GSM
Basic MaterialsFerroglobe PLC · Industrial Materials · $800M
What is Ferroglobe PLC?
Ferroglobe PLC is a global producer of silicon metal, silicon-based alloys, and specialty metals serving industries from steel manufacturing to electronics. Headquartered in London, the company operates mines, smelters, and a hydroelectric power plant across multiple continents.
Ferroglobe generates revenue by producing and selling silicon metal, ferrosilicon, silicomanganese, ferromanganese, and calcium silicon to manufacturers in the aluminum, steel, and silicone chemical industries. The company also mines quartz in Spain, South Africa, the United States, and Canada, and operates low-ash metallurgical coal mines in the United States. A hydroelectric power plant in France provides an internal energy source that supports its energy-intensive electrometallurgical operations.
Ferroglobe was formed in 2009 and is headquartered in London, United Kingdom.
- Silicon metal for aluminum producers and silicone chemical manufacturers
- Ferrosilicon and calcium silicon for steel alloy production
- Silicomanganese and ferromanganese as steel deoxidizing agents
- Silica fume, a by-product of electrometallurgical processing
- Quartz mining and metallurgical coal operations
Is GSM a Good Stock to Buy?
UQS Score rates GSM as Below Average overall, reflecting meaningful structural challenges across several key pillars.
The Risk pillar stands out as a relative bright spot, suggesting the company's near-term financial stability is better than its overall score implies. The Valuation pillar is rated Attractive, meaning the market may already be pricing in much of the downside — a point worth considering for contrarian-minded investors.
Both the Quality and Moat pillars are rated Weak, indicating limited competitive differentiation and below-average business fundamentals relative to sector peers. The Growth pillar sits at Neutral, offering little near-term upside catalyst.
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Past performance does not guarantee future results. UQS Score is based on fundamental data and is not a buy/sell recommendation.
Does GSM pay dividends?
Yes — Ferroglobe PLC pays a dividend.
Ferroglobe does pay a regular dividend, which is notable for a small-cap basic materials company. Dividend payments in commodity-linked businesses can fluctuate with earnings cycles, so investors should monitor payout sustainability. The company's Attractive Valuation and Good Risk ratings provide some context for its ability to maintain distributions, though the Weak Quality pillar warrants attention.
When does GSM report earnings?
Ferroglobe reports earnings on a quarterly cadence, consistent with standard practice for US-listed equities.
Results in the silicon and specialty metals space tend to track commodity price cycles closely, meaning revenue and margins can swing materially from quarter to quarter. The Neutral Growth pillar suggests performance has been neither a clear positive nor a negative catalyst recently.
For the most recent quarter's results and guidance, visit Ferroglobe's official investor relations page.
GSM Price History
-8.6% over 5Y
Monthly close, adjusted for stock splits and dividend reinvestment.
What if I invested in Ferroglobe PLC?
Based on Ferroglobe PLC's historical closing prices, adjusted for stock splits and dividend reinvestment. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is for informational purposes only and is not financial advice.
GSM Long-term Outlook
Ferroglobe's fundamental outlook is shaped by its Neutral Growth profile and Weak Moat — conditions that make sustained outperformance difficult without a meaningful shift in commodity pricing or operational efficiency. The Attractive Valuation label suggests the stock may already reflect a cautious fundamental view. The Good Risk rating provides some reassurance that near-term financial stress is not the primary concern, but the Weak Quality pillar limits confidence in durable earnings power.
Growth drivers
- Rising demand for silicon metal in electric vehicle battery and solar panel supply chains
- Potential recovery in global steel and aluminum production volumes
- Internal energy generation from hydroelectric assets reducing input cost exposure
Key risks
- Commodity price volatility directly compressing margins with limited pricing power
- Weak Moat rating signals limited ability to defend market share against lower-cost producers
- Energy cost fluctuations in European smelting operations affecting profitability
GSM vs Peers
Ferroglobe operates in a fragmented basic materials space alongside a range of smaller resource companies.
Aclara focuses on rare earth elements rather than silicon, targeting a different end-market with distinct supply chain dynamics.
Meridian Mining is an earlier-stage mining company with a narrower geographic footprint compared to Ferroglobe's multi-continent operations.
Talon Metals concentrates on nickel and battery metals, positioning it toward the electric vehicle supply chain rather than steel and aluminum inputs.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Ferroglobe do?
Ferroglobe produces silicon metal, ferrosilicon, silicomanganese, ferromanganese, and related specialty alloys used in steel, aluminum, and silicone chemical manufacturing. The company also operates quartz mines across four countries and a hydroelectric power plant in France that supports its energy-intensive production processes.
Does GSM pay dividends?
Yes, Ferroglobe pays a regular dividend. For a small-cap commodity producer, maintaining a dividend reflects a degree of financial commitment, though payouts in this sector can be sensitive to commodity price cycles. Investors should review the latest payout details on the company's investor relations page.
When does GSM report earnings?
Ferroglobe follows a standard quarterly earnings cadence for US-listed companies. Specific upcoming report dates are not covered by our data source — check Ferroglobe's investor relations page for the current schedule.
Is GSM a good stock to buy?
UQS Score rates GSM as Below Average overall. The Valuation pillar is Attractive and the Risk pillar is Good, which may interest value-oriented investors. However, Weak Quality and Moat ratings indicate meaningful structural concerns. The complete pillar breakdown is available to UQS Pro members.
