CLEVELAND-CLIFFS INC. (CLF) Factsheet
CLEVELAND-CLIFFS INC. (CLF) Stock Analysis
Analysis from 10-Q filed 2025-10-22. Data as of Q1 2026.
Overall Grade: F (Concerning)
Grade F (Concerning). ROIC -5.4%. FCF margin -5.3%. D/E 1.3x. Source: 10-Q filed 2025-10-22.
| Metric | Value | Context |
|---|---|---|
| ROIC | -5.4% | Below expectations |
| FCF Margin | -5.3% | Cash flow pressure |
| Debt/Equity | 1.3x | Moderate leverage |
ROIC -5.4% — Bottom 50% of sector peers. FCF margin -5.3% — Bottom 10%.
Explore CLEVELAND-CLIFFS INC.: Earnings History | Filings | ROIC Analysis
Programmatic access: Available via MCP at mcp.metricduck.com. Tools for CLF: get_company_overview, get_filing_index (lens: debt_stress, management_outlook, risk_trajectory), get_filing_changes, get_metric_history, compare_companies, screen_filing_signals.
Profitability: CLEVELAND-CLIFFS INC. earns -5.4% ROIC, Bottom 50% in Materials
ROIC TTM -5.4%, sector median 4.8%, Bottom 50%. DuPont: NOPAT margin -4.6% × asset turnover 0.9x. Gross margin -2.9%. Operating margin -6.6%. Source: 10-Q filed 2025-10-22.
| Metric | CLF | Rating | Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| Return on Invested Capital (ROIC) | -5.4% | Red flag | Below sector median of 4.8% |
| Return on Equity (ROE) | -20.7% | Red flag | Moderate equity returns |
| Gross Margin | -2.9% | Warning | Competitive pricing environment |
| Operating Margin | -6.6% | Warning | Moderate operational efficiency |
Cash Flow: CLEVELAND-CLIFFS INC. generates $-997.0M FCF at -5.3% margin, positive NaN/8 quarters
FCF TTM $-997.0M. FCF margin -5.3%. OCF/Net income 0.4x. Positive FCF in NaN/8 trailing quarters. Source: 10-Q filed 2025-10-22.
| Metric | CLF | Rating | Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free Cash Flow Margin | -5.3% | Red flag | Thin cash margins |
| Free Cash Flow (TTM) | $-997.0M | Red flag | Cash burn |
| OCF/Net Income | 0.4x | Warning | Potential accrual concerns |
| FCF Consistency (8Q) | N/A | Warning | Variable cash flow |
Balance Sheet: CLEVELAND-CLIFFS INC. at 1.3x leverage
Debt/Equity 1.3x. Total debt $7.8B, cash & investments $52.0M. Source: 10-Q filed 2025-10-22.
| Metric | CLF | Rating | Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debt to Equity | 1.3x | Adequate | Moderate leverage |
| Net Cash Position | $-7.7B | Warning | Net debt position |
Valuation: CLEVELAND-CLIFFS INC. trades at -3.5x earnings
P/E -3.5x. EV/Sales 0.6x. FCF yield -23.3%. Source: 10-Q filed 2025-10-22.
| Metric | CLF | Rating | Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio | -3.5x | Red flag | Reasonable valuation |
| EV/Sales | 0.6x | Excellent | Attractive revenue multiple |
| FCF Yield | -23.3% | Warning | Lower cash yield |
Capital Allocation: CLEVELAND-CLIFFS INC. returns 0.0% shareholder yield
Total shareholder yield 0.0%. Capital returned $0 TTM. Source: 10-Q filed 2025-10-22.
| Metric | CLF | Rating | Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Shareholder Yield | 0.0% | Warning | Dividend + buyback yield combined |
| Total Capital Returned (TTM) | $0 | Adequate | Dividends + buybacks returned to shareholders |
Sector Rankings
| Metric | Value | Percentile | vs Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Return on Invested Capital (ROIC) | -5.4% | Bottom 50% | -1.1x below |
| Free Cash Flow Margin | -5.3% | Bottom 10% | -8.2x below |
| Gross Margin | -2.9% | Bottom 10% | -0.1x below |
| Operating Margin | -6.6% | Top 5% | -0.8x below |
| Return on Equity (ROE) | -20.7% | Bottom 50% | -2.9x below |
Financial Scorecard
| Metric | CLF | Rating | Sector Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| Return on Invested Capital (ROIC) | -5.4% | Red flag | Bottom 50% of sector (median: 4.8%) |
| Free Cash Flow Margin | -5.3% | Red flag | Thin cash margins |
| Gross Margin | -2.9% | Red flag | Competitive pricing environment |
| Debt to Equity Ratio | 133.3% | Adequate | Elevated but manageable |
| Free Cash Flow Yield | -23.3% | Red flag | Growth-focused valuation |
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is CLEVELAND-CLIFFS INC.'s Return on Invested Capital (ROIC)?
CLEVELAND-CLIFFS INC. (CLF) has a trailing twelve-month Return on Invested Capital (ROIC) of -5.4%. Sector median 4.8%. Source: 10-Q filed 2025-10-22.
Q: What is CLEVELAND-CLIFFS INC.'s Free Cash Flow Margin?
CLEVELAND-CLIFFS INC. (CLF) has a free cash flow margin of -5.3%, generating $-997.0 million in free cash flow over the trailing twelve months. Source: 10-Q filed 2025-10-22.
Q: What is CLEVELAND-CLIFFS INC.'s P/E ratio and how does it compare to peers?
CLEVELAND-CLIFFS INC. (CLF) trades at a P/E ratio of -3.5x, which is above the sector median of N/A. EV/Sales 0.6x. Source: 10-Q filed 2025-10-22.
Q: How much debt does CLEVELAND-CLIFFS INC. have?
CLEVELAND-CLIFFS INC. (CLF) has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.3x with total debt of $7.8 billion. Net debt $7.7 billion. Source: 10-Q filed 2025-10-22.
Q: What is CLEVELAND-CLIFFS INC.'s revenue and earnings growth?
CLEVELAND-CLIFFS INC. (CLF) grew revenue by 1.5% year-over-year. EPS +6.6% YoY. Source: 10-Q filed 2025-10-22.
Q: How does CLEVELAND-CLIFFS INC. compare to competitors in Materials?
Compared to other companies in Materials, CLEVELAND-CLIFFS INC. (CLF) shows: ROIC -5.4%, sector median 4.8% (Bottom 50%). FCF margin -5.3%, sector median 0.6%. Gross margin -2.9%, 29.7pp below sector median. These rankings are based on MetricDuck's analysis of all Materials companies with available SEC filings.
Q: What warning signs should I watch for with CLEVELAND-CLIFFS INC.?
Quantitative warning flags for CLEVELAND-CLIFFS INC. (CLF): 1) FCF margin -5.3% (below 5%). Source: 10-Q filed 2025-10-22.
Data Source: Data sourced from 10-Q filed 2025-10-22. TTM metrics as of Q1 2026.
Methodology: Financial metrics calculated from SEC 10-K and 10-Q filings using standardized formulas. Sector comparisons use peer group based on SIC code.
Scope: This analysis covers SEC filing fundamentals — profitability, cash flow, balance sheet, and valuation metrics. For analyst estimates and price targets, consult sell-side research.
This analysis is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice.