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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)

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Outperform 74 (OpenAI - 4o)
Rating:74Outperform
Price Target:
$161.00
▲(11.68% Upside)
Nucor's overall stock score is driven by its stable financial performance and positive technical indicators. The company's strategic growth initiatives and strong earnings call contribute positively, although high valuation and cash flow challenges pose risks.
Positive Factors
Innovative Technology
Nucor's use of electric arc furnace technology enhances sustainability and efficiency, providing a competitive edge in eco-friendly steel production.
Strategic Capital Projects
Ongoing capital projects like new mills and galvanizing operations position Nucor for future growth and increased production capacity.
Strong Steel Products Segment
The robust performance of the Steel Products segment indicates strong demand and effective market positioning, contributing significantly to earnings.
Negative Factors
Margin Compression
Margin compression in the steel mills segment could impact profitability, indicating challenges in maintaining cost efficiency amid stable demand.
Profitability Decline
The decline in net profit margin reflects challenges in maintaining profitability, which could affect long-term financial health if not addressed.
Negative Free Cash Flow
Negative free cash flow indicates potential liquidity challenges, which could constrain Nucor's ability to invest in growth and manage debt.

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

Nucor Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionNucor Corporation (NUE) is a leading American steel producer headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina. As one of the largest manufacturers of steel and steel products in the United States, Nucor operates in the steel sector, primarily focusing on the production of steel beams, sheets, bars, and rebar. The company is known for its innovative electric arc furnace technology, which allows for more sustainable steel production using recycled scrap metal. Nucor is also involved in several ancillary businesses, including steel fabrication and distribution, enhancing its position in the competitive steel market.
How the Company Makes MoneyNucor generates revenue primarily through the sale of steel and steel-related products, with key revenue streams coming from its various product lines such as structural steel, sheet steel, and merchant bar products. The company operates numerous steel mills and manufacturing facilities across the United States, which enables it to produce a diverse range of products tailored to different industries, including construction, automotive, and energy. Additionally, Nucor benefits from strategic partnerships and long-term contracts with major customers, providing a stable demand for its products. The company also capitalizes on its sustainability initiatives, as increasing demand for eco-friendly steel products can lead to premium pricing. Overall, Nucor's revenue model is supported by its operational efficiency, technological advancements, and strong market presence.

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 segment experienced a significant decline in earnings before tax since its peak in 2021, reflecting potential challenges in market demand or pricing pressures. Meanwhile, the Steel Products segment shows a more gradual decline, indicating resilience despite broader industry pressures. The Raw Materials segment has been volatile, with recent improvements suggesting strategic adjustments. Corporate and Eliminations continue to weigh on overall performance, highlighting ongoing cost management challenges. Investors should monitor how Nucor navigates these pressures and any strategic shifts to stabilize earnings.
Data provided by:Main Street Data

Nucor Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Oct 27, 2025
(Q3-2025)
|
Next Earnings Date:Feb 03, 2026
Earnings Call Sentiment Neutral
Nucor's earnings call highlighted strong financial performance and strategic growth, including significant achievements in the rebar market and data center segment. However, the outlook for Q4 is tempered by expected seasonal declines and challenges in certain market segments. Overall, while there are notable achievements, the upcoming challenges and expected declines balance the sentiment.
Q3-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Strong Financial Performance
Nucor generated EBITDA of approximately $1.3 billion and earned $2.63 of EPS for the third quarter, exceeding guidance due to stronger-than-expected shipments and favorable corporate adjustments.
Record Rebar Shipments
Nucor's Bar Mill Group set quarterly rebar shipment records twice in 2025, driven by increased demand in nonresidential construction and infrastructure markets.
Credit Rating Upgrade
Nucor's long-term credit ratings were upgraded to A3 by Moody's, making it the only major North American steel producer with this distinction.
Expansion Projects on Track
Nucor is nearing completion of four major projects, including new sheet coating facilities and a new sheet mill in West Virginia, which is 2/3 complete.
Data Center Market Growth
Nucor is capitalizing on the 30% year-over-year growth in data center construction, supplying over 95% of steel products needed for these projects.
Trade Policy Support
Federal actions, including Section 232 measures, have reduced finished steel imports by nearly 11% year-to-date.
Negative Updates
Q4 Earnings Outlook
Nucor expects lower earnings in Q4 due to seasonal effects, fewer shipping days, and scheduled outages at DRI facilities.
Steel Mills Segment Decline
The steel mills segment's pretax earnings decreased by 6% from the prior quarter due to lower profitability in sheet and plate.
Challenges in Certain Markets
Softness in residential construction, consumer durables, heavy equipment, and agricultural machinery is anticipated to continue.
Steel Products Margin Compression
Despite a 4% increase in external shipments, the steel products segment saw a decline in pretax earnings due to less favorable product mix and higher costs.
Company Guidance
During Nucor's Third Quarter 2025 Earnings Call, the company reported generating approximately $1.3 billion in EBITDA and earning $2.63 per share, surpassing their guidance. Key contributors to this success included stronger-than-expected shipments from steel mills and favorable corporate adjustments. The company reinvested $807 million in growth projects nearing completion and returned about $230 million to shareholders via dividends and share buybacks, totaling nearly $1 billion or 72% of net earnings year-to-date. Nucor's long-term credit ratings were upgraded to A3 by Moody's, making them the only major North American steel producer with A- or A3 ratings from all three agencies. Strategic investments in projects such as new sheet coating facilities and the construction of a new sheet mill in West Virginia are on track, with several projects expected to be EBITDA positive by Q1 2026. The company's focus on data center construction, anticipated to grow by 30% in 2025, positions Nucor to supply over 95% of steel products required in these facilities. Despite anticipated lower earnings in Q4 due to seasonal effects and scheduled outages, Nucor remains optimistic about stable domestic steel demand in 2026.

