- AK Steel (AKS +5.8%) beat Q4 expectations amid rebounding auto and construction industries, prompting S&P Capital to upgrade shares to Strong Buy from Hold with a $6 price target, encouraged by stronger-than-expected synergies from the Dearborn acquisition, lower input costs and energy costs, and a strong auto market that comprised half of AKS revenue in 2014.
- However, other analysts gave the beat a cooler reception; Citigroup's Brian Yu, for one, maintains a Sell rating and $2 price target, unconvinced by Q4's improved shipments of 2M tons and realized pricing of $987/ton vs. the firm's model of $980/ton.