Nucor (NUE - Free Report) is expected to deliver a year-over-year increase in earnings on higher revenues when it reports results for the quarter ended June 2026. This widely-known consensus outlook gives a good sense of the company's earnings picture, but how the actual results compare to these estimates is a powerful factor that could impact its near-term stock price.
The stock might move higher if these key numbers top expectations in the upcoming earnings report, which is expected to be released on July 27. On the other hand, if they miss, the stock may move lower.
While management's discussion of business conditions on the earnings call will mostly determine the sustainability of the immediate price change and future earnings expectations, it's worth having a handicapping insight into the odds of a positive EPS surprise.
Zacks Consensus EstimateThis steel company is expected to post quarterly earnings of $4.63 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of +78.1%.
Revenues are expected to be $9.87 billion, up 16.7% from the year-ago quarter.
Estimate Revisions TrendThe consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 6.92% higher over the last 30 days to the current level. This is essentially a reflection of how the covering analysts have collectively reassessed their initial estimates over this period.
Investors should keep in mind that an aggregate change may not always reflect the direction of estimate revisions by each of the covering analysts.
Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
Earnings WhisperEstimate revisions ahead of a company's earnings release offer clues to the business conditions for the period whose results are coming out. Our proprietary surprise prediction model -- the Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction) -- has this insight at its core.
The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter; the Most Accurate Estimate is a more recent version of the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate. The idea here is that analysts revising their estimates right before an earnings release have the latest information, which could potentially be more accurate than what they and others contributing to the consensus had predicted earlier.
Thus, a positive or negative Earnings ESP reading theoretically indicates the likely deviation of the actual earnings from the consensus estimate. However, the model's predictive power is significant for positive ESP readings only.
A positive Earnings ESP is a strong predictor of an earnings beat, particularly when combined with a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold). Our research shows that stocks with this combination produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time, and a solid Zacks Rank actually increases the predictive power of Earnings ESP.
Please note that a negative Earnings ESP reading is not indicative of an earnings miss. Our research shows that it is difficult to predict an earnings beat with any degree of confidence for stocks with negative Earnings ESP readings and/or Zacks Rank of 4 (Sell) or 5 (Strong Sell).
How Have the Numbers Shaped Up for Nucor?For Nucor, the Most Accurate Estimate is the same as the Zacks Consensus Estimate, suggesting that there are no recent analyst views which differ from what have been considered to derive the consensus estimate. This has resulted in an Earnings ESP of 0%.
On the other hand, the stock currently carries a Zacks Rank of #2.
So, this combination makes it difficult to conclusively predict that Nucor will beat the consensus EPS estimate.
Does Earnings Surprise History Hold Any Clue?While calculating estimates for a company's future earnings, analysts often consider to what extent it has been able to match past consensus estimates. So, it's worth taking a look at the surprise history for gauging its influence on the upcoming number.
For the last reported quarter, it was expected that Nucor would post earnings of $2.79 per share when it actually produced earnings of $3.23, delivering a surprise of +15.77%.
Over the last four quarters, the company has beaten consensus EPS estimates two times.
Bottom LineAn earnings beat or miss may not be the sole basis for a stock moving higher or lower. Many stocks end up losing ground despite an earnings beat due to other factors that disappoint investors. Similarly, unforeseen catalysts help a number of stocks gain despite an earnings miss.
That said, betting on stocks that are expected to beat earnings expectations does increase the odds of success. This is why it's worth checking a company's Earnings ESP and Zacks Rank ahead of its quarterly release. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported.
Nucor doesn't appear a compelling earnings-beat candidate. However, investors should pay attention to other factors too for betting on this stock or staying away from it ahead of its earnings release.
Expected Results of an Industry PlayerAnother stock from the Zacks Steel - Producers industry, Cleveland-Cliffs (CLF - Free Report) , is soon expected to post loss of $0.18 per share for the quarter ended June 2026. This estimate indicates a year-over-year change of +64%. Revenues for the quarter are expected to be $5.15 billion, up 4.4% from the year-ago quarter.
