Professional Polish Investment Research - Expert Analysis for Foreign Investors

Cognor S.A.

COG.WA Materials
steel eaf-steel scrap-recycling long-products circular-economy industrial
0.0M LTM Revenue (PLN)
-392.9% Revenue Growth (YoY)

Company Overview

Cognor S.A. is a Polish-based, vertically integrated steel group operating a closed-loop, scrap-based production model. The Group sources ferrous scrap, produces steel billets in electric arc furnaces, and rolls long steel products such as reinforcing bars and merchant bars. Cognor operates production sites in Gliwice, Kraków, Stalowa Wola, and Siemianowice Śląskie, positioning itself as one of the leading EAF steel producers in Central Europe.

Business Segments

  • Scrap procurement and trading
  • Steel billet production (EAF-based)
  • Rolling mills – long steel products
  • External sales of scrap, billets, and finished products

Key Drivers

  • EU infrastructure spending and construction demand
  • Spread between scrap prices and finished steel products prices
  • Cognor consistently communicates that steel for 155 mm ammunition, armour steel, and other defence-industry applications is intended to become one of the company’s core business pillars, supporting diversification toward higher-value, more resilient end markets.
  • Ramp-up of new rolling mill capacity in Siemianowice Śląskie
  • Implementation of CBAM (Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism)
  • High Scrap Availability & positive Circular Economy Trend

Key Risks

  • Weak Steel Demand in Western Europe and Poland, which means lower prices for steel products
  • Pressure from low-cost imports, particularly from Ukraine
  • High leverage ~PLN 850MLN of net debt
  • Volatility in scrap prices and energy costs

What to Watch

  • Successful hot commissioning and ramp-up of the Siemianowice rolling mill
  • Spread between scrap and billet finished steel product prices
  • Stabilization of net debt and covenant compliance
  • Evolution of EU safeguard and anti-dumping measures
  • Recovery of construction and infrastructure demand in Poland
  • Increase in Coking Coal prices impacting BF-BOF steel producers (Cognor competitors)
  • Decrease of interest rates in Poland. Interest rates impact Cognor's cost of debt, as the company has significant debt exposure.

Foundational Analysis

Foundational Analysis v1.0 Last updated: 2025-09-30

Business Model

Cognor operates a vertically integrated steelmaking model based on electric arc furnaces using ferrous scrap as the primary input. The Group captures margin across scrap sourcing, billet production, and rolling of long steel products, with additional flexibility to sell semi-finished products externally.

Competitive Positioning

One of the largest scrap-based EAF steel producers in Poland, with a strong domestic footprint and increasing scale following recent capacity expansions. Competitiveness is driven by integration, proximity to scrap supply, and modernized production assets.

Economics & Capital Allocation

From an operational perspective, Cognor went through the largest investment program in its history between 2022 and 2025. This resulted in a sharp increase in production capacity, but also in a deep compression of current margins. Modernization of the Kraków rolling mill: additional ~150–200k tons per year of higher-quality products. New rolling mill capacity in Siemianowice Śląskie: target ~450k tons per year of light sections. Earlier modernization of the Gliwice steelworks: several hundred thousand tons per year of additional crude steel. In practice, Cognor enters 2026 as a group capable—at full utilization—of processing around 1 million tons of finished steel products annually, with a highly automated machinery base. The issue is that volumes did not grow in line with capacity. The spread were falling from healthy PLN 1,800–2,000/ton in 2022 to PLN 1,000–1,200/ton in 2024 and 2025 due to Chinese oversupply and weak European construction. The 2026 investment thesis hinges on spreads recovering to PLN 1,250–1,500/ton and on finally achieving high utilization at the Siemianowice and Kraków facilities.

Capital allocation in recent years has been dominated by a large-scale investment program (~PLN 830m) focused on modernizing and expanding rolling capacity. Dividends are secondary to balance-sheet stabilization and completion of capex.

Long-term Risks

Structural overcapacity in European steel, prolonged weak construction demand, sustained low steel spreads, and balance-sheet stress if profitability does not recover post-investment cycle.

