Barclays Says Cleveland-Cliffs (CLF) Deserves Lower Valuation Multiple Than Peers

Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. (NYSE:CLF) is included among the 10 Best Stocks Under $15 to Buy Right Now.

Barclays Says Cleveland-Cliffs (CLF) Deserves Lower Valuation Multiple Than Peers

On May 22, Barclays initiated coverage of Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. (NYSE:CLF) with an Underweight rating. It also set a $9 price target on the stock. The firm said it was encouraged by Cleveland-Cliffs’ cost improvement efforts and expected margin gains from the expiration of the legacy slab contract. At the same time, Barclays noted that the shares deserved a lower valuation multiple compared to peers because of the company’s higher leverage.

During the Q1 2026 earnings call, Chairman, President, and CEO Lourenco Goncalves said the first quarter marked the beginning of a sustained improvement trend he expected to continue through the rest of the year. He added that results would have been stronger if not for several one-time items, with higher energy costs being the biggest headwind.

Goncalves also said the company’s order book remained full and noted that automotive OEMs were sourcing more steel from Cliffs. According to him, production schedules were tight, while lead times continued moving further out. He added that the company’s pricing realization timeline had shifted, with the lag now closer to two months. He further stated that steel imports into the U.S. had fallen to their lowest levels since 2009 and said Section 232 tariffs were proving effective. Goncalves also pointed to recent changes in tariff enforcement on derivative products, noting that distribution transformers had been added to the list.

Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. (NYSE:CLF) is a steel producer focused on value-added sheet products, particularly for the North American automotive industry.

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