The consensus EPS estimate for Cleveland-Cliffs has been revised 45.3% higher over the last 30 days to the current level. However, a lower Most Accurate Estimate has resulted in an Earnings ESP of -17.81%.
When combined with a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy), this Earnings ESP makes it difficult to conclusively predict that Cleveland-Cliffs will beat the consensus EPS estimate. The company beat consensus EPS estimates in each of the trailing four quarters.
Stay on top of upcoming earnings announcements with the Zacks Earnings Calendar.
Nucor (NYSE:NUE – Get Free Report) is projected to release its Q2 2026 results after the market closes on Monday, July 27th. Analysts expect the company to announce earnings of $4.45 per share and revenue of $10.1402 billion for the quarter. Investors can check the company’s upcoming Q2 2026 earning report for the latest details on the call scheduled for Tuesday, July 28, 2026 at 10:00 AM ET.
Nucor (NYSE:NUE – Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Monday, April 27th. The basic materials company reported $3.23 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.82 by $0.41. Nucor had a return on equity of 10.68% and a net margin of 6.82%.The firm had revenue of $9.50 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $8.88 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $0.77 EPS. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was up 21.3% on a year-over-year basis. On average, analysts expect Nucor to post $18 EPS for the current fiscal year and $19 EPS for the next fiscal year.
Nucor Trading Up 0.1% NYSE:NUE opened at $236.77 on Monday. The stock has a market cap of $53.92 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 23.44, a PEG ratio of 0.54 and a beta of 1.91. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.30, a quick ratio of 1.55 and a current ratio of 2.90. Nucor has a 1 year low of $131.32 and a 1 year high of $270.90. The business has a fifty day moving average of $239.20 and a 200-day moving average of $201.90.
Nucor Dividend Announcement The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, August 11th. Investors of record on Tuesday, June 30th will be given a $0.56 dividend. This represents a $2.24 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.9%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, June 30th. Nucor’s dividend payout ratio is currently 22.18%.
Analyst Ratings Changes Several equities analysts have commented on NUE shares. Morgan Stanley raised their target price on shares of Nucor from $227.00 to $258.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Monday, June 22nd. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their price objective on shares of Nucor from $292.00 to $283.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Thursday, June 18th. Zacks Research cut shares of Nucor from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Monday, June 29th. Bank of America lowered their price objective on shares of Nucor from $290.00 to $280.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, July 9th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group boosted their target price on Nucor from $260.00 to $284.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, June 16th. Twelve research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and four have given a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Nucor currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $266.31.
Check Out Our Latest Analysis on NUE
Insider Buying and Selling In other news, EVP Daniel R. Needham sold 12,888 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, May 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $226.00, for a total transaction of $2,912,688.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president owned 89,724 shares in the company, valued at approximately $20,277,624. This represents a 12.56% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, EVP John J. Hollatz sold 10,560 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Wednesday, June 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $258.46, for a total value of $2,729,337.60. Following the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 97,865 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $25,294,187.90. This represents a 9.74% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Over the last three months, insiders have sold 82,378 shares of company stock worth $18,963,930. 0.62% of the stock is owned by insiders.
Institutional Trading of Nucor A number of hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of NUE. Strive Financial Group LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Nucor in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $27,000. Stance Capital LLC acquired a new stake in Nucor during the 3rd quarter valued at $25,000. Mcguire Capital Advisors Inc. acquired a new stake in Nucor during the 4th quarter valued at $32,000. DV Equities LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Nucor in the fourth quarter valued at $52,000. Finally, Geneos Wealth Management Inc. boosted its position in shares of Nucor by 81.8% in the first quarter. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. now owns 340 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $41,000 after buying an additional 153 shares during the period. 76.48% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.
About Nucor (Get Free Report)
Nucor Corporation (NYSE: NUE) is an American steel producer headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina. The company is primarily engaged in the manufacture and sale of steel and steel products, operating a network of steel mills, recycling facilities and fabrication plants across the United States and North America. Nucor’s operations emphasize electric arc furnace steelmaking using recycled scrap metal, which supports a decentralized, mill-based production model focused on efficiency and flexibility.