What Would Break the Thesis

  • Failure to achieve positive EBITDA after full ramp-up of new capacity
  • Sustained pressure from low-priced imports eroding domestic margins
  • Inability to reduce leverage or refinance debt on acceptable terms
  • Structural decline in long steel demand in Central Europe

Contracts Intelligence

No contract data available for this company.

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Financial Performance

PLN Showing 11 quarters | Metric: Revenue (Quarterly)

Quarterly Data

Metric 2023Q1 2023Q2 2023Q3 2024Q1 2024Q2 2024Q3 2024Q4 2025Q1 2025Q2 2025Q3 2025Q4
Income Statement Revenue (Quarterly) 887.4M 764.6M 499.5M 686.3M 550.9M 498.3M 558.0M 543.3M 594.9M 496.3M -1.6B
Income Statement Gross Profit (Quarterly) 103.6M 88.2M 41.8M 25.5M 23.6M 1.7M -8.6M 24.1M 35.0M 10.9M -70.0M
Income Statement EBITDA (Quarterly) 100.8M 54.0M 0 26.7M 26.6M -7.0M -21.7M 6.0M 21.5M -4.8M -22.7M
Income Statement EBIT (Quarterly) 88.6M 41.5M 60.0M 14.7M 14.4M -19.8M -35.2M -7.9M 7.7M -19.4M 19.7M
Income Statement Net Income (Quarterly) 172.3M 25.1M 30.1M 6.2M 2.2M -30.4M -35.5M -14.8M -11.7M -26.4M 52.9M
Costs Selling & Distribution Costs 33.3M 33.6M 22.6M 34.8M 28.9M 25.9M 29.2M 28.6M 29.9M 26.9M -85.3M
Costs Administrative Expenses 14.7M 23.7M 17.2M 17.4M 19.8M 18.3M 17.0M 18.3M 21.7M 23.5M -63.5M
Cash Flow Operating Cash Flow 34.1M 56.3M 31.7M 3.7M 310.9M -71.2M -84.4M 21.1M -29.2M 65.2M -57.1M
Cash Flow Capital Expenditure 67.0M 86.2M 78.2M 154.1M 251.4M 81.8M 454.6M 33.0M 104.3M 27.1M 0
Cash Flow Free Cash Flow -32.9M -29.9M -46.6M -150.4M 59.6M -153.0M -539.0M -11.9M -133.5M 38.1M -57.1M
Cash Flow Depreciation & Amortization 12.2M 12.6M 11.9M 12.0M 12.2M 12.8M 13.6M 13.9M 13.8M 14.6M -42.4M
LTM Metrics Revenue (LTM) 887.4M 1.7B 2.2B 2.8B 2.5B 2.2B 2.3B 2.2B 2.2B 2.2B 0
LTM Metrics EBITDA (LTM) 100.8M 154.8M 154.8M 181.5M 107.3M 46.2M 24.6M 3.9M -1.2M 1.0M 0
LTM Metrics Net Income (LTM) 172.3M 197.4M 227.4M 233.6M 63.5M 8.0M -57.5M -78.5M -92.4M -88.3M 0
Profitability Gross Margin 11.7% 11.5% 8.4% 3.7% 4.3% 0.3% -1.5% 4.4% 5.9% 2.2% 4.3%
Profitability EBITDA Margin 11.4% 7.1% 0.0% 3.9% 4.8% -1.4% -3.9% 1.1% 3.6% -1.0% 1.4%
Profitability EBIT Margin 10.0% 5.4% 12.0% 2.1% 2.6% -4.0% -6.3% -1.5% 1.3% -3.9% -1.2%
Profitability Net Margin 19.4% 3.3% 6.0% 0.9% 0.4% -6.1% -6.4% -2.7% -2.0% -5.3% -3.2%
Profitability ROIC 5.6% 7.3% 10.6% 11.0% 6.5% 3.0% -3.0% -4.3% -4.4% -4.4% -1.1%
Profitability Cash Conversion 20.0% 224.0% 105.0% 60.0% 14329.0% 234.0% 238.0% -142.0% 249.0% -247.0% -108.0%
Balance Sheet Current Assets 1.7B 1.4B 1.2B 1.3B 1.4B 1.2B 1.0B 1.1B 1.1B 996.1M 0
Balance Sheet Current Liabilities 640.1M 567.5M 585.7M 830.7M 764.0M 750.7M 1.2B 1.2B 1.3B 1.4B 0
Balance Sheet Inventories 679.2M 589.0M 556.3M 524.7M 504.1M 517.5M 470.5M 530.7M 498.5M 469.7M 0
Balance Sheet Trade Receivables 529.0M 484.0M 487.3M 573.3M 353.9M 364.2M 421.1M 421.2M 463.1M 421.2M 0
Balance Sheet Trade Payables 550.6M 402.6M 395.1M 599.8M 621.7M 577.7M 0 683.9M 631.6M 655.9M 0
Balance Sheet Total Equity 1.4B 1.2B 1.2B 1.2B 1.2B 1.2B 1.2B 1.2B 1.2B 1.2B 0
Balance Sheet Total Debt 375.9M 433.3M 416.6M 578.6M 695.1M 704.2M 843.8M 650.6M 781.9M 645.2M 0
Balance Sheet Cash & Equivalents 415.3M 251.9M 168.2M 151.0M 483.4M 329.2M 115.2M 6.1M 96.8M 102.4M 0
Balance Sheet Invested Capital 1.4B 1.4B 1.5B 1.7B 1.5B 1.6B 1.9B 1.8B 1.9B 1.7B 0
Balance Sheet Net Working Capital 657.7M 670.3M 648.4M 498.2M 236.3M 304.0M 891.7M 268.1M 330.1M 234.9M 0
Ratios Current Ratio 2.58 2.39 2.12 1.53 1.77 1.62 0.86 0.89 0.80 0.74 -
Ratios Net Working Capital to Revenue 0.74 0.88 1.30 0.73 0.43 0.61 1.60 0.49 0.55 0.47 0.00

