tiprankstipranks
Trending News
More News >
Nucor Corp. (NUE)
NYSE:NUE
Advertisement

Nucor (NUE) AI Stock Analysis

Compare
3,206 Followers

Top Page

NU

Nucor

(NYSE:NUE)

Rating:79Outperform
Price Target:
$153.00
▲(8.70%Upside)
Nucor's overall score reflects a stable financial position and strong operational efficiency, supported by positive technical signals and favorable corporate events. The optimistic outlook from the recent earnings call and strategic initiatives provide a positive future trajectory. However, high valuation multiples and recent declines in profitability temper the score, indicating a need for caution.
Positive Factors
Earnings
NUE shares are expected to outperform due to better than consensus EPS guidance.
Growth Strategy
Nucor is executing on a multi-year organic growth plan that should support higher through-cycle profitability and free cash flow.
Market Position
Nucor is considered a best-in-class steel producer with a diversified product and end market mix.
Negative Factors
Market Conditions
The current outlook is murkier, given the tariff uncertainty and seasonal slowness impacting the sheet market.
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 (NUE) is a leading American producer of steel and related products. The company operates in the steel manufacturing sector and is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina. Nucor is known for its innovative approach to steel production, focusing on sustainability and efficiency. Its core products include a wide range of steel components such as beams, sheets, plates, and bars, which are used in various industries including construction, automotive, energy, and manufacturing.
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:Apr 28, 2025
(Q1-2025)
|
% Change Since: 21.25%|
Next Earnings Date:Jul 28, 2025
Earnings Call Sentiment Positive
The earnings call highlighted strong future demand with significant backlog growth, positive impacts from trade policies, and robust capital investments. Despite a decrease in net earnings and challenges in the raw materials segment, Nucor's outlook remains optimistic with expectations of higher earnings in the next quarter.
Q1-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Strong Backlog Growth
Steel mill segments saw backlogs rise over 30% and steel products nearly 25% in the first quarter, suggesting strong future demand.
Significant Capital Investments
Nucor reinvested nearly $860 million into projects, with several expected to commence operations over the next two years, enhancing long-term growth potential.
Positive Earnings Guidance
Nucor expects earnings to be meaningfully higher in the second quarter compared to the first, driven by stable volumes and higher realized pricing.
Successful Implementation of Trade Policies
Reinstatement and broadening of Section 232 tariffs, along with preliminary anti-dumping duties, are expected to positively impact the U.S. steel industry and Nucor.
Expansion in High-Growth Markets
Nucor's acquisitions and organic growth investments have established platforms like overhead doors and racking, expected to generate significant EBITDA growth in the coming years.
Negative Updates
Decrease in Earnings
Net earnings decreased to $156 million in the first quarter, compared to previous periods, influenced by factors such as pre-operating and startup costs.
Challenges in Raw Materials Segment
The raw materials segment experienced a decrease in pre-tax earnings due to lower realized pricing for DRI and higher operating expenses in scrap processing operations.
Impact of Start-up Costs
Nucor incurred $170 million or $0.56 per share in pre-operating and startup costs, presenting near-term earnings headwinds.
Company Guidance
In the first quarter of 2025, Nucor generated an EBITDA of $696 million and reported an adjusted EPS of $0.77, despite weaker results compared to previous quarters. The company reinvested nearly $860 million, with around two-thirds allocated to projects set to begin operations over the next two years. Nucor returned nearly $430 million to shareholders and raised $1 billion in new senior notes at a weighted average coupon of 4.88%. The company also saw backlogs rise over 30% in its steel mill segments and nearly 25% in steel products. Looking ahead, Nucor expects second-quarter earnings to be significantly higher, driven by stable volumes and increased realized pricing, particularly in its steel mill segment.

Nucor Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Nucor shows a stable financial profile with strong operational efficiency and a robust balance sheet, but recent declines in revenue growth and profit margins need attention. The company maintains conservative leverage, a positive sign for financial health. However, cash flow generation faces challenges, requiring prudent management of capital expenditures to mitigate potential liquidity issues.
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.
BreakdownDec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021Dec 2020
Income Statement
Total Revenue30.73B34.71B41.51B36.48B20.14B
Gross Profit4.10B7.82B12.50B11.03B2.23B
EBITDA4.49B7.69B11.57B10.23B1.79B
Net Income2.03B4.52B7.61B6.83B721.47M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets33.94B35.34B32.48B25.82B20.13B
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments4.14B7.13B4.86B2.62B3.05B
Total Debt6.95B6.95B6.69B5.68B5.34B
Total Liabilities12.52B13.22B12.91B11.22B8.89B
Stockholders Equity20.29B20.94B18.41B14.02B10.79B
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow806.00M4.90B8.12B4.61B1.15B
Operating Cash Flow3.98B7.11B10.07B6.23B2.70B
Investing Cash Flow-3.73B-2.50B-5.70B-2.87B-1.76B
Financing Cash Flow-3.06B-2.59B-2.51B-3.60B285.85M

Nucor Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Positive
Last Price140.75
Price Trends
50DMA
124.08
Positive
100DMA
122.47
Positive
200DMA
129.62
Positive
Market Momentum
MACD
5.00
Positive
RSI
65.45
Neutral
STOCH
43.71
Neutral
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For NUE, the sentiment is Positive. The current price of 140.75 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 135.36, above the 50-day MA of 124.08, and above the 200-day MA of 129.62, indicating a bullish trend. The MACD of 5.00 indicates Positive momentum. The RSI at 65.45 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 43.71 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Positive 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 (70)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
NUNUE
79
Outperform
$31.80B25.066.54%1.60%-10.88%-66.97%
75
Outperform
$18.92B17.3413.08%1.57%-7.42%-48.08%
RSRS
72
Outperform
$17.14B23.7110.27%1.45%-5.60%-35.05%
PKPKX
71
Outperform
$16.15B26.211.64%2.56%-8.83%-43.85%
70
Outperform
¥175.49B11.176.29%3.42%3.91%3.49%
MTMT
69
Neutral
$26.75B19.192.60%0.72%-8.56%68.36%
* Basic Materials Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
NUE
Nucor
140.75
-19.00
-11.89%
MT
ArcelorMittal
32.47
10.28
46.33%
PKX
POSCO
55.61
-10.20
-15.50%
RS
Reliance Steel
336.21
36.82
12.30%
STLD
Steel Dynamics
131.63
5.17
4.09%

Nucor Corporate Events

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.

Business Operations and StrategyFinancial Disclosures
Nucor Reports Q1 2025 Financial Results
Neutral
Apr 28, 2025

Nucor Corporation reported its financial results for the first quarter of 2025, showing net earnings of $156 million and net sales of $7.83 billion. Despite a decline in earnings compared to the previous year, the company saw increased steel mill shipments and maintained a strong financial position with $4.06 billion in cash and short-term investments. Nucor’s strategic investments and diverse product offerings continue to position it as a leading North American steel producer, with expectations for improved earnings in the second quarter of 2025 across all segments.

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: Jul 02, 2025