Product offerings span a broad range of basic and value‑added steel items, including sheet, plate, merchant bar, structural beams, reinforcing bar, tubing, fasteners and fabricated components.
Further Reading Five stocks we like better than Nucor Strait of Hormuz Tensions Spike Tanker Trade: These 2 Stocks Are Set to Benefit Shopify’s Quiet AI Strategy Could Be Its Biggest Advantage Yet Why These 3 Nuclear ETFs Are Getting a Fresh Look as AI Power Demand Rises 3 Aerospace Suppliers That Could Benefit as Aircraft Makers Face Bottlenecks
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Decker Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Nucor Corporation (NYSE:NUE – Free Report) during the first quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund acquired 39,858 shares of the basic materials company’s stock, valued at approximately $6,740,000. Nucor comprises approximately 1.5% of Decker Wealth Management LLC’s holdings, making the stock its 27th biggest holding.
Other hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. RKL Wealth Management LLC raised its stake in Nucor by 0.9% in the 1st quarter. RKL Wealth Management LLC now owns 5,318 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $899,000 after acquiring an additional 48 shares during the last quarter. Empirical Asset Management LLC grew its stake in Nucor by 2.6% during the 4th quarter. Empirical Asset Management LLC now owns 2,130 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $347,000 after purchasing an additional 54 shares during the last quarter. Krilogy Financial LLC grew its stake in Nucor by 4.1% during the 4th quarter. Krilogy Financial LLC now owns 1,531 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $272,000 after purchasing an additional 61 shares during the last quarter. Bartlett & CO. Wealth Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of Nucor by 49.2% in the first quarter. Bartlett & CO. Wealth Management LLC now owns 191 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $32,000 after purchasing an additional 63 shares during the period. Finally, IHT Wealth Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of Nucor by 2.0% in the fourth quarter. IHT Wealth Management LLC now owns 3,306 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $539,000 after purchasing an additional 64 shares during the period. 76.48% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.
Insiders Place Their Bets In other news, EVP Randy J. Spicer sold 2,500 shares of Nucor stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, May 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $225.00, for a total transaction of $562,500.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 20,510 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $4,614,750. The trade was a 10.86% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, EVP Allen C. Behr sold 10,096 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Monday, May 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $226.08, for a total transaction of $2,282,503.68. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president owned 62,871 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $14,213,875.68. This represents a 13.84% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. In the last quarter, insiders have sold 82,378 shares of company stock worth $18,963,930. Corporate insiders own 0.62% of the company’s stock.
Nucor Stock Performance NYSE NUE opened at $236.77 on Monday. The firm has a market capitalization of $53.92 billion, a P/E ratio of 23.44, a PEG ratio of 0.54 and a beta of 1.91. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $239.20 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $201.90. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.30, a quick ratio of 1.55 and a current ratio of 2.90. Nucor Corporation has a fifty-two week low of $131.32 and a fifty-two week high of $270.90.
Nucor (NYSE:NUE – Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Monday, April 27th. The basic materials company reported $3.23 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.82 by $0.41. The firm had revenue of $9.50 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $8.88 billion. Nucor had a return on equity of 10.68% and a net margin of 6.82%.The company’s revenue was up 21.3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $0.77 earnings per share. On average, equities analysts forecast that Nucor Corporation will post 17.68 earnings per share for the current year.
Nucor Dividend Announcement The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, August 11th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, June 30th will be issued a $0.56 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, June 30th. This represents a $2.24 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.9%. Nucor’s payout ratio is presently 22.18%.
Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of research firms recently commented on NUE. Seaport Research Partners lifted their target price on Nucor from $245.00 to $285.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, June 10th. Barclays increased their price target on shares of Nucor from $270.00 to $272.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Wednesday. BMO Capital Markets raised their price target on shares of Nucor from $250.00 to $285.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Wednesday, June 3rd. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their price target on shares of Nucor from $292.00 to $283.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, June 18th. Finally, KeyCorp upgraded shares of Nucor from a “sector weight” rating to an “overweight” rating and set a $274.00 price objective for the company in a research note on Wednesday, June 24th. Twelve analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and four have assigned a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $266.31.
Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on NUE
About Nucor (Free Report)
Nucor Corporation (NYSE: NUE) is an American steel producer headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina. The company is primarily engaged in the manufacture and sale of steel and steel products, operating a network of steel mills, recycling facilities and fabrication plants across the United States and North America. Nucor’s operations emphasize electric arc furnace steelmaking using recycled scrap metal, which supports a decentralized, mill-based production model focused on efficiency and flexibility.
Product offerings span a broad range of basic and value‑added steel items, including sheet, plate, merchant bar, structural beams, reinforcing bar, tubing, fasteners and fabricated components.
Further Reading Five stocks we like better than Nucor Strait of Hormuz Tensions Spike Tanker Trade: These 2 Stocks Are Set to Benefit Shopify’s Quiet AI Strategy Could Be Its Biggest Advantage Yet Why These 3 Nuclear ETFs Are Getting a Fresh Look as AI Power Demand Rises 3 Aerospace Suppliers That Could Benefit as Aircraft Makers Face Bottlenecks
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Nucor v prvním čtvrtletí 2026 vygeneroval provozní cash flow 886 mil. USD a držel likviditu kolem 3,2 mld. USD. Na dividendách a zpětných odkupech vrátil akcionářům už zhruba 630 mil. USD k 17. červnu 2026.
Key Takeaways Nucor returned about $1.2B to shareholders in 2025 and roughly $630M year to date through June 17, 2026.NUE ended first-quarter 2026 with about $3.2B in liquidity and generated $886M in operating cash flow.NUE targets returning at least 40% of earnings to shareholders while funding growth projects and cutting debt. Nucor Corporation (NUE - Free Report) is maximizing its returns to shareholders by leveraging its strong balance sheet and cash flows. It returned around $1.2 billion to its shareholders in 2025 through dividends and share repurchases, representing nearly 70% of net earnings. Returns to its shareholders were $254 million in the first quarter. Nucor has returned roughly $630 million through share buybacks and dividends year to date till June 17, 2026.
It ended first-quarter 2026 with strong liquidity of roughly $3.2 billion, including cash and cash equivalents of around $2.2 billion. It also generated cash from operations of $886 million in the quarter.
The company, in December 2025, raised its quarterly dividend to 56 cents per share from 55 cents. Nucor has increased its regular dividend for 53 straight years since it started paying dividends in 1973. It remains committed to its policy of returning at least 40% of earnings to its shareholders.
NUE offers a dividend yield of 1% at the current stock price. Its payout ratio is 22% (a ratio below 60% is a good indicator that the dividend will be sustainable), with a five-year annualized dividend growth rate of 4.2%. Backed by strong financial health, the company's dividend is perceived to be safe and reliable.
Nucor is executing a well-defined capital allocation policy using its substantial cash generation to drive shareholder value, fund its growth projects and reduce debt. With a rock-solid balance sheet underpinned by a strong credit profile, NUE remains well-placed to continue this shareholder-focused strategy.
Among its peers, Steel Dynamics, Inc. (STLD - Free Report) remains committed to maximizing shareholder returns. Steel Dynamics bought back shares worth $115 million in the first quarter. STLD also raised its quarterly dividend by 6% to 53 cents per share in February 2026. During the second quarter of 2026, Steel Dynamics repurchased $170 million of its common stock, as announced recently.
Commercial Metals Company (CMC - Free Report) is also pursuing a disciplined capital allocation strategy, capitalizing on its solid balance sheet and cash flow profile. Commercial Metals repurchased shares worth $18.9 million during the fiscal third quarter and kept its quarterly dividend at 20 cents per share. CMC generated cash of $603 million from operating activities for the nine months ended May 31, 2026, up from roughly $400 million in the year-ago period.