Revenue (Quarterly) - Visual Analysis

Revenue (Quarterly) (PLN)
Growth Rates (QoQ% and YoY%)
Quarter-over-Quarter Year-over-Year

Data Source: Financial data sourced from company filings and periodic reports. Values in PLN. Margins and ratios stored as decimals converted to percentages for display.

Recent News & Developments

Sentiment Analysis (Last 6 Months)
Positive 54%
Neutral 8%
Negative 38%

Based on 13 articles

2026-05-01
ESPI positive
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Deloitte Confirms Financial Stability of Cognor Holding S.A. in 2025 Audit Report

In its independent auditor's report, Deloitte Assurance Polska has confirmed the financial stability and compliance of Cognor Holding S.A.'s consolidated financial statements for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2025. The report highlights that the financial statements provide a clear and fair view of the Group's financial position, performance, and cash flows, in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) approved by the European Union. The audit also verified compliance with applicable legal regulations and the company's statutes.

The report identified the valuation of tangible fixed assets, particularly those related to the Ferrostal division, as a key audit matter. Despite identifying potential impairment indicators, Deloitte concluded that no impairment write-downs were necessary, as the assets' recoverable value aligned with their book value. The audit also confirmed that Cognor's financial reporting adhered to the European Single Electronic Format (ESEF) requirements.

Additionally, Deloitte stated that the Group's management and supervisory board fulfilled their responsibilities in ensuring compliance with financial reporting standards and corporate governance requirements. The audit firm also confirmed that no prohibited non-audit services were provided to Cognor Holding S.A. or its subsidiaries during the audited period.

Relevance to Cognor S.A.: The audit report underscores Cognor's financial health and compliance, which is critical for maintaining investor confidence and ensuring the company's ability to continue its operations in the competitive steel industry.

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2026-05-01
ESPI negative

Cognor S.A. Reports Financial Losses Amid Market Challenges in 2025

Poraj, Poland – April 30, 2026: Cognor S.A., a leading producer of long steel products in Central Europe, has reported a challenging financial year for 2025, marked by a net loss of PLN 119.4 million, a significant increase from the PLN 54.6 million loss recorded in 2024. The company attributed the downturn to a combination of factors, including a 10.5% decline in overall revenue, amounting to PLN 231.4 million, driven by a price collapse in the rebar market due to dumping practices from China and reduced demand. Despite a 12.9% increase in gross profit from sales, high production costs and ongoing investments further deepened the company's losses.

