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Reliance Steel & Aluminum Co. (RS) Hits Fresh High: Is There Still Room to Run?

Shares of Reliance Steel (RS) have been strong performers lately, with the stock up 12.7% over the past month. The stock hit a new 52-week high of $232.92 in the previous session. Reliance Steel has gained 14.3% since the start of the year compared to the 7.5% move for the Zacks Industrial Products sector and the 17.3% return for the Zacks Metal Products - Distribution industry.

What's Driving the Outperformance?

The stock has an impressive record of positive earnings surprises, as it hasn't missed our earnings consensus estimate in any of the last four quarters. In its last earnings report on October 27, 2022, Reliance Steel reported EPS of $6.48 versus consensus estimate of $6.2.

For the current fiscal year, Reliance Steel is expected to post earnings of $18.25 per share on $17.07 billion in revenues.

Valuation Metrics

While Reliance Steel has moved to its 52-week high in the recent past, investors need to be asking, what is next for the company? A key aspect of this question is taking a look at valuation metrics in order to determine if the company is due for a pullback from this level.

On this front, we can look at the Zacks Style Scores, as these give investors a variety of ways to comb through stocks (beyond looking at the Zacks Rank of a security). These styles are represented by grades running from A to F in the categories of Value, Growth, and Momentum, while there is a combined VGM Score as well. The idea behind the style scores is to help investors pick the most appropriate Zacks Rank stocks based on their individual investment style.

Reliance Steel has a Value Score of B. The stock's Growth and Momentum Scores are C and B, respectively, giving the company a VGM Score of B.

In terms of its value breakdown, the stock currently trades at 12.7X current fiscal year EPS estimates, which is not in-line with the peer industry average of 14.3X. On a trailing cash flow basis, the stock currently trades at 8.8X versus its peer group's average of 5.5X. This isn't enough to put the company in the top echelon of all stocks we cover from a value perspective.

Zacks Rank

We also need to look at the Zacks Rank for the stock, as this supersedes any trend on the style score front. Fortunately, Reliance Steel currently has a Zacks Rank of #1 (Strong Buy) thanks to favorable earnings estimate revisions from covering analysts.

Since we recommend that investors select stocks carrying Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy) or 2 (Buy) and Style Scores of A or B, it looks as if Reliance Steel passes the test. Thus, it seems as though Reliance Steel shares could still be poised for more gains ahead.

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