Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. ($CLF) Stock Forecast: Up 5.8% Today

What is Cleveland-Cliffs Inc.?

Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. (CLF) operates in the mining and natural resources sector, focusing on iron ore mining and steel production. The company's stock showed a notable bullish trend in today's market.

Why is Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. going up?

CLF stock is up 5.8% on Dec 16, 2025 14:55

• Despite a recent credit downgrade by S&P due to elevated debt levels and leverage concerns, Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. witnessed a positive market momentum, reflecting potential investor confidence in the company's recovery and growth prospects.
• Emphasis on deleveraging, securing new contracts, and cost-saving measures, highlighted by S&P, likely bolstered investor trust in the company, contributing to the favorable market response.
• With varied analyst recommendations ranging from upgrades to maintained "sell" calls alongside an average "Hold" rating from brokerages, investor sentiment may have been diverse, potentially leading to fluctuations in the stock's value.
• Outperforming earnings per share (EPS) estimates while falling short on revenue, combined with substantial institutional ownership, may have influenced the upward stock movement as investors assess the company's financial performance against future possibilities.

CLF Price Chart

CLF Technical Analysis

CLF News

Cleveland-Cliffs downgraded to ’B+’ by S&P on high debt levels

S&P Global Ratings has downgraded Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. to 'B+' from 'BB-' due to its elevated debt levels, specifically a deteriorating debt-to-EBITDA ratio that jumped to 20.5x in fiscal 2024. This increase is attributed to the Stelco acquisition, weak demand, and low hot-rolled coil prices. Despite a stable outlook, S&P expresses concern over continued high leverage, though they anticipate recovery in 2026 driven by new contracts and cost savings.

https://www.investing.com/news/stock-market-news/clevelandcliffs-downgraded-to-b-by-sp-on-high-debt-levels-93CH-4406420

Cleveland-Cliffs downgraded to ’B+’ by S&P on high debt levels

S&P Global Ratings has downgraded Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. to 'B+' from 'BB-' due to elevated leverage, which reached 20.5x debt-to-EBITDA in fiscal 2024 because of the Stelco acquisition, weak demand, and low hot-rolled coil prices. Despite a current negative adjusted EBITDA, S&P expects a recovery in fiscal 2026 earnings to $1.3 billion-$1.7 billion, driven by new contracts, cost savings, and the end of a low-margin supply contract. Cleveland-Cliffs is prioritizing deleveraging, and S&P maintains a stable outlook, expecting leverage to improve to 5x-6x over the next 12 months.

https://m.investing.com/news/stock-market-news/clevelandcliffs-downgraded-to-b-by-sp-on-high-debt-levels-93CH-4406420?ampMode=1

Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. (NYSE:CLF) Given Average Rating of "Hold" by Brokerages

Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. (NYSE:CLF) has received an average "Hold" rating from ten brokerages, with an average 12-month price target of $12.78. The company's recent earnings slightly beat EPS expectations but missed on revenue, with shares opening at $12.68. Institutional ownership is high at approximately 67.7%, and analyst ratings have seen both upgrades and maintained "sell" recommendations.

https://www.marketbeat.com/instant-alerts/cleveland-cliffs-inc-nyseclf-given-average-rating-of-hold-by-brokerages-2025-12-11/

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Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. Price History

21.09.2025 - CLF Stock was down 5.1%

• The stock experienced a strong bearish movement today, despite the positive developments in the rare earths mining exploration.
• Analyst downgrades likely influenced investor sentiment negatively, leading to the bearish trend.
• Although the company reported a better-than-expected adjusted loss in the third quarter, the missed revenue estimates impacted market reaction.
• Anticipation of quarterly losses and lower revenue figures may have contributed to today's bearish movement in the stock market.

30.09.2025 - CLF Stock was down 14.3%

• A bearish movement was observed in Cleveland-Cliffs Inc (CLF) today, coinciding with the announcement of a public offering of 75 million common shares.
• The pricing of the public offering appeared to cause a dilution in the stock value, prompting investors to divest their holdings and leading to the decline in CLF shares.
• Market analysts suggest that the public offering may have signaled the company's requirement for additional capital, sparking concerns about its future growth and financial stability. These factors contributed to the prevailing bearish sentiment surrounding CLF on the trading day.

20.09.2025 - CLF Stock was down 5.3%

• Despite surpassing analyst expectations with an adjusted loss of 45 cents per share, Cleveland-Cliffs experienced a bearish trend, potentially influenced by revenue estimates not being met.
• The presence of bullish options activity on the stock could suggest some investor confidence in the company's future, contrasting the market's response to the earnings announcement.
• The divergence between the positive earnings outcome and the negative market shift indicates a focus on revenue performance and future prospects rather than solely exceeding earnings per share estimates.
• The market's reaction underlines the significance of considering various factors such as earnings, revenue, and guidance while evaluating a company's stock performance.