Steel production in Poland fell by 3% in 2025, reflecting a broader global trend of declining output. Cognor's sales volumes of steel scrap, semi-finished products, and finished goods decreased by 2.5%, while the value of sales dropped by 10.2% year-on-year. The company also faced challenges in maintaining financial covenants tied to its credit agreements, resulting in the reclassification of certain long-term liabilities as short-term. Despite these setbacks, Cognor S.A. successfully secured waivers for covenant breaches from its financial partners, including Banco Santander, mBank, and Alior Bank, ensuring continued access to credit facilities.

On the operational front, Cognor S.A. completed significant investments in its production facilities, including the installation of a new water treatment station and an automated storage system at its Siemianowice Śląskie plant. These upgrades are part of the company's long-term strategy to enhance production efficiency, expand its product portfolio, and reduce costs. The company also emphasized its commitment to sustainability, recycling nearly 800,000 tons of steel scrap annually and implementing measures to reduce CO2 emissions and improve energy efficiency.

Despite the financial challenges, Cognor S.A. remains optimistic about its future, citing plans for further modernization of its machinery and a focus on producing high-margin steel products for the automotive and construction industries. The company also highlighted its strong human capital and long-standing relationships with clients as key assets for its continued growth.

Relevance to Cognor S.A. Business Profile

This article is relevant to Cognor S.A.'s business profile as it highlights the company's financial performance, market challenges, and strategic investments, which are directly tied to its vertically integrated steel production and recycling operations in Central Europe.

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2026-04-17
ESPI negative

Cognor S.A. Seeks Compensation from Danieli Automation S.p.A. Over Faulty Q-One System

Cognor S.A., a subsidiary of Cognor Holding S.A., has initiated legal proceedings against Danieli Automation S.p.A., seeking compensation of PLN 28,584,999.96 for damages caused by the alleged improper execution of a contract. The dispute centers around the Q-One system, an innovative power supply solution for electric arc furnaces, which was installed at Cognor's Stalowa Wola facility. The system suffered a critical failure due to a transformer malfunction, halting operations entirely.

According to Cognor, the malfunction resulted from Danieli's failure to meet technical specifications and deliver a system suited to the company's operational requirements. Danieli reportedly acknowledged responsibility by requesting the return of both the faulty and functional transformers for repairs. Cognor claims this admission further substantiates its case for damages caused by the defective system.

The legal action aims to recover losses incurred due to the disruption in operations and the costs associated with the defective equipment.

Relevance to Cognor S.A.: This development is significant as it impacts Cognor's operational efficiency and financial performance, particularly given its reliance on advanced systems like Q-One for its EAF-based steel production process.

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2026-02-02
ESPI neutral

Cognor Holding S.A. Announces Schedule for 2026 Financial Reports

Cognor Holding S.A., a leading producer of long steel products in Central Europe, has released its reporting schedule for the 2026 fiscal year. The company plans to publish its standalone and consolidated annual report for 2025 on April 30, 2026. The quarterly and consolidated quarterly report for Q1 2026 will follow on May 15, 2026, while the semi-annual and consolidated semi-annual report for H1 2026 is scheduled for August 28, 2026. Finally, the quarterly and consolidated quarterly report for Q3 2026 will be issued on November 13, 2026.

This announcement is significant for stakeholders as it provides transparency and ensures timely access to financial data, which is crucial for monitoring Cognor's performance amidst fluctuating steel demand, energy costs, and evolving EU trade policies.

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2026-01-22
ESPI positive

Cognor Holding S.A. Announces Conditional Admission of New Shares to Warsaw Stock Exchange

Cognor Holding S.A., headquartered in Poraj, has announced that the Warsaw Stock Exchange (GPW) has conditionally approved the admission and introduction of 51,426,198 ordinary bearer shares from the company's 14th issuance to trading on its regulated market. The shares, identified under the ISIN code PLCNTSL00014, are set to be registered in the securities depository managed by Krajowy Depozyt Papierów Wartościowych S.A. (KDPW) and will commence trading on January 27, 2026, provided the registration is completed on the same day.

