Shares of Worthington Steel Inc (WS) surged 14.74% in pre-market trading on Thursday, following the company's impressive fiscal fourth-quarter earnings report released late Wednesday. The steel manufacturer's results exceeded analyst expectations, particularly in terms of revenue, sparking investor optimism.

Worthington Steel reported fiscal Q4 revenue of $832.9 million, surpassing the FactSet analyst consensus of $800.5 million. While this figure represents a decline from $911 million in the same quarter last year, it still managed to outperform market forecasts. The company's adjusted earnings per share came in at $1.05, slightly down from $1.06 in the year-ago period.

Despite the challenging economic environment, Worthington Steel demonstrated resilience in its financial performance. The company maintained its quarterly dividend at $0.16 per share, payable on September 26 to shareholders of record as of September 12. This decision to sustain the dividend payout amid declining revenues may have further bolstered investor confidence in the company's financial stability and future prospects.