21.09.2025 - CLF Stock was down 15.4%

• The stock saw a bearish movement today after several analyst downgrades, notably by a leading analyst.
• Despite the positive news about rare earths mining exploration, the market was impacted by disappointing Q3 financial results, which included a loss and revenue below estimates.
• The conflicting signals of potential growth from diversification and current financial challenges likely contributed to the stock's decline.
• Investor caution regarding the company's transition to a new business line along with managing its steelmaking operations may have led to the stock sell-off.

04.10.2025 - CLF Stock was down 5.0%

• The stock price of Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. (CLF) experienced a strong bearish movement following the announcement of a public offering of 75 million common shares.
• Despite a positive rating and increased price target, the market reacted negatively due to the dilution effect of the public offering.
• Investors are concerned about the potential impact of the increased number of shares on the company's future earnings per share and overall shareholder value.
• Profit-taking behaviors may also be influencing the market movement following a previous price run-up.

04.10.2025 - CLF Stock was down 6.6%

• Bullish options activity on CLF indicated optimism among investors, but the announcement of a public offering of 75 million common shares seems to have dampened market sentiment.
• Despite a positive analyst rating and price target increase by Goldman Sachs, the pricing of the public offering could have overshadowed these factors, leading to the stock's decline.
• Conflicting signals from the options market and the public offering news could have created uncertainty among investors, contributing to the bearish movement in CLF's stock price today.

16.11.2025 - CLF Stock was up 5.8%

• Despite a recent credit downgrade by S&P due to elevated debt levels and leverage concerns, Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. witnessed a positive market momentum, reflecting potential investor confidence in the company's recovery and growth prospects.
• Emphasis on deleveraging, securing new contracts, and cost-saving measures, highlighted by S&P, likely bolstered investor trust in the company, contributing to the favorable market response.
• With varied analyst recommendations ranging from upgrades to maintained "sell" calls alongside an average "Hold" rating from brokerages, investor sentiment may have been diverse, potentially leading to fluctuations in the stock's value.
• Outperforming earnings per share (EPS) estimates while falling short on revenue, combined with substantial institutional ownership, may have influenced the upward stock movement as investors assess the company's financial performance against future possibilities.

27.09.2025 - CLF Stock was up 5.1%

• CLF reported a narrower loss in Q3, which may have positively impacted investor sentiment and contributed to the bullish movement.
• Despite a revenue miss, the company's cost-cutting targets and revised capex plans could be signaling improved efficiency and profitability prospects.
• The announcement of CLF's exploration into rare earths mining likely excited investors, leading to a 17% jump in the stock price as it represents a potential avenue for future growth and revenue diversification.

17.09.2025 - CLF Stock was down 5.5%

• The decline in CLF's stock today might be linked to analysts' predictions of a decrease in earnings for the company's upcoming period.
• Even though there has been some noticeable bullish options activity lately, there seems to be an overall shift in sentiment to a negative outlook, possibly influenced by concerns regarding CLF's financial performance.
• Investors appear to be wary about CLF's performance in the third quarter, with a particular emphasis on Wall Street's close monitoring of key metrics' forecasts, potentially resulting in a stock sell-off.

15.09.2025 - CLF Stock was up 5.2%

• Unusual bullish options activity detected on Cleveland-Cliffs, suggesting positive investor sentiment and significant capital involvement.
• Analysts foresee a decrease in earnings for Cleveland-Cliffs, which would typically have a negative effect on the stock. However, the bullish movement implies that other factors are currently more influential.
• The surge in stock price may be driven by positive internal developments within the company, overshadowing the projected earnings decline.
• Investors seem to be placing emphasis on the company's long-term growth prospects or strategic initiatives, resulting in heightened buying interest despite the earnings forecast.

20.10.2025 - CLF Stock was up 5.5%

• Today, CLF exhibited a strong bullish movement, possibly influenced by the following factors:
• Positive developments in the iron ore market, including increased demand and higher commodity prices, which bode well for the company's revenue outlook.
• Potential analyst upgrades and optimistic market sentiment surrounding CLF, despite the recent financial results.
• Speculation about strategic partnerships or acquisitions that could positively impact CLF's business operations and future growth potential.

11.11.2025 - CLF Stock was up 5.6%

• The bullish movement in CLF could be attributed to Quantbot Technologies LP significantly increasing its stake in the company by 66.5% in Q2, acquiring an additional 317,352 shares. This vote of confidence from a major investor likely boosted market sentiment.
• Despite a negative EPS and P/E ratio, the company's potential undervaluation based on book value per share and moderate debt-to-equity ratio may have attracted investors looking for growth opportunities.
• The mixed analyst outlook and institutional investors adjusting their positions suggest a level of uncertainty in the market, but Cleveland-Cliffs' better-than-expected quarterly EPS loss of $0.45 could have positively influenced the stock price, currently trading around $12.91.
• Overall, the bullish movement in CLF amidst sector challenges could be a result of increased investor confidence, positive quarterly results, and potential undervaluation, despite cautious future outlook and market uncertainties.