Nucor vs Steel Dynamics

This page compares Nucor and Steel Dynamics, outlining their business models, financial performance, and market context in a clear, neutral way. Readers gain high‑level insights into operations, strategy, and industry positioning without interpretation. Educational content, not financial advice.

This page compares Nucor and Steel Dynamics, outlining their business models, financial performance, and market context in a clear, neutral way. Readers gain high‑level insights into operations, strat...

Comparison Snapshot

Key Financial Metrics

NUE

Metric

STLD

$40.66B

Market Cap

$25.31B

2.90%

Potential Profit

5.94%

Buy

Analyst Rating

Buy

Why It's Moving

Nucor Stock Dips Ahead of Pivotal Earnings Reveal as Options Heat Up.

Upcoming earnings on Jan. 26 project $1.91 EPS, a 56.6% year-over-year jump, with revenue eyed at $7.77B up 9.8%, testing if recent beats like Q3's $2.63 EPS can continue.
Mixed institutional moves: National Wealth Management grabbed a fresh $753K stake, but Harvey Capital slashed its position by 38% via 7,750 share sale, reflecting divergent investor bets.
Analysts lean bullish with 'Moderate Buy' consensus and $177 average target, fueled by strong liquidity (current ratio 2.77) and recent dividend hike payable Feb. 11.

Sentiment:

🌋Volatile

Steel Dynamics Gears Up for Key Earnings as Steel Volumes Dip but Aluminum Ramp-Up and Fortune Nod Spark Optimism

Steel operations profitability expected lower due to reduced selling prices, volumes, and unplanned extended maintenance cutting flat rolled output by 140k-150k tons, signaling short-term cyclical pressures.
Fabrication segment braces for seasonal shipment dips despite steady backlogs into Q2 2026 and tailwinds from falling rates, infrastructure spending, and onshoring.
Aluminum mill commissioning advances with product qualifications for cans and autos, alongside Fortune naming STLD a top admired company on January 23 for industry-leading integrity and efficiency.

Sentiment:

⚖️Neutral

Nucor Stock Dips Ahead of Pivotal Earnings Reveal as Options Heat Up.

Upcoming earnings on Jan. 26 project $1.91 EPS, a 56.6% year-over-year jump, with revenue eyed at $7.77B up 9.8%, testing if recent beats like Q3's $2.63 EPS can continue.
Mixed institutional moves: National Wealth Management grabbed a fresh $753K stake, but Harvey Capital slashed its position by 38% via 7,750 share sale, reflecting divergent investor bets.
Analysts lean bullish with 'Moderate Buy' consensus and $177 average target, fueled by strong liquidity (current ratio 2.77) and recent dividend hike payable Feb. 11.

Sentiment:

🌋Volatile

Steel Dynamics Gears Up for Key Earnings as Steel Volumes Dip but Aluminum Ramp-Up and Fortune Nod Spark Optimism

Steel operations profitability expected lower due to reduced selling prices, volumes, and unplanned extended maintenance cutting flat rolled output by 140k-150k tons, signaling short-term cyclical pressures.
Fabrication segment braces for seasonal shipment dips despite steady backlogs into Q2 2026 and tailwinds from falling rates, infrastructure spending, and onshoring.
Aluminum mill commissioning advances with product qualifications for cans and autos, alongside Fortune naming STLD a top admired company on January 23 for industry-leading integrity and efficiency.

Sentiment:

⚖️Neutral

Investment Analysis

Nucor

NUE

Pros

Nucor delivered a strong Q3 2025 earnings beat with EPS of $2.63, surpassing estimates by 18.47%, demonstrating robust profitability.
The company has a solid market position with a diversified product portfolio, including custom-engineered building products, supporting resilience in steel markets.
Nucor maintains good financial health, supported by strong cash flow management and a healthy balance sheet, with $1.4 billion year-to-date adjusted net earnings.

Considerations

Nucor anticipates lower earnings in Q4 2025 due to seasonal demand variations, indicating near-term earnings volatility.
The stock's beta of around 1.87 suggests higher volatility compared to the broader market, posing greater price fluctuation risks.
Recent negative EPS guidance for Q4 2025 raises concerns about possible operational or market challenges impacting future profitability.

Steel Dynamics

STLD

Pros

Steel Dynamics has a lower forward P/E ratio compared to Nucor, indicating relatively more attractive current valuation multiples.
The company shows solid industry metrics, winning in 8 out of 20 key financial and operational measures versus Nucor.
Steel Dynamics benefits from a lower beta at about 1.41, suggesting comparatively lower stock price volatility and risk exposure.

Considerations

Steel Dynamics has a smaller market capitalization around $19 billion, reflecting less scale and market influence than Nucor.
Enterprise value to EBITDA ratio is higher than Nucor's, indicating potentially less operational efficiency or higher relative valuation.
Price-to-book ratio is higher than Nucor’s, which may signal a premium valuation and less margin of safety for investors.

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