NUE’s Price Performance, Valuation & EstimatesNucor has gained 39.4% year to date against the Zacks Steel Producers industry’s growth of 26.5%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
From a valuation standpoint, NUE is currently trading at a forward 12-month earnings multiple of 12.53, a roughly 11.9% premium to the industry average of 11.2X. It carries a Value Score of B.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for NUE’s 2026 earnings implies a year-over-year rise of 129.3%. The EPS estimates for 2026 have been trending higher over the past 60 days.
Key Takeaways NUE shares have climbed 46.9% YTD, outperforming the industry and the S&P 500.Nucor's 2026 earnings estimate was raised 30.1% in 60 days, with earnings seen up 103.4% year over year.Nucor is expanding capacity, pursuing acquisitions and benefiting from higher U.S. steel prices. Nucor Corporation (NUE - Free Report) benefits from healthy demand in key markets, actions to expand its production capabilities and higher steel prices. Its shares have surged 46.9% year to date, outperforming the Zacks Steel Producers industry’s rise of 34.4% and the S&P 500’s increase of 8.9%.
We are positive about NUE’s prospects and believe that the time is right for you to add the stock to the portfolio, as it looks promising and is poised to carry the momentum ahead.
NUE’s YTD Price Performance
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Let's see what makes NUE stock an attractive investment option at the moment.
NUE’s Rising Earnings Estimates Reflect Positive SentimentThe Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2026 for NUE has been revised 30.1% upward over the past 60 days. The consensus estimate for second-quarter 2026 has also been revised 31.6% up over the same time frame. The favorable estimate revisions instill investor confidence in the stock.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
NUE’s Strong Growth ProspectsThe Zacks Consensus Estimate for NUE’s 2026 earnings is pegged at $15.68, suggesting a 103.4% increase from the previous year’s tally. Earnings are projected to increase by 71.5% in second-quarter 2026.
Superior Return on Equity (ROE) for NucorROE is a measure of a company’s efficiency in utilizing shareholders’ funds. ROE for the trailing 12 months for NUE is 10.7%, above the industry’s level of 4.2%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Expansion Actions & Acquisitions Aid Nucor StockNucor remains committed to boosting production capacity, which should drive profitable growth and strengthen its position as a low-cost producer. It is executing a series of growth projects to tap significant end-market demand. Nucor is seeing strong demand from non-residential construction & infrastructure, military & defense, and energy end markets and has a healthy order backlog. The company has already commissioned some of its growth projects with Gallatin and Brandenburg mills, showing strong production and shipment performance.
The construction of the 3 million tons per annum (tpa) sheet mill with a low-cost profile in West Virginia is in the final phases and commissioning of operations is expected through 2026, with production expected in 2027. The new 500,000 tpa galvanizing line at the Berkeley County sheet mill in South Carolina is also on track. Its greenfield project in Utah is also on course for production commencement by mid-2027.
The company has been focusing on growth through strategic acquisitions over the past several years. The recent acquisition of Southwest Data Products expanded its growing portfolio of solutions for data center customers. The buyout of Rytec Corporation will also allow Nucor to further expand beyond its core steelmaking businesses into related downstream businesses. Adding high-performance doors is expected to create cross-selling opportunities with other Nucor businesses and significantly expand its product portfolio for the commercial space.
NUE’s Capital Allocation Backed by Robust Financial HealthNucor is maximizing its returns to shareholders by leveraging its strong balance sheet and cash flows. It ended first-quarter 2026 with strong liquidity of roughly $3.2 billion, including cash and cash equivalents of around $2.2 billion. It also generated cash from operations of $886 million in first-quarter 2026.
The company returned around $1.2 billion to shareholders in 2025 through dividends and share repurchases, representing nearly 70% of net earnings. Returns to its shareholders were $254 million in the first quarter. It remains committed to its policy of returning at least 40% of earnings to shareholders. Nucor has returned roughly $630 million through share buybacks and dividends year to date till June 17, 2026.
