Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. Sets Price for Public Offering of 75 Million Common Shares
Public Offering Announcement: Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. has priced a public offering of 75 million common shares, aiming for gross proceeds of approximately $964 million, with an option for underwriters to purchase an additional 11.25 million shares.
Use of Proceeds: The company plans to use the net proceeds from the offering primarily for repaying borrowings under its asset-based credit facility and for general corporate purposes.
Underwriter Details: UBS Securities LLC is the underwriter for the offering, which will be available for sale on the New York Stock Exchange and other markets.
Company Overview: Cleveland-Cliffs is a major North American steel producer, focusing on value-added sheet products for the automotive industry, and employs around 30,000 people across the U.S. and Canada.
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- CEO Share Sale: Cleveland-Cliffs CEO Lourenco Goncalves sold 3 million shares at approximately $12.42 each, totaling about $37.3 million, which represents nearly half of his total holdings, raising investor concerns about the company's future.
- Tariff Uncertainty: Reports of the Trump administration considering lowering steel and aluminum tariffs have caused market fluctuations, although White House officials denied any changes, stating that only the president could announce such adjustments, putting pressure on the company's stock price.
- Retail Sentiment Surge: Despite CLF shares declining over 20% in the past five days, retail sentiment on Stocktwits surged from 'bullish' to 'extremely bullish' within 24 hours, indicating strong investor confidence in the company's future prospects.
- Diverse Market Reactions: Users on Stocktwits expressed that there is 'zero chance' Trump will reduce steel tariffs, encouraging buying the dip, while others suggested the need for new leadership, reflecting varied opinions on the company's governance.
- Significant Losses: Cleveland-Cliffs reported a net loss of $1.4 billion for 2025, nearly double the loss from 2024, reflecting dual pressures from weak automotive market demand and declining steel prices, which has left investors concerned about future prospects.
- Contract Termination Impact: The company ended a five-year steel slab contract with ArcelorMittal USA in 2025 due to unprofitability driven by tariff-induced price gaps, a decision that will affect future revenue streams significantly.
- Executive Sell-off Triggers Panic: CEO Lourenco Goncalves sold three million shares at an average price of $12.42 on February 11, and while executive sales may be for tax planning, the magnitude of the sale during a stock slump has unsettled investors.
- Optimistic Future Outlook: Despite current challenges, management anticipates a strong recovery in 2026, with automotive volumes rebounding and rising steel prices expected to drive revenue growth, particularly with hot-rolled oil-steel prices projected to be nearly $60 per ton higher sequentially.
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- Massive Loss: Cleveland-Cliffs reported a staggering $1.4 billion net loss for 2025, nearly double the loss from 2024, highlighting the company's vulnerability under the dual pressures of weak automotive demand and declining steel prices.
- Stock Price Plunge: Following the disappointing earnings report, Cleveland-Cliffs' stock plummeted 32.5% at its lowest point this week, severely undermining investor confidence, particularly after CEO Lourenco Goncalves sold three million shares, which intensified market jitters.
- Recovery Expectations: Despite the poor performance in 2025, management anticipates a strong recovery in 2026, driven by rebounding automotive volumes and rising steel prices, with hot-rolled oil-steel prices expected to be nearly $60 per ton higher sequentially in the first quarter.
- Policy Benefits: Cleveland-Cliffs' Canadian subsidiary Stelco is poised to benefit from the Canadian government's restrictions on steel imports starting December 2025, which will help improve its market conditions and enhance profitability.
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