On August 10, 2026, analyst firm Itau BBA downgraded Gerdau (NYSE: GGB), a major steel producer, from Outperform to Market Perform. This change occurred when Gerdau's stock price was $4.96. A "Market Perform" rating suggests the analyst expects the stock to provide returns in line with the overall stock market.
This stock downgrade comes even as Gerdau reports strong second-quarter 2026 results. The company’s consolidated adjusted EBITDA reached BRL 3.4 billion, its highest since the third quarter of 2023. EBITDA, or Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization, is a key measure of a company's overall financial performance.
The strong results are mainly due to robust North American operations. As highlighted by Seeking Alpha, CEO Gustavo Werneck noted that "resilient demand in the company’s primary U.S. and Canadian markets helped North American adjusted EBITDA rise 15% from the first quarter." This performance helps offset challenges in Brazil from steel imports.
The company's adjusted net income for the quarter grew 45% from the first quarter, reaching BRL 1.5 billion. Shipments also saw an increase, with a notable 7% year-over-year gain in North American volumes. Gerdau currently has a market capitalization of approximately $9.8 billion, with its stock trading in a 52-week range between $2.85 and $5.18.
Gerdau also announced it will return value to its investors. The company will distribute a dividend of BRL 0.23 per share. At the same time, its share repurchase program, which can help increase the value of the remaining shares, was 31% complete by the end of the quarter.
