Why did ZEUS miss Q4 earnings forecasts?

Olympic Steel (ZEUS) missed Q4 earnings forecasts due to a combination of factors:

1. **Decline in Adjusted EBITDA**: The company's adjusted EBITDA for Q4 2024 was $14.5 million, which is a decrease from the previous year's $18.9 million. This decline indicates a reduction in profitability, which contributed to the missed earnings.
2. **Challenges in Financial Performance**: Olympic Steel faced a tougher financial backdrop in Q4 2024 compared to the same period in the previous year. This was evident in the form of a decrease in net income, which fell to $3.9 million from $7.4 million. This decline in net income is a key factor in missing earnings forecasts.
3. **Market Challenges**: The company has been operating in a challenging market environment, which has impacted its financial performance. Despite these challenges, Olympic Steel has demonstrated resilience in certain aspects of its performance, such as beating estimated earnings by 20.0% in Q4 2023.

In conclusion, Olympic Steel's failure to meet Q4 earnings forecasts can be attributed to a combination of decreased profitability, challenging market conditions, and strategic shifts aimed at mitigating the impacts of these challenges.