📊 NUE Key Takeaways
Is Nucor Corp. (NUE) a Good Investment?
Nucor demonstrates solid operational fundamentals with strong revenue growth (+5.7% YoY) and robust liquidity metrics, but profitability appears pressured with concerning trends in margins and cash generation. The company's negative free cash flow (-$188M) combined with declining EPS (-11.1% YoY) despite modest net income growth suggests operational headwinds that warrant cautious positioning.
Nucor shows solid underlying financial health with strong liquidity, moderate leverage, and strong interest coverage, which gives it resilience in a cyclical steel market. However, profitability looks compressed, EPS is declining despite revenue growth, and free cash flow has turned negative because capital spending is outpacing operating cash generation. The fundamentals support stability, but not a clearly bullish quality trend at this stage.
Why Buy Nucor Corp. Stock? NUE Key Strengths
- Strong liquidity position with 2.94x current ratio and 1.57x quick ratio, providing financial flexibility
- Conservative leverage with 0.33x debt/equity ratio and exceptional 15.1x interest coverage ratio
- Solid operating cash flow generation of $3.2B supporting operational sustainability
- Revenue growth of 5.7% YoY demonstrates market demand resilience in steel sector
- Strong balance sheet with low debt-to-equity and substantial equity base
- Healthy liquidity profile with 2.94x current ratio and 1.57x quick ratio
- Positive revenue and net income growth with strong operating cash flow generation
NUE Stock Risks: Nucor Corp. Investment Risks
- Negative free cash flow of -$188M indicates capital expenditures ($3.4B) are outpacing operating cash generation, raising sustainability concerns
- Severely compressed gross margin of 1.9% suggests intense competitive pricing pressure or unfavorable input costs in the steel market
- Declining diluted EPS (-11.1% YoY) despite net income growth signals share dilution or operational inefficiencies
- Weak return metrics (ROE 8.3%, ROA 5.0%) indicate suboptimal capital deployment and profitability relative to asset base
- Margin pressure is evident with only 1.9% gross margin and 5.4% net margin
- Free cash flow is negative as capital expenditures exceed operating cash flow
- EPS declined 11.1% year over year, signaling weaker per-share earnings quality
Key Metrics to Watch
- Free cash flow trend - critical to monitor if capital intensity moderates or if FCF returns to positive territory
- Gross margin recovery - track whether pricing power improves or input cost pressures ease
- Operating cash flow sustainability - ensure OCF can support both capex and shareholder returns without covenant stress
- Free cash flow relative to capital expenditures
- Operating margin and net margin trend
Nucor Corp. (NUE) Financial Metrics & Key Ratios
💡 AI Analyst Insight
Strong liquidity with a 2.94x current ratio provides a solid financial cushion.
NUE Profit Margin, ROE & Profitability Analysis
NUE vs Materials Sector: How Nucor Corp. Compares
How Nucor Corp. compares to Materials sector averages
Sector benchmarks are approximate industry averages. Actual sector performance may vary.
Is Nucor Corp. Stock Overvalued? NUE Valuation Analysis 2026
Based on fundamental analysis, Nucor Corp. has mixed fundamental signals relative to the Materials sector in 2026.
Note: This is a fundamental analysis based on SEC filings. For P/E ratio, price targets, and market-based valuation, consult financial data providers. This is not investment advice.
Nucor Corp. Balance Sheet: NUE Debt, Cash & Liquidity
NUE Revenue & Earnings Growth: 5-Year Financial Trend
5-Year Trend Summary: Nucor Corp.'s revenue has remained relatively flat over the 5-year period, with a 5% decline. The most recent EPS of $18.00 reflects profitable operations.
NUE Revenue Growth, EPS Growth & YoY Performance
NUE Quarterly Earnings & Performance
| Quarter | Revenue | Net Income | EPS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q3 2025 | $7.4B | $250.0M | $1.05 |
| Q2 2025 | $8.1B | $603.0M | $2.60 |
| Q1 2025 | $7.8B | $156.0M | $0.67 |
| Q3 2024 | $7.4B | $249.9M | $1.05 |
| Q2 2024 | $8.1B | $645.2M | $2.68 |
| Q1 2024 | $8.1B | $844.8M | $3.46 |
| Q3 2023 | $8.8B | $1.1B | $4.57 |
| Q1 2023 | $8.7B | $1.1B | $4.45 |
Data sourced from SEC EDGAR 10-Q quarterly filings. Figures may represent quarterly or cumulative values.
Nucor Corp. Dividends, Buybacks & Capital Allocation
NUE SEC Filings: Latest 10-K & 10-Q Analysis
Access official SEC EDGAR filings for Nucor Corp. (CIK: 0000073309)
📋 Recent SEC Filings
❓ Frequently Asked Questions about NUE
What is the AI rating for NUE?
Nucor Corp. (NUE) has a Combined AI Rating of HOLD from Claude (HOLD) and ChatGPT (HOLD) with 75% combined confidence, based on fundamental analysis of SEC EDGAR filings.
What are NUE's key strengths?
Claude: Strong liquidity position with 2.94x current ratio and 1.57x quick ratio, providing financial flexibility. Conservative leverage with 0.33x debt/equity ratio and exceptional 15.1x interest coverage ratio. ChatGPT: Strong balance sheet with low debt-to-equity and substantial equity base. Healthy liquidity profile with 2.94x current ratio and 1.57x quick ratio.
What are the risks of investing in NUE?
Claude: Negative free cash flow of -$188M indicates capital expenditures ($3.4B) are outpacing operating cash generation, raising sustainability concerns. Severely compressed gross margin of 1.9% suggests intense competitive pricing pressure or unfavorable input costs in the steel market. ChatGPT: Margin pressure is evident with only 1.9% gross margin and 5.4% net margin. Free cash flow is negative as capital expenditures exceed operating cash flow.
What is NUE's revenue and growth?
Nucor Corp. reported revenue of $32.5B.
Does NUE pay dividends?
Nucor Corp. pays dividends, with $512.0M distributed to shareholders in the trailing twelve months.
Where can I find NUE SEC filings?
Official SEC filings for Nucor Corp. (CIK: 0000073309) including 10-K, 10-Q, and 8-K reports are available on SEC EDGAR.
What is NUE's EPS?
Nucor Corp. has a diluted EPS of $7.52.
How is the AI analysis conducted?
Two independent AI systems — Claude (Anthropic) and ChatGPT (OpenAI) — analyze SEC EDGAR filings including 10-K annual reports and 10-Q quarterly reports. Each AI evaluates financial health, profitability ratios, balance sheet strength, and growth metrics. The combined rating reflects both perspectives for balanced insights.
Is NUE a good stock to buy right now?
Based on our AI fundamental analysis in April 2026, Nucor Corp. has a HOLD rating with 75% confidence. Review the strengths and risks sections above before making a decision. This is not investment advice.
Is NUE stock overvalued or undervalued?
Valuation metrics for NUE: ROE of 8.3% (sector avg: 14%), net margin of 5.4% (sector avg: 10%). Compare these metrics with sector averages to assess valuation.
Should I buy NUE stock in 2026?
Our dual AI analysis gives Nucor Corp. a combined HOLD rating for 2026. Revenue is data pending, with profitability at or below sector average. Always conduct your own research.
What is NUE's free cash flow?
Nucor Corp.'s operating cash flow is $3.2B, with capital expenditures of $3.4B. FCF margin is -0.6%.
How does NUE compare to other Materials stocks?
Vs Materials sector averages: Net margin 5.4% (avg: 10%), ROE 8.3% (avg: 14%), current ratio 2.94 (avg: 1.6).