Higher Steel Prices Drive NUE’s MarginsHigher U.S. steel prices have created a favorable landscape for American steel producers. U.S. steel prices recovered in the fourth quarter of 2025, following the lows seen in the third quarter, and the momentum continued in the first quarter of 2026. Overall demand weakness and abundant steel mill output dragged benchmark hot-rolled coil (“HRC”) prices below $800 per short ton in late August and continuing through early September.
HRC prices rebounded in the fourth quarter on major steel mills' price increase, extending lead times and tightening supply, partly due to plant outages and reduced imports driven by tariffs. The recovery, which has been more pronounced since November, has led to HRC prices surging to above $1,100 per short ton. With end-market demand improving, steel prices will likely continue to climb, benefiting U.S. steelmakers, including NUE, with higher profit margins.
NUE’s Zacks Rank & Key PicksNUE currently sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy).
Other top-ranked stocks in the Basic Materials space are L.B. Foster Company (FSTR - Free Report) , Albemarle Corporation (ALB - Free Report) and LyondellBasell Industries N.V. (LYB - Free Report) . While FSTR and ALB carry a Zacks Rank #1, LYB has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for L.B. Foster’s current-year earnings is pegged at $1.74 per share, implying a 152.2% year-over-year increase. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for FSTR’s current-year earnings has been revised 60.5% higher over the past 60 days.
The consensus estimate for Albemarle’s current-year earnings is pegged at $12.39 per share, indicating a 1,668.4% year-over-year increase. ALB’s earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in three of the trailing four quarters and missed once, with an average surprise of 54.1%.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for LyondellBasell’s current-year earnings stands at $8.73 per share, implying an 413.5% year-over-year increase. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for LYB’s current-year earnings has been revised 12.3% higher over the past 60 days.
, /PRNewswire/ -- Nucor Corporation (NYSE: NUE) today announced guidance for its second quarter ending July 4, 2026. Nucor expects second quarter earnings to be in the range of $4.70 to $4.80 per diluted share. Excluding a non-cash benefit of approximately $0.20 per diluted share, described below, we expect second quarter adjusted earnings to be in the range of $4.50 to $4.60. Nucor reported net earnings of $3.23 per diluted share in the first quarter of 2026 and $2.60 per diluted share in the second quarter of 2025.
Non-Cash Benefit Recorded in the Second Quarter of 2026
Included in the second quarter of 2026 non-adjusted guidance range is an estimated benefit of approximately $61 million, or $0.20 per diluted share. This non-cash benefit is related to the increase in the value of our investment in Helion, a fusion energy company, after it completed a capital financing round in the second quarter of 2026.
Second Quarter of 2026 Outlook Compared to the First Quarter of 2026
Earnings in the second quarter of 2026 are expected to increase across all three of our operating segments as compared to the first quarter of 2026, with the largest increase in the steel mills segment. The expected increase in the steel mills segment is due to higher average selling prices and stable volumes. It also reflects approximately $130 million of cash refunds associated with prior periods' raw materials procurement costs, which will benefit the cost of goods sold for this segment during the quarter. In the steel products segment, we expect higher earnings due to increased volumes and slightly higher average realized pricing. The raw materials segment is expected to have higher earnings due to higher average realized prices.
Capital Returns
As of June 17, 2026, Nucor has repurchased approximately 1.12 million shares at an average price of $223.47 per share thus far in the second quarter of 2026. Nucor has returned approximately $630 million to stockholders in the form of share repurchases and dividend payments year-to-date through June 17, 2026.
Second Quarter of 2026 Earnings Release and Conference Call
Nucor plans to release its earnings after the markets close on Monday, July 27, 2026, and will host a conference call the morning of Tuesday, July 28, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time to review the Company's second quarter results. The event will be broadcast on the internet, and instructions on how to access will be sent closer to the call.
