AK Steel Holding Corporation AKS has announced a hike in the current spot market base prices of all carbon flat-rolled steel products by at least $50 per ton. The price increase is effective immediately with new orders. AK Steel is a leading producer of flat-rolled carbon, stainless, electrical steel and tubular products. The company’s adjusted earnings outshone the Zacks Consensus Estimate in the fourth quarter of 2015. However, sales fell year over year owing to lower shipments and also missed expectations. Challenging steel market conditions and lower pricing continued to weigh on the company’s results in the fourth quarter. High levels of unfairly-traded imports led to a 6% decline in AK Steel’s average selling price in the quarter. While AK Steel remains exposed to weak steel market fundamentals, it should benefit from strength in the automotive market and higher shipment of steel products to automakers, supported by increased automotive builds. AK Steel witnessed continued momentum in the automotive market in 2015. Automotive contribution to the company’s revenues was 60% for the year. Moreover, the acquisition of the Severstal Dearborn plant has provided AK Steel with access to highly modernized and upgraded steelmaking equipment and facilities. The company should also benefit from its strategic investments to procure about half of its iron ore and coal requirements internally. AK Steel currently has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). Some other companies worth considering in the basic materials sector include Companhia Siderurgica Nacional SID, Schnitzer Steel Industries, Inc. SCHN and Fortuna Silver Mines Inc. FSM. All three stocks carry a Zacks Rank #2.Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report >>Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report FORTUNA SILVER (FSM): Free Stock Analysis Report AK STEEL HLDG (AKS): Free Stock Analysis Report CIA SIDERUR-ADR (SID): Free Stock Analysis Report SCHNITZER STEEL (SCHN): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research