Reliance: 3 Key Takeaways for Long-Term Investors

Reliance's latest earnings report highlights three key factors that could be of interest to long-term investors. Firstly, the company reported record quarterly net sales in Q3 2026, driven by elevated metal prices and increased shipment volumes. This growth was facilitated by Reliance's access to metal inventory, allowing them to outpace industry averages in tons sold, up 15.6% year-over-year compared to the industry's 10.1% increase.

Secondly, the surge in carbon steel prices led to higher LIFO accounting method expenses in the quarter. However, Reliance's accumulated LIFO reserve of nearly $890 million acts as a financial buffer to mitigate the impact of potential future metal price declines. This reserve underscores the company's resilience in managing supply constraints and pricing volatility.

Lastly, the company remains optimistic about future demand and tight supply conditions across key end markets such as semiconductor, infrastructure, and aerospace. Reliance's scale, mill relationships, and processing capabilities give it structural advantages in capturing market share. Management anticipates continuing healthy demand and tight supply throughout the year, subject to risks from domestic and international trade policy, geopolitical conditions, and normal seasonality.

With capital expenditures planned at approximately $300 million and a $2.5 billion share repurchase authorization, Reliance is focused on both footprint expansion and returning value to shareholders.