Mechanical properties of a given steel under compression compare closely with its tensile properties. An upset can be performed to determine how the steel will perform under compressive load.

Upset testing
Upset testing

A brittle steel under compression will ultimately fail by breaking along cleavage lines at an angle approximately 30 degrees from the axis of pressure being applied.
A more ductile steel flattens out, rather than cleaving, showing vertical cracks around the outer circumference. This ductile steel will not break, but will continue to flatten  as more stress (load or force) is applied.
This compression or upset test is helpful for assuring that a steel will successfully cold work.
It can also be used to determine the extent of seams, laps or other surface imperfections  on the surface of the bar. That’s what I used to do when we were producing drawn wire for cold heading applications.