Relevance: This development is significant for Cognor S.A. as it reflects the company's efforts to strengthen its financial position and liquidity, which is crucial given its high leverage and capital-intensive operations in the steel industry.

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2025-12-30
ESPI positive

Cognor Holding S.A. Announces Share Capital Increase and Statute Amendments

Cognor Holding S.A., a leading producer of long steel products in Central Europe, has announced the registration of amendments to its company statute following a resolution passed during the Extraordinary General Meeting on November 20, 2025. The changes, registered by the District Court in Częstochowa on December 30, 2025, include an increase in the company’s share capital through the issuance of new ordinary bearer shares (Series 14) and new registered shares (Series 15). The total share capital now stands at PLN 347,130,994.50, divided into 231,420,663 shares with a nominal value of PLN 1.50 each.

The newly issued shares, Series 14 and Series 15, were introduced with the exclusion of pre-emptive rights for existing shareholders. The company also plans to seek admission and introduction of these shares to trading on the regulated market operated by the Warsaw Stock Exchange. The amendments to the company’s statute reflect the updated share capital structure and the terms of the new share issuance.

This development highlights Cognor’s strategic efforts to strengthen its financial position and support its operations across the steel production value chain, which includes scrap collection, recycling, and steel manufacturing using electric arc furnaces (EAF).

Relevance: The share capital increase and statute amendments are significant for Cognor S.A. as they enhance its financial flexibility, which is critical for sustaining operations in the energy-intensive EAF-based steel production process and navigating market challenges such as energy costs and demand fluctuations in the construction industry.

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2025-11-21
ESPI positive

Cognor Holding S.A. Finalizes Public Offering of New and Existing Shares

Cognor Holding S.A., a leading producer of long steel products in Central Europe, has successfully concluded the accelerated book-building process for its public offering. The offering includes 60 million newly issued shares, priced at PLN 5.00 per share, comprising 51,426,198 ordinary bearer shares (Emission 14) and 8,573,802 registered shares (Emission 15). Additionally, 43,582,938 existing shares owned by PS Holdco sp. z o.o. were sold at the same price. The process was managed by IPOPEMA Securities S.A. and Trigon Dom Maklerski S.A., with the final agreement signed on November 21, 2025.

The successful offering strengthens Cognor's financial position and supports its vertically integrated operations, which span scrap collection, steel production, and rolling into finished products. This development is particularly relevant given the company's high leverage and the importance of liquidity in sustaining its modernized asset base and operations.

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2025-11-21
Biznes PAP positive

Cognor Holding Anticipates Surge in Steel Demand Amid Infrastructure Investments and Defense Spending

Cognor Holding S.A. expects a significant increase in steel demand starting next year, driven by large-scale infrastructure projects and heightened defense spending, according to CEO Przemysław Sztuczkowski. The company has announced plans to improve its financial performance and has initiated a share issuance program to support its growth strategy. These developments align with Cognor's vertically integrated business model, which focuses on producing long steel products for construction and industrial applications.

The anticipated rise in steel demand is attributed to Central Europe's growing investment in infrastructure and defense, sectors that heavily rely on steel products such as rebar and steel sections. Cognor's modernized production facilities and scrap-based steel cycle position the company to capitalize on these market opportunities while maintaining a sustainable production approach.

Relevance: This article is relevant to Cognor S.A.'s business profile as it highlights key market trends in infrastructure and defense spending, which directly impact steel demand, a core driver of the company's operations and profitability.

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2025-11-20
ESPI positive

Cognor Holding S.A. Announces Public Offering of Up to 60 Million New Shares

Cognor Holding S.A., a leading producer of long steel products in Central Europe, has initiated a public offering of up to 60 million new ordinary shares, with a nominal value of PLN 1.50 per share. The offering includes two tranches: up to 51.4 million bearer shares (Series 14) and up to 8.57 million registered shares (Series 15). The offering will be conducted in Poland through an accelerated book-building process, targeting qualified investors and those investing at least EUR 100,000. Additionally, the company’s shareholder, PS Holdco sp. z o.o., will offer up to 43.58 million existing shares for sale. The offering is managed by IPOPEMA Securities S.A. and Trigon Dom Maklerski S.A., with Trigon Investment Banking acting as an intermediary.

