Strong Q1 2025 Performance and Positive Outlook Justify Buy Rating for Nucor

Analyst Carlos De Alba of Morgan Stanley maintained a Buy rating on Nucor (NUE – Research Report), retaining the price target of $140.00.

Carlos De Alba has given his Buy rating due to a combination of factors including Nucor’s strong financial performance in the first quarter of 2025. The company’s revenue of $7,830 million surpassed both the Visible Alpha consensus and Morgan Stanley’s own projections, indicating robust operational efficiency. Additionally, Nucor’s adjusted EBITDA and EPS exceeded expectations, showcasing its ability to generate profit effectively.
Moreover, Nucor’s steel operations and steel products segments delivered earnings that were significantly higher than consensus estimates, driven by increased shipments and favorable average sales prices. The outlook for the second quarter of 2025 suggests continued improvement across all segments, with management anticipating higher profitability from steel mills due to increased average selling prices. These positive indicators contribute to De Alba’s confidence in recommending a Buy rating for Nucor’s stock.

According to TipRanks, De Alba is a 4-star analyst with an average return of 8.9% and a 45.59% success rate. De Alba covers the Basic Materials sector, focusing on stocks such as Teck Resources, Nucor, and Steel Dynamics.

In another report released yesterday, J.P. Morgan also maintained a Buy rating on the stock with a $140.00 price target.