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Nucor Corp. (NUE)
NYSE:NUE
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Nucor (NUE) AI Stock Analysis

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NUE

Nucor

(NYSE:NUE)

Rating:69Neutral
Price Target:
$152.00
▲(10.31% Upside)
Nucor's overall stock score is driven by strong earnings call performance and positive corporate events, indicating strategic progress and robust demand. However, financial performance concerns, particularly declining margins and negative free cash flow, along with a high P/E ratio, weigh on the score.
Positive Factors
Earnings Performance
The steel operations' earnings of $843m beat the consensus estimate of $806m and MSe of $720m.
Growth Prospects
Nucor continues to execute on its multi-year growth pipeline that should over time support higher through-cycle profitability and FCF.
Industry Trends
Cleveland Cliffs reported better-than-expected results, suggesting a potential positive impact on Nucor due to industry trends.
Negative Factors
Earnings Expectations
Earnings are expected to moderate sequentially, driven by some conservatism given the current Brazil-related tariff risk.
Operating Cash Flow
Operating cash flow missed expectations due to higher working capital build.
Share Repurchase
The company has repurchased fewer shares than modeled, which could affect expected earnings per share calculations.

Nucor (NUE) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

Nucor Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionNucor Corporation manufactures and sells steel and steel products. The company's Steel Mills segment produces hot-rolled, cold-rolled, and galvanized sheet steel products; plate steel products; wide-flange beams, beam blanks, and H-piling and sheet piling products; and bar steel products, such as blooms, billets, concrete reinforcing and merchant bars, and special bar quality products. It also engages in the steel trading and rebar distribution businesses. This segment sells its products to steel service centers, fabricators, and manufacturers in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Its Steel Products segment offers hollow structural section steel tubing products, electrical conduits, steel racking, steel joists and joist girders, steel decks, fabricated concrete reinforcing steel products, cold finished steel products, steel fasteners, metal building systems, insulated metal panels, steel grating and expanded metal products, and wire and wire mesh products primarily for use in nonresidential construction applications. This segment also engages in the piling distribution business. The company's Raw Materials segment produces direct reduced iron (DRI); brokers ferrous and nonferrous metals, pig iron, hot briquetted iron, and DRI; supplies ferro-alloys; and processes ferrous and nonferrous scrap metal, as well as engages in the natural gas drilling operations. This segment sells its ferrous scrap to electric arc furnace steel mills and foundries for manufacturing process; and nonferrous scrap metal to aluminum can producers, secondary aluminum smelters, steel mills and other processors, and consumers of various nonferrous metals. It serves agriculture, automotive, construction, energy and transmission, oil and gas, heavy equipment, infrastructure, and transportation industries through its in-house sales force; and internal distribution and trading companies. Nucor Corporation was incorporated in 1958 and is based in Charlotte, North Carolina.
How the Company Makes MoneyNucor Corporation generates revenue primarily through the production and sale of steel and steel-related products. The company's key revenue streams include the sale of steel mills products, steel products, and raw materials. Nucor operates a highly integrated business model with operations spanning from steelmaking to the production of finished steel goods. The company benefits from its use of electric arc furnaces, which are more energy-efficient and environmentally friendly compared to traditional blast furnaces. Additionally, Nucor maintains strategic partnerships and long-term contracts with suppliers and customers to ensure a steady supply of raw materials and demand for its products. The company's focus on innovation and sustainability further enhances its competitiveness and profitability in the steel industry.

Nucor Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

Any
Any
Earnings Before Tax by Segment
Earnings Before Tax by Segment
Highlights profitability across different business segments, indicating which areas are driving earnings and where there might be challenges or opportunities for growth.
Chart InsightsNucor's Steel Mills and Steel Products segments have experienced a marked decline in earnings before tax since their peak in 2021 and 2022, respectively. However, the latest earnings call suggests a positive outlook, with significant backlog growth in these segments indicating strong future demand. Despite current challenges, including decreased net earnings and raw material segment issues, Nucor expects higher earnings in the next quarter, driven by stable volumes and increased pricing. Strategic investments and favorable trade policies are set to bolster long-term growth prospects.
Data provided by:Main Street Data