Is GSM overvalued?
The UQS Valuation pillar for GSM is rated Attractive, suggesting the stock is not trading at a premium relative to its fundamentals. In commodity-linked businesses, an attractive valuation can reflect cyclical pessimism rather than a structural discount — context matters when interpreting this signal.
How does GSM compare to its competitors?
Ferroglobe is a more diversified operator than many of its small-cap peers, spanning silicon alloys, quartz mining, and energy assets across multiple continents. Competitors like Aclara Resources and Talon Metals focus on different commodity categories, making direct comparison less straightforward than within a single-commodity peer group.
What is GSM's market cap bracket?
Ferroglobe is classified as a small-cap company. This places it in a segment of the market that can offer higher return potential but also carries greater volatility and liquidity risk compared to large- or mega-cap peers in the basic materials sector.
Who founded Ferroglobe?
Ferroglobe was formed in 2009 through the combination of existing silicon and specialty metals businesses. Detailed founding history, including key individuals involved, is widely available through the company's official corporate disclosures and public filings.
Is GSM a long-term quality investment?
As a long-term quality indicator, GSM's Below Average UQS Score — driven by Weak Quality and Moat ratings — suggests the business lacks the durable competitive advantages typically associated with compounding long-term returns. The Attractive Valuation may offer a margin of safety, but quality concerns are a meaningful headwind for long-horizon investors.
What is the main competitive advantage of Ferroglobe?
Ferroglobe's scale across silicon alloy production, vertical integration into quartz mining, and ownership of a hydroelectric power asset provide some cost structure benefits. However, the UQS Moat pillar is rated Weak, indicating these advantages have not translated into a clearly defensible competitive position relative to sector peers.
What sector does GSM belong to?
Ferroglobe operates in the Basic Materials sector, specifically within the silicon metal and specialty alloys segment. This sector is closely tied to industrial demand cycles in steel, aluminum, and chemicals, making it sensitive to global manufacturing activity and commodity price trends.
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Pro Analysis
GSM — Score History
| Date | UQS | Quality | Moat | Growth | Risk | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 23, 2026 | 38.0 | 1.7 | 10.0 | 50.2 | 66.7 | 100.0 | -0.2 |
| Apr 2, 2026 | 38.2 | 1.7 | 10.0 | 50.2 | 68.1 | 100.0 | — |
GSM — Pillar Breakdown
Quality
— 1.7/100 (25%)Ferroglobe PLC currently shows below-average quality metrics, suggesting challenges with profitability.
How effectively capital is deployed to generate returns.
Profitability relative to shareholders' equity.
Ability to convert revenue into operating profit.
Bottom-line profit as a share of revenue.
Asset productivity — how much gross profit each dollar of assets generates.
Free cash flow relative to market value.
Growth
— 50.2/100 (20%)Ferroglobe PLC shows steady but unspectacular growth, typical for mature companies.
Revenue trajectory over the last twelve months.
Compound annual revenue growth rate over 3 years.
Year-over-year earnings per share growth.
Analyst consensus for future revenue growth.
Analyst consensus for future earnings growth.
Risk
— 66.7/100 (15%)Ferroglobe PLC maintains a reasonable risk profile with manageable debt levels.
Debt levels relative to earnings capacity.
Total debt relative to shareholder equity.
Short-term liquidity — ability to pay near-term obligations.
Earnings capacity relative to interest payments.
Valuation
— 100.0/100 (15%)Ferroglobe PLC appears attractively valued relative to its earnings, cash flows, and sector peers.
Inverse of forward P/E — higher yield means cheaper stock.
P/E relative to earnings growth — lower is more attractive.
Moat
— 10/100 (25%)Ferroglobe PLC operates in a highly competitive environment with limited sustainable advantages. The Moat pillar evaluates competitive advantages across five dimensions: Switching Costs, Network Effects, Cost Advantage, Intangible Assets, and Scale & Ecosystem. Sign in to customize moat ratings for GSM.
Score Composition
Financial Data
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How is the GSM UQS Score Calculated?
The UQS (Unified Quality Score) for Ferroglobe PLC is calculated using a proprietary 6-pillar framework with 29 financial metrics. Each pillar evaluates a different dimension on a 0–100 scale, then combines into a single weighted score. Scoring thresholds are calibrated per sector. Momentum is an optional Pro toggle — without it, you get the 5-pillar / 25-metric core shown below.
Quality (25%) measures profitability and capital efficiency — ROIC, ROE, margins, GP/Assets, and FCF Yield.
Moat (25%) assesses Ferroglobe PLC's competitive advantages across switching costs, network effects, cost advantages, intangible assets, and ecosystem scale.
Growth (20%) tracks revenue trajectory and earnings momentum, combining historical results with analyst forward estimates.
Risk (15%) is inversely scored — lower leverage and strong balance sheet health result in higher scores.
Valuation (15%) measures whether Ferroglobe PLC is fairly priced using earnings yield, price-to-FCF, PEG ratio, and EV/EBITDA relative to sector peers.
Six investor-inspired presets are available, each with different pillar weights: Balanced, Buffett, Munger, Lynch, Cathie Wood, and Graham. The public score shown here uses the Balanced preset. Learn more in our FAQ.