BlueScope Steel (ASX:BSL) reported Monday that its attributable earnings per diluted share in the fiscal first half fell to AU$0.405 from AU$0.966 per diluted share a year earlier.

Underlying earnings per share fell to AU$0.402 from AU$1.049 per share a year earlier.

Analysts polled by FactSet were expecting EPS of AU$0.37 and adjusted EPS of AU$0.34.

Sales revenue for the six months ended Dec. 31, 2024, was AU$7.91 billion, down from AU$8.54 billion in the same period a year earlier. Analysts surveyed by FactSet expected sales of AU$7.76 billion.

The steel company expects fiscal second-half underlying earnings before interest and taxes to range from AU$360 million to AU$430 million.

The board declared a dividend of AU$0.30 per share, up from the AU$0.25 in the previous reported period, payable on March 25 to shareholders on record as of Feb. 24.