Nucor Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Nucor's financial performance is stable with a strong balance sheet and consistent revenue growth. However, declining profit margins and negative free cash flow highlight challenges in maintaining profitability and cash flow stability.
Income Statement
75
Positive
Nucor's income statement shows a mixed performance. The TTM data indicates a slight revenue growth of 1.25%, but margins have compressed compared to previous years. The gross profit margin has decreased to 10.43% from 13.35% in 2024, and the net profit margin has also declined to 4.21% from 6.60%. This indicates some pressure on profitability, although the company remains profitable. The EBIT and EBITDA margins have also decreased, reflecting challenges in maintaining operational efficiency.
Balance Sheet
80
Positive
Nucor's balance sheet remains strong with a manageable debt-to-equity ratio of 0.34, indicating prudent leverage. The return on equity (ROE) has decreased to 6.38% in the TTM period, down from 9.99% in 2024, suggesting a decline in profitability relative to shareholders' equity. However, the equity ratio remains healthy, reflecting a solid capital structure.
Cash Flow
65
Positive
The cash flow statement reveals some concerns, particularly with the free cash flow, which has turned negative in the TTM period. The free cash flow growth rate is significantly negative at -173.74%, indicating cash flow challenges. The operating cash flow to net income ratio is strong at 0.94, suggesting good cash generation relative to net income, but the negative free cash flow is a potential risk.
BreakdownTTMDec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021Dec 2020
Income Statement
Total Revenue30.81B30.73B34.71B41.51B36.48B20.14B
Gross Profit3.21B4.10B7.82B12.50B11.03B2.23B
EBITDA3.62B4.49B7.69B11.57B10.23B1.79B
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 Debt6.88B6.95B6.84B6.69B5.68B5.34B
Total Liabilities12.72B12.52B13.22B12.91B11.22B8.89B
Stockholders Equity20.39B20.29B20.94B18.41B14.02B10.79B
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow-385.00M806.00M4.90B8.12B4.61B1.15B
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
Positive
Last Price144.16
Price Trends
50DMA
140.02
Positive
100DMA
137.25
Positive
200DMA
129.33
Positive
Market Momentum
MACD
0.28
Negative
RSI
59.82
Neutral
STOCH
79.82
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 144.16 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 137.04, above the 50-day MA of 140.02, and above the 200-day MA of 129.33, indicating a bullish trend. The MACD of 0.28 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 59.82 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 79.82 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 (61)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
$22.51B20.2912.47%1.24%-1.49%-31.82%
$31.84B25.046.28%1.53%-5.78%-60.07%
$14.58B20.269.94%1.72%-0.88%-25.15%
$32.30B11.894.72%1.22%-4.51%
$6.78B82.311.99%1.19%-1.61%-81.36%
$10.43B7.12-0.05%2.87%2.86%-36.73%
$17.16B45.690.92%2.39%-7.63%-63.14%
* Basic Materials Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
NUE
Nucor
144.16
-0.48
-0.33%
MT
ArcelorMittal
39.60
15.17
62.10%
CMC
Commercial Metals Company
60.41
6.41
11.87%
PKX
POSCO
56.22
-6.07
-9.74%
RS
Reliance Steel
278.73
-10.97
-3.79%
STLD
Steel Dynamics
158.02
24.94
18.74%

Nucor Corporate Events

Nucor’s Strong Q2 2025 Earnings and Future Outlook
Jul 30, 2025

Nucor Corporation is a leading manufacturer of steel and steel products, operating facilities across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, and is recognized as North America’s largest recycler.

Nucor’s Earnings Call: Strong Performance Amid Challenges
Jul 30, 2025

Nucor Corporation’s recent earnings call conveyed a generally positive sentiment, underscored by notable financial performance improvements and record safety achievements. The company also highlighted robust demand across key markets. However, challenges such as anticipated margin compression in the steel mills segment and the impact of tariffs on input costs were acknowledged, indicating areas of concern moving forward.

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.

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: Oct 28, 2025