Nucor Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Jul 28, 2025
(Q2-2025)
|
% Change Since: -4.66%|
Next Earnings Date:Oct 27, 2025
Earnings Call Sentiment Positive
The earnings call highlighted strong financial performance improvements, record safety achievements, and robust demand across key markets. However, challenges such as expected margin compression in the steel mills segment and tariff impacts on input costs were noted.
Q2-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Record Safety Performance
Nucor achieved an all-time safety record for the first half of the year, demonstrating strong safety performance across the company.
Significant Financial Performance Improvement
Nucor generated EBITDA of approximately $1.3 billion and earned $2.60 per diluted share in Q2, a significant improvement over the first quarter results.
Strong Shareholder Returns
Nucor returned $329 million to shareholders through dividends and buybacks in Q2, bringing the total return to shareholders for the first half of the year to $758 million.
Brandenburg Plate Mill Success
Brandenburg plate mill reached positive EBITDA for the quarter with record production and shipments, marking the sixth consecutive quarter of higher production levels.
Steel Products Segment Growth
The Steel Products segment generated pretax earnings of $392 million, a 28% increase over the previous quarter, driven by stable pricing and higher volumes.
Robust Demand Across Key Markets
Nucor reported strong demand in infrastructure, energy, and data centers with increased steel shipments related to these sectors.
Negative Updates
Margin Compression in Steel Mills
Despite stable demand, Nucor expects modest margin compression in the steel mills segment for Q3 due to higher input costs and tariff impacts.
Tariff Challenges
Tariffs, particularly on Brazilian slabs, are expected to impact the cost structure, posing a challenge to margins in the coming quarters.
High Working Capital Usage
Nucor experienced a significant working capital build in the first half of the year, impacting free cash flow.
Company Guidance
In Nucor's Second Quarter 2025 earnings call, the company reported significant financial improvements, with EBITDA reaching approximately $1.3 billion and earnings at $2.60 per diluted share, representing a strong recovery from the first quarter. The Steel Products segment was particularly robust, showing a 28% increase in pretax earnings compared to the previous quarter, contributing 45% of Nucor's total pretax segment earnings on a last twelve months (LTM) basis. Nucor also highlighted strategic progress in capital projects, with capital expenditures totaling $954 million for the quarter, and a commitment to deploy $3 billion for 2025. Additionally, Nucor returned $329 million to shareholders through dividends and buybacks, accumulating a total of $758 million returned in the first half of the year. The company continues to expand its capacity and capabilities, with ongoing developments in multiple facilities and segments, positioning itself well to benefit from evolving market demands and legislative incentives.

Nucor Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Nucor's financial performance reflects stability with strong operational efficiency and a robust balance sheet. However, there are challenges in maintaining revenue growth and profit margins, with cash flow generation facing headwinds. The company benefits from conservative leverage, offering a positive outlook for its financial health.
Income Statement
75
Positive
Nucor's income statement shows a mixed performance. The TTM (Trailing-Twelve-Months) revenue decreased slightly compared to the previous year, indicating a challenge in maintaining revenue growth. The gross profit margin is healthy at approximately 10.5%, but it has decreased from prior years. The net profit margin shows resilience at 4.4%, although it has also declined from previous highs. The EBIT and EBITDA margins are robust, signifying strong operational efficiency despite top-line challenges.
Balance Sheet
80
Positive
Nucor's balance sheet highlights a solid financial position with a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.39, indicating conservative leverage. The equity ratio of 57.8% provides a strong buffer against liabilities. Return on equity (ROE) is solid, though lower compared to past performance, which could be due to the decline in net income. Overall, the balance sheet reflects financial stability and prudent capital management.
Cash Flow
70
Positive
Cash flow analysis indicates some challenges. The operating cash flow to net income ratio is strong, showing efficient cash conversion. However, free cash flow has decreased significantly in the TTM period, reflecting increased capital expenditures. The free cash flow to net income ratio has also weakened, suggesting potential liquidity concerns if this trend continues. The company should monitor capital spending to ensure future cash flow stability.
BreakdownTTMDec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021Dec 2020
Income Statement
Total Revenue30.81B30.73B34.71B41.51B36.48B20.14B
Gross Profit3.21B4.10B7.82B12.50B11.03B2.23B
EBITDA3.59B4.49B7.69B11.57B10.23B1.79B
Net Income1.30B2.03B4.52B7.61B6.83B721.47M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets34.22B33.94B35.34B32.48B25.82B20.13B
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments2.48B4.14B7.13B4.86B2.62B3.05B
Total Debt6.88B7.07B6.95B6.69B5.68B5.34B
Total Liabilities12.72B12.52B13.22B12.91B11.22B8.89B
Stockholders Equity20.39B20.29B20.94B18.41B14.02B10.79B
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow-384.70M806.00M4.90B8.12B4.61B1.15B
Operating Cash Flow3.13B3.98B7.11B10.07B6.23B2.70B
Investing Cash Flow-3.86B-3.73B-2.50B-5.70B-2.87B-1.76B
Financing Cash Flow-1.97B-3.06B-2.59B-2.51B-3.60B285.85M

