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• Earnings Plummet at Gerdau in 1Q - Analyst Blog
• Sutor Technology: A Strong Buy - Analyst Blog
• GGB Posts Weak 2012 Results - Analyst Blog

• GGB 100% Rate It
• PKX 100% Rate It
• SID 100% Rate It
• SUTR 100% Rate It

Zacks Investment Research upgraded Sutor Technology Group Limited ( SUTR ) to a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) on Feb 15, 2013.

Why the Upgrade?

Financial results for the second quarter of fiscal 2013 (ended December 31, 2012) as announced on Feb 7, 2013, impressed all with earnings per share for the quarter rising 71.4% year over year on the back of a 46.3% increase in revenue. Earnings per share of 12 cents in the quarter were precisely 100% increase over the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 6 cents.

Revenue improvement can be attributed to new products and service offerings to a more diversified customer base. Volumes sold improved while average selling price was a little weak. Higher proportion of low-margin products in the quarter pressured gross margin that went down 190 basis points.

Operating margin in the quarter went down by 40 basis points, due primarily to lower gross margins, offset slightly by lower proportion of operating expenses as a percentage of revenue.

Three out of four quarters of positive earnings surprise with the average being 47.6%, raises optimism for a better financial performance ahead. Following the second quarter results, in the last 30 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for fiscal 2013 has gone up by 40.9% to 31 cents while that for fiscal 2014 went up 7.7% to 42 cents.

Other Stocks to Consider

Other stocks worth a look at in the industry are POSCO ( PKX ), Companhia Siderurgica Nacional ( SID ) and Gerdau S.A. ( GGB ), each with a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).

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