Should I Buy CLF? CLF 2026 Analysis

Should You Buy Cleveland-Cliffs Inc (CLF) Today? Analysis, Price Targets, and 2026 Outlook.

Conclusion

Hold

Latest Price

13.760

1 Day change

-3.17%

52 Week Range

16.700

Analysis Updated At

2026/01/29

Cleveland-Cliffs Inc (CLF) is not a strong buy for a beginner, long-term investor at this moment. The stock's technical indicators show a neutral trend, and recent analyst ratings and financial performance do not provide a compelling case for immediate investment. While there are some positive catalysts, the risks and lack of strong growth signals suggest holding off for now.

Technical Analysis

The stock's technical indicators are mixed. The MACD is slightly positive but contracting, RSI is neutral at 52.852, and moving averages are bullish (SMA_5 > SMA_20 > SMA_200). However, the stock is trading below the pivot level of 14.412, with key support at 13.74 and resistance at 15.084. Overall, there is no strong technical signal for a buy.

Options Data

Bullish

Open Interest Put-Call Ratio

Bullish

Option Volume Put-Call Ratio

The low put-call ratios indicate a bullish sentiment in the options market, but the overall trading volume is not significantly high to suggest strong momentum.

Technical Summary

Sell

Buy

Positive Catalysts

Morgan Stanley's recent upgrade to Overweight with a price target of $17 highlights optimism about the company's potential in the steel sector. Additionally, the company's revenue increased by 3.61% YoY in Q3 2025.

Neutral/Negative Catalysts

Seaport Research downgraded the stock to Neutral, citing valuation concerns and normalized earnings. KeyBanc also downgraded the stock, citing higher costs. Financial performance shows declining EPS (-1.92% YoY) and gross margin (-58.19% YoY), indicating profitability challenges.

Financial Performance

In Q3 2025, revenue increased by 3.61% YoY to $4.73 billion. However, net income remains negative at -$251 million, albeit improving by 2.87% YoY. EPS dropped to -0.51 (-1.92% YoY), and gross margin declined significantly to -0.97% (-58.19% YoY), reflecting ongoing profitability challenges.

Growth

Profitability

Efficiency

Analyst Ratings and Price Target Trends

Analyst sentiment is mixed. Morgan Stanley upgraded the stock with a price target of $17, citing a strong outlook for steel prices. However, Seaport Research and KeyBanc downgraded the stock, citing valuation concerns and higher costs. The average price target is around $13-$17, with no strong consensus for immediate upside.

9 Analyst Rating

Wall Street analysts forecast CLF stock price to fall over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for CLF is 12.78 USD with a low forecast of 5.75 USD and a high forecast of 17 USD. However, analyst price targets are subjective and often lag stock prices, so investors should focus on the objective reasons behind analyst rating changes, which better reflect the company's fundamentals.

2 Buy

5 Hold

2 Sell

Hold

Current: 14.210

Low

5.75

Averages

12.78

High

Current: 14.210

Low

5.75

Averages

12.78

High

Seaport Research

Buy -> Neutral

downgrade

AI Analysis

2026-01-23

Reason

Seaport Research

Price Target

AI Analysis

2026-01-23

downgrade

Buy -> Neutral

Reason

Seaport Research downgraded Cleveland-Cliffs to Neutral from Buy. While noting that Cleveland-Cliffs is starting 2026 in "a notably better fundamental position than a year ago," the firm also believes shares are beginning to discount more normalized earnings as its share price has exceeded the firm's prior $13 price target, which has been removed. While factors may drive incremental upside for shareholders from here, "perhaps making this ratings change appear premature in hindsight," the firm is also aware of corresponding downside risks, the analyst added.

Seaport Research

Martin Englert

Buy

Neutral

downgrade

2026-01-23

Reason

Seaport Research

Martin Englert

Price Target

2026-01-23

downgrade

Buy

Neutral

Reason

Seaport Research analyst Martin Englert downgraded Cleveland-Cliffs to Neutral from Buy.

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CLF Should I Buy

CLF Should I Buy

Should You Buy Cleveland-Cliffs Inc (CLF) Today? Analysis, Price Targets, and 2026 Outlook.

Technical Analysis

Options Data

Technical Summary

Positive Catalysts

Neutral/Negative Catalysts

Financial Performance

Growth

Profitability

Efficiency

Analyst Ratings and Price Target Trends

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