About Nucor
Nucor and its affiliates are manufacturers of steel and steel products, with operating facilities in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Products produced include: carbon and alloy steel -- in bars, beams, sheet and plate; hollow structural section tubing; electrical conduit; steel racking; steel piling; steel joists and joist girders; steel deck; fabricated concrete reinforcing steel; cold finished steel; precision castings; steel fasteners; metal building systems; insulated metal panels; overhead doors; steel grating; wire and wire mesh; and utility structures. Nucor, through The David J. Joseph Company and its affiliates, also brokers ferrous and nonferrous metals, pig iron and hot briquetted iron / direct reduced iron; supplies ferro-alloys; and processes ferrous and nonferrous scrap. Nucor is North America's largest recycler.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
The Company uses certain non-GAAP (Generally Accepted Accounting Principles) financial measures in this news release, including adjusted net earnings per diluted share (and expected guidance range thereof). Generally, a non-GAAP financial measure is a numerical measure of a company's performance or financial position that either excludes or includes amounts that are not normally excluded or included in the most directly comparable financial measure calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP.
We define adjusted net earnings per diluted share (and expected guidance range thereof) as the net earnings per diluted share subtracting the per diluted share impact of a certain non-cash benefit, net of tax. Please note that other companies might define their non-GAAP financial measures differently than we do.
Management presents the non-GAAP financial measure of adjusted net earnings per diluted share in this news release because it considers it to be an important supplemental measure of performance. Management believes that this non-GAAP financial measure provides additional insight for analysts and investors evaluating the Company's financial and operational performance by providing a consistent basis of comparison across periods.
Reconciliation of Adjusted Net Earnings Per Diluted Share (Unaudited)
Three Months (13 Weeks) Ended
July 4, 2026
Lower End of Range
Upper End of Range
Net earnings per diluted share
$
4.70
$
4.80
Less: Certain non-cash benefit, net of tax
(0.20)
(0.20)
Adjusted net earnings per diluted share
$
4.50
$
4.60
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements contained in this news release are "forward-looking statements" that involve risks and uncertainties which we expect will or may occur in the future and may impact our business, financial condition and results of operations. The words "anticipate," "believe," "expect," "intend," "project," "may," "will," "should," "could" and similar expressions are intended to identify those forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements reflect the Company's best judgment based on current information, and, although we base these statements on circumstances that we believe to be reasonable when made, there can be no assurance that future events will not affect the accuracy of such forward-looking information. As such, the forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, and actual results may vary materially from the projected results and expectations discussed in this news release. Factors that might cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: (1) competitive pressure on sales and pricing, including pressure from imports and substitute materials; (2) U.S. and foreign trade policies affecting steel imports or exports; (3) the sensitivity of the results of our operations to general market conditions, and in particular, prevailing market steel prices and changes in the supply and cost of raw materials, including pig iron, iron ore and scrap steel; (4) the availability and cost of electricity and natural gas, which could negatively affect our cost of steel production or result in a delay or cancellation of existing or future drilling within our natural gas drilling programs; (5) critical equipment failures and business interruptions; (6) market demand for steel products, which, in the case of many of our products, is driven by the level of nonresidential construction activity in the United States; (7) impairment in the recorded value of inventory, equity investments, fixed assets, goodwill or other long-lived assets; (8) uncertainties and volatility surrounding the global economy, including excess world capacity for steel production, inflation and interest rate changes; (9) fluctuations in currency conversion rates; (10) significant changes in laws or government regulations affecting environmental compliance, including legislation and regulations that result in greater regulation of greenhouse gas emissions that could increase our energy costs, capital expenditures and operating costs or cause one or more of our permits to be revoked or make it more difficult to obtain permit modifications; (11) the cyclical nature of the steel industry; (12) capital investments and their impact on our performance; (13) our safety performance; (14) our ability to integrate businesses we acquire; and (15) the impact of any pandemic or public health situation. These and other factors are discussed in Nucor's regulatory filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, including those in "Item 1A. Risk Factors" of Nucor's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release speak only as of this date, and Nucor does not assume any obligation to update them, except as may be required by applicable law.
