Archived explainer. For the current picture see today's CLF page.
Why Is CLEVELAND-CLIFFS INC (CLF) Stock Down Today?
By the Top Tier Newswire AI Desk · August 20, 2026 at 10:04 AM ET · reviewed against 1 wire stories
CLEVELAND-CLIFFS INC (CLF) is down -5.82% in the latest session. Our newswire has captured 1 story on CLF across 1 source in the last 36 hours, with AI sentiment reading bearish (avg 34/100).
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Cleveland-Cliffs Inc stock fell 5.82% to $10.52 on Thursday, pressured by reports that the U.S. and Canada are nearing a trade deal that would cut tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum. The development has weighed on the steel sector, with CLF joining peers like NUE and STLD in a broad selloff. The stock traded at its lowest level since early August and has now printed its eighth 52-week low in a single session.
What Happened
The decline came after media reports indicated that President Trump is expected to reduce import tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum from 50% to 25%. This news triggered a sharp intraday drop for CLF, which opened at $11.17 and fell to a session low of $10.49 before closing near that level. The stock has struggled in recent months amid a challenging market environment, with a trailing twelve-month net margin of -4.6% and a beta of 2.12, making it particularly sensitive to sector-wide swings. The move also follows a recent insider sale by the company’s CFO, who sold shares on June 5.
What The Data Shows
The stock’s performance was amplified by weak sentiment, with a 7-day average of 45 out of 100, down from a 30-day average of 59. Volume was elevated at 3.1 million shares, or 0.2 times the 3-month daily average, indicating some short-term distress. The price action has also pushed CLF closer to its 52-week low of $7.73, with no recent insider buying to counterbalance the selling. Retail traders on social media have also noted the stock as oversold, though no specific price targets were cited.
What To Watch
Cleveland-Cliffs has no upcoming earnings report scheduled in the near term. Investors will need to monitor the breadth of coverage and analyst ratings as the trade developments unfold, with recent upgrades and downgrades from GLJ Research and Barclays offering mixed signals.
AI-assisted analysis composed exclusively from headlines and data on the Top Tier newswire. Public view is delayed 4 hours from real time. Not financial advice.
CLF · Aug 20 session (5-min) · -2.33% vs prior close · updated 8:58 PM ETAI sentiment, last 36h · averaged over 1 story · 34/100 bearish
The headlines behind the move
Story flow · 1 story on the wire, last 36h · hover or tap a dot for the headline
24d agoStocktwits NewsBEARISH 34POTUS
NUE, STLD, CENX, CLF Stocks Slide — Trump Reportedly Set To Halve Import Tariffs On Canadian Steel And Aluminum
The U.S. and Canada are reportedly nearing a tentative trade deal that would lower tariffs on certain Canadian steel and aluminum exports from 50% to 25%.
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