The offering aims to raise capital for Cognor’s strategic initiatives while providing existing shareholders with pre-emptive rights to participate. The final share allocation and pricing will be determined based on the book-building process. Lock-up agreements have been established, restricting Cognor and its major shareholder from issuing or selling additional shares for six and twelve months, respectively, following the listing of Series 14 shares on the Warsaw Stock Exchange.

The offering complies with EU and Polish securities regulations and excludes jurisdictions such as the United States, Canada, Japan, and Australia. The proceeds are expected to support Cognor’s ongoing operations and growth plans.

Relevance: This development is significant for Cognor as it aligns with its strategy to strengthen its financial position and fund future investments, ensuring competitiveness in the steel industry.

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2025-11-17
ESPI positive

Cognor Holding S.A. Announces Investment Agreement to Optimize Capital Structure

Cognor Holding S.A., a leading producer of long steel products in Central Europe, has entered into an investment agreement with its majority shareholder, PS Holdco sp. z o.o., to execute a dual public offering strategy. Under the agreement, PS Holdco will sell up to 43,582,938 existing shares in a public offering and reinvest the proceeds to acquire an equal number of newly issued shares from Cognor. Additionally, Cognor plans to issue up to 60,000,000 new shares, which will be offered to selected investors through an accelerated book-building process.

The agreement includes conditions such as the appointment of investment firms to facilitate the offerings and shareholder approval for the issuance of new shares. The structure aims to leverage market conditions to optimize share pricing and ensure reinvestment into the company, maintaining PS Holdco's ownership stake while attracting new investors.

The investment strategy is designed to strengthen Cognor's financial position and support its operations, which include scrap-based steel production and advanced manufacturing facilities across Poland and the Czech Republic.

Relevance: This development is significant for Cognor S.A. as it addresses liquidity risks and enhances its capital structure, ensuring continued investment in its vertically integrated steel production model.

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2026 EPS Estimates

Last updated: 2026-02-01
Bear Case
2026 EPS: PLN 0.04
Assumptions:
  • Siemianowice is operating at low capacity levels (below 50 percent)
  • Kraków and Gliwice are also underutilized
  • Steel spreads remain depressed at around PLN 1,000/ton
  • The European defense program is slow to start, with limited orders for steel used in ammunition production
  • CBAM and additional tariffs have limited impact, and cheap steel from Turkey, China, and India continues to flood the EU market
  • EU and Poland's construction remain weak and Poland's energy continues to face high prices similar to the peak of the crisis
Base Case
2026 EPS: PLN 0.3
Assumptions:
  • Siemianowice is reaching around 75 percent of capacity by the end of 2026
  • Spreads are gradually recovering to the level of PLN 1,300–1,500 per ton
  • The defense sector is gradually increasing orders
  • European steel consumption is rebounding by about 3 percent from a very low base
  • The EUR/PLN exchange rate remains stable in the range of 4.20–4.40, and energy prices are slightly lower than at the peak of the crisis
Bull Case
2026 EPS: PLN 0.6
Assumptions:
  • Siemianowice is ramping up to 90 percent of capacity faster, while Kraków and Gliwice are reaching high utilization levels
  • Steel spreads recover to PLN 1,600/ton
  • The European defense program is gaining stronger momentum, with Cognor capturing a significant share of the steel market for ammunition production
  • CBAM and additional tariffs are effectively pushing cheap steel from Turkey, China, and India out of the EU market
  • Poland's energy sector is stabilizing prices at a slightly lower level than today

Note: EPS estimates are for informational purposes only and represent our analytical framework, not investment recommendations. These financial results estimates are based on stated assumptions and may change as new information becomes available.

Key Metrics

Company-specific performance indicators tailored to Cognor S.A.'s business model.

No key metrics available yet

Custom performance indicators for Cognor S.A. will appear here once available.

Examples of metrics we track:

Recurring Revenue
Order Backlog
MRR/ARR
Customer Count
ARPU

Data Source: Key metrics are extracted from company disclosures, periodic reports, and management commentary.

Periodic Report Publication Calendar

No report publication schedule available yet for this company.