or underlying issues. Steel Dynamics's current Forward Rate of Return (Yacktman) % is -5.13%. However, context matters — high-growth companies often justify higher valuations. Always evaluate alongside other metrics like GF Score™ and GF Value™.
Is Steel Dynamics stock overvalued right now?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Steel Dynamics (STLD) is currently considered Significantly Overvalued. The stock's GF Value™ is $169.99, compared to a current price of $265.95 — trading 56.5% above its estimated fair value. The current Forward Rate of Return (Yacktman) % is -5.13%. Steel Dynamics' overall GF Score™ is 88/100 with 4 warning signs to review. Investors should evaluate multiple metrics — including profitability, growth, and financial strength — before making a decision.
How is Forward Rate of Return (Yacktman) % calculated?
Forward Rate of Return (Yacktman) % is calculated from a company's financial statements. For Steel Dynamics (STLD), the current Forward Rate of Return (Yacktman) % is -5.13% as of Jun. 2026. GuruFocus calculates this using data sourced from SEC filings and annual reports. See the calculation section and 30-year financial data on this page for the full breakdown.
Is Steel Dynamics (STLD) Overvalued in 2026?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Steel Dynamics stock appears to be overvalued.
The current stock price of $265.95 is trading 56.5% above its estimated GF Value™ of $169.99.
GuruFocus considers Steel Dynamics to be Significantly Overvalued.
Key valuation signals for STLD:
Forward Rate of Return (Yacktman) %: -5.13%
GF Value™: $169.99 vs. price of $265.95 (56.5% above fair value)
No single metric tells the full story. See the STLD stock analysis page for a complete view including 30-year financials, guru trades, and insider activity.
Steel Dynamics Inc operates as a domestic steel producer and metal recycler in the United States. The company's product portfolio comprises hot rolled sheet, hot rolled plate, painted sheet products, cold rolled sheet, and others. Its reportable segments are steel operations, metals recycling operations, steel fabrication operations, and aluminum operations. Maximum revenue is generated from its steel operations segment, which consists of manufacturing various steel products and numerous coating operations. Its primary sources of revenue are currently from the manufacture and sale of steel products, the processing and sale of recycled ferrous and nonferrous metals, and the fabrication and sale of steel joists and deck products.
88GF Score
Get the complete analysis for STLD
Forward Rate of Return (Yacktman) % is just one metric. See GF Value™, 30-year financials, guru trades, warning signs, and more.
Quick Browse
Personalize
Premium Gurus 
Create New Portfolio
STLD has been successfully added to your 
