Reliance (NYSE:RS) Updates Q1 2026 Earnings Guidance

Reliance (NYSE:RS) issued an update on its first quarter 2026 earnings guidance on Wednesday morning. The company provided earnings per share (EPS) guidance of 4.500-4.70 for the period, compared to the consensus estimate of 4.590. The company issued revenue guidance of -.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research analysts have commented on the company. BMO Capital Markets cut their target price on Reliance from $340.00 to $315.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research note on Friday, October 24th. Zacks Research raised shares of Reliance from a “strong sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Tuesday, February 3rd. Wells Fargo & Company raised their price objective on shares of Reliance from $284.00 to $287.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Friday, November 14th. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a “hold (c)” rating on shares of Reliance in a research note on Monday, December 29th. Finally, KeyCorp reiterated an “overweight” rating on shares of Reliance in a research note on Wednesday, January 7th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and three have issued a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $317.25.

Reliance Price Performance

Shares of NYSE RS traded down $13.60 during mid-day trading on Thursday, reaching $322.84. 194,096 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 349,180. Reliance has a 52 week low of $250.07 and a 52 week high of $365.59. The company’s 50 day moving average price is $316.69 and its 200 day moving average price is $294.58. The stock has a market capitalization of $16.88 billion, a PE ratio of 23.65, a PEG ratio of 2.03 and a beta of 0.92. The company has a quick ratio of 2.08, a current ratio of 4.43 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.19.

Reliance (NYSE:RS) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 18th. The industrial products company reported $2.40 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.80 by ($0.40). The firm had revenue of $3.50 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.45 billion. Reliance had a return on equity of 10.37% and a net margin of 5.23%.The company’s revenue for the quarter was up 11.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the firm earned $2.22 EPS. Reliance has set its Q1 2026 guidance at 4.500-4.70 EPS. Sell-side analysts forecast that Reliance will post 16.98 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Reliance Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 20th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 6th will be issued a $1.25 dividend. This represents a $5.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.5%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, March 6th. This is a positive change from Reliance’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.20. Reliance’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 35.09%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, CEO Karla R. Lewis sold 5,809 shares of Reliance stock in a transaction dated Monday, December 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $283.50, for a total value of $1,646,851.50. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer owned 84,421 shares in the company, valued at approximately $23,933,353.50. The trade was a 6.44% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, COO Stephen Paul Koch sold 3,066 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, December 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $283.56, for a total value of $869,394.96. Following the sale, the chief operating officer owned 14,021 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $3,975,794.76. This represents a 17.94% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. 0.35% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Key Stories Impacting Reliance

Here are the key news stories impacting Reliance this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Company raised its quarterly dividend to $1.25 (a 4.2% increase) and maintained an active buyback program — management repurchased $594.1M in 2025 (including $200.1M in Q4), showing continued shareholder return focus. Reliance, Inc. Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2025 Financial Results
• Neutral Sentiment: Company issued Q1 2026 EPS guidance of $4.50–$4.70 (management cites healthy demand); the range is roughly in line with consensus and gives a clear near-term earnings target but is fairly wide. RS’ Q4 Earnings Miss Estimates, Sales Up on Higher Price and Volume
• Neutral Sentiment: Operational items: net sales rose 11.9% year-over-year to $3.50B and annual tons sold hit a record, indicating demand/volume strength — a positive top-line signal even as margins contracted. Reliance, Inc. Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2025 Financial Results
• Neutral Sentiment: Management will present at the BMO Global Metals, Mining & Critical Minerals Conference on Feb. 25 — investors can watch for commentary on demand, margins and capital allocation. Reliance, Inc. Announces Participation at the BMO Conference
• Negative Sentiment: EPS missed materially in Q4: GAAP diluted EPS/non‑GAAP EPS drivers showed $2.40 reported vs. ~$2.80 consensus — the miss appears tied to margin compression and elevated LIFO expense, which pressured profitability despite higher sales. Reliance (RS) Misses Q4 Earnings Estimates
• Negative Sentiment: Margins and profitability trends weakened: Q4 pretax and net income declined sequentially; LIFO expense and a lower non‑GAAP pretax margin compressed earnings, and full-year EPS and net income were down versus 2024 — creating near-term earnings uncertainty. Reliance, Inc. Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2025 Financial Results

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Reliance

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Royal Bank of Canada boosted its position in shares of Reliance by 6.6% in the 1st quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 15,111 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $4,364,000 after purchasing an additional 940 shares in the last quarter. Empowered Funds LLC lifted its position in Reliance by 4.8% during the first quarter. Empowered Funds LLC now owns 5,662 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $1,635,000 after purchasing an additional 258 shares during the period. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Reliance by 99.2% in the first quarter. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. now owns 263 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $76,000 after acquiring an additional 131 shares during the period. Walleye Capital LLC boosted its position in Reliance by 2,192.5% in the second quarter. Walleye Capital LLC now owns 1,215 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $381,000 after purchasing an additional 1,162 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Marshall Wace LLP purchased a new stake in shares of Reliance during the 2nd quarter valued at about $1,318,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 79.26% of the company’s stock.

Reliance Company Profile

Reliance Steel & Aluminum Co (NYSE: RS) is a leading metals service center company that distributes and processes a broad array of metal products. The company offers cut-to-length, shearing, blanking, sawing, bending, machining and value-added services for carbon and alloy steel, stainless steel, aluminum, brass, titanium and specialty metal alloys. Its products serve diverse end markets, including energy, infrastructure, general manufacturing, transportation, aerospace and defense.

Founded in 1939 in Los Angeles, Reliance Steel & Aluminum has grown through a combination of organic expansion and strategic acquisitions.