Gerdau SA (GGB): Today's Featured Metals & Mining Winner

Gerdau (GGB) pushed the Metals & Mining industry higher today making it today's featured metals & mining winner. The industry as a whole closed the day up 0.4%. By the end of trading, Gerdau rose 25 cents (3%) to $8.44 on heavy volume. Throughout the day, 10.7 million shares of Gerdau exchanged hands as compared to its average daily volume of 6.7 million shares. The stock ranged in a price between $8.30-$8.62 after having opened the day at $8.38 as compared to the previous trading day's close of $8.19. Other companies within the Metals & Mining industry that increased today were: Cardero Resources Corporation (CDY), up 13.9%, Revett Minerals (RVM), up 9.8%, Charles & Colvard (CTHR), up 7.9%, and Golden Star Resources (GSS), up 6.5%.

Gerdau S.A. engages in the production and sale of steel products in Brazil and internationally. Gerdau has a market cap of $14.27 billion and is part of the basic materials sector. The company has a P/E ratio of 6.9, below the average metals & mining industry P/E ratio of 12.7 and below the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7. Shares are up 4.9% year to date as of the close of trading on Wednesday. Currently there is one analyst that rates Gerdau a buy, one analyst rates it a sell, and three rate it a hold.

TheStreet Ratings rates Gerdau as a hold. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its good cash flow from operations and largely solid financial position with reasonable debt levels by most measures. However, as a counter to these strengths, we also find weaknesses including disappointing return on equity, poor profit margins and a generally disappointing performance in the stock itself.

• You can view the full Gerdau Ratings Report.

On the negative front, Aurizon Mines (AZK), down 5.1%, Sutor Technology Group (SUTR), down 4.5%, Golden Minerals (AUMN), down 4.4%, and Mines Management (MGN), down 4%, were all losers within the metals & mining industry with Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold (FCX) being today's metals & mining industry loser.

• Use our metals & mining section to find industry-relevant news.
• Or find some new ideas from our top rated stocks lists.

For investors not wanting singular stock exposure, ETFs may be of interest. Investors who are bullish on the metals & mining industry could consider SPDR S&P Metals & Mining ETF (XME) while those bearish on the metals & mining industry could consider PowerShares DB Base Metals Sht ETN (BOS).

• Find other investment ideas from our top rated ETFs lists.

For more information on Gerdau SA click any of the following:

• Gerdau SA Stock Price

• Gerdau SA Analyst Ratings

• Gerdau SA Key Stats & Profile

• Gerdau SA Earnings

• Gerdau SA Ratio Comparison

• Gerdau SA Growth Rates

• Gerdau SA Balance Sheet

• Gerdau SA Cash Flow

• Gerdau SA Income Statement