Reliance Steel & Aluminum Co. is updating its guidance regarding earnings estimates for the first quarter ended March 31, 2005.

At this time, Reliance expects earnings to be in the range of $1.30 to $1.40 per diluted share. Wall Street analysts' current earnings estimates for the 2005 first quarter range from $1.10 to $1.15 per diluted share. Reliance reported earnings of $.92 per diluted share for the three-month period ended March 31, 2004.

Reliance's CEO, David H. Hannah, said, "In our February 17, 2005 fourth quarter and fiscal year financial results press release, we included an estimate for our 2005 first quarter earnings of $1.05 to $1.15 per diluted share. Our volume and pricing levels have continued to increase slightly throughout the 2005 first quarter from the 2004 fourth quarter. As a result, we have updated our earnings guidance to reflect our current expectations."

Reliance will announce its financial results for the three months ended March 31, 2005 on Thursday, April 21, 2005 prior to the opening of the New York Stock Exchange.

Headquartered in Los Angeles, Calif., Reliance Steel & Aluminum Co. is one of the largest metals service center companies in the United States. Through a network of more than 100 locations in 30 states and Belgium, France and South Korea, the company provides value-added metals processing services and distributes a full line of over 90,000 metal products. Products include galvanized, hot-rolled and cold-finished steel; stainless steel; aluminum; brass; copper; titanium and alloy steel.