Insteel: 3 Key Takeaways for Long-Term Investors
On its fourth quarter of 2026 earnings call, held on Oct. 22, 2026, Insteel (NYSE:IIIN) announced net sales, or total revenue, of $209 million for the period. Rising steel tariffs and domestic raw material shortages pressed gross margin, the percentage of revenue left after direct product costs, down to 10%. Three things management said stand out. U.S. steel tariffs capped Canadian imports and created a severe domestic shortfall of steel wire rod, the hot-rolled steel coil used as raw material for wire products. Insteel bought imported rod from overseas suppliers to keep plants running, forcing seven price increases to offset elevated costs. Continue reading