Nucor Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Neutral
Last Price137.79
Price Trends
50DMA
131.73
Positive
100DMA
123.90
Positive
200DMA
129.02
Positive
Market Momentum
MACD
1.65
Positive
RSI
49.45
Neutral
STOCH
34.72
Neutral
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For NUE, the sentiment is Neutral. The current price of 137.79 is below the 20-day moving average (MA) of 141.11, above the 50-day MA of 131.73, and above the 200-day MA of 129.02, indicating a neutral trend. The MACD of 1.65 indicates Positive momentum. The RSI at 49.45 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 34.72 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Neutral sentiment for NUE.

Nucor Risk Analysis

Nucor disclosed 17 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. Nucor reported the most risks in the "Legal & Regulatory" category.
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy
Latest Risks Added 0 New Risks

Nucor Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (44)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
71
Outperform
$15.54B44.830.78%1.95%-7.63%-63.88%
71
Outperform
$15.14B21.019.93%1.61%-3.91%-30.31%
70
Outperform
$18.34B18.0111.57%1.57%-5.51%-45.07%
69
Neutral
$32.18B25.176.29%1.59%-5.78%-59.98%
69
Neutral
$25.52B9.444.72%1.49%-4.36%
64
Neutral
$12.42B186.150.86%0.36%-14.79%-88.78%
44
Neutral
C$865.14M-6.69-14.90%2.77%16.73%-26.87%
* Basic Materials Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
NUE
Nucor
137.79
-5.39
-3.76%
MT
ArcelorMittal
32.36
10.88
50.65%
PKX
POSCO
54.03
-5.05
-8.55%
RS
Reliance Steel
285.47
4.61
1.64%
STLD
Steel Dynamics
122.07
3.72
3.14%
X
United States Steel
54.84
13.24
31.83%

Nucor Corporate Events

Stock BuybackDividendsFinancial Disclosures
Nucor Reports Strong Q2 2025 Financial Results
Positive
Jul 28, 2025

On July 28, 2025, Nucor Corporation reported its financial results for the second quarter of 2025, highlighting net earnings of $603 million and net sales of $8.46 billion. The company experienced sequential earnings growth across all segments, driven by higher selling prices and increased shipments. Nucor’s strong financial position is supported by a cash reserve of $2.48 billion and an undrawn $2.25 billion credit facility. The company repurchased 1.8 million shares and declared a cash dividend, reflecting its commitment to returning capital to shareholders. Nucor’s performance is buoyed by resilient demand, a healthy order backlog, and favorable tax and trade policies.

The most recent analyst rating on (NUE) stock is a Buy with a $176.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Nucor stock, see the NUE Stock Forecast page.

Executive/Board ChangesShareholder MeetingsBusiness Operations and Strategy
Nucor Stockholders Approve 2025 Strategic Plan
Positive
May 14, 2025

On May 8, 2025, Nucor held its Annual Meeting where stockholders elected eight directors to serve until the 2026 meeting. The stockholders ratified PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as the independent registered public accounting firm for 2025 and approved the executive compensation for 2024. Additionally, the 2025 Plan was approved, indicating strong support for the company’s strategic initiatives.

The most recent analyst rating on (NUE) stock is a Buy with a $176.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Nucor stock, see the NUE Stock Forecast page.

Glossary
BuyA stock rated as a "Buy" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
HoldA stock rated as a "Hold" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly compelling nor unfavorable for investment. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
SellA stock rated as a "Sell" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock may deliver lower returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.

Disclaimer

This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.Date of analysis: Aug 07, 2025