Zacks Research Comments on Nucor’s Q2 Earnings (NYSE:NUE)

Nucor Corporation (NYSE:NUE) – Equities research analysts at Zacks Research raised their Q2 2027 earnings per share (EPS) estimates for Nucor in a report issued on Monday, July 27th. Zacks Research analyst Team now forecasts that the basic materials company will post earnings per share of $5.81 for the quarter, up from their previous forecast of $5.80. Zacks Research currently has a “Hold” rating on the stock. The consensus estimate for Nucor’s current full-year earnings is $17.53 per share. Zacks Research also issued estimates for Nucor’s Q2 2028 earnings at $5.84 EPS.

Other research analysts also recently issued research reports about the stock. Citigroup reiterated a “positive” rating on shares of Nucor in a research note on Wednesday, July 15th. UBS Group downgraded shares of Nucor from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating and raised their price target for the company from $190.00 to $224.00 in a research report on Tuesday, April 28th. Argus boosted their price objective on shares of Nucor from $200.00 to $262.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, May 15th. BNP Paribas Exane upped their price objective on Nucor from $210.00 to $248.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research report on Monday, May 4th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group increased their target price on Nucor from $225.00 to $250.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday, April 28th. Twelve investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and four have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Nucor has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $266.31.

Nucor Stock Down 0.1%

NYSE:NUE opened at $247.35 on Tuesday. The firm has a market cap of $56.33 billion, a P/E ratio of 24.49, a P/E/G ratio of 0.57 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 fifty-two week low of $131.32 and a fifty-two week high of $270.90. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $240.33 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $204.98.

Nucor (NYSE:NUE) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Monday, July 27th. The basic materials company reported $4.84 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $4.46 by $0.38. The firm had revenue of $10.40 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $10.15 billion. Nucor had a return on equity of 10.68% and a net margin of 6.82%.Nucor’s quarterly revenue was up 23.0% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $2.60 EPS.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Nucor

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of NUE. Regent Peak Wealth Advisors LLC purchased a new position in Nucor during the second quarter valued at $206,000. Tema ETFs LLC increased its position in Nucor by 8.9% in the second quarter. Tema ETFs LLC now owns 7,091 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $1,580,000 after buying an additional 580 shares in the last quarter. Fruth Investment Management purchased a new stake in Nucor in the second quarter worth about $256,000. Generali Investments Management Co LLC increased its position in Nucor by 38.1% in the second quarter. Generali Investments Management Co LLC now owns 1,789 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $398,000 after buying an additional 494 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Community Financial Services Group LLC bought a new position in shares of Nucor in the second quarter worth about $296,000. 76.48% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, EVP Daniel R. Needham sold 12,888 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, May 1st. The shares were 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 directly owned 89,724 shares in the company, valued at approximately $20,277,624. The trade was a 12.56% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, EVP John J. Hollatz sold 10,560 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, June 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $258.46, for a total transaction of $2,729,337.60. Following the sale, the executive vice president owned 97,865 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $25,294,187.90. This trade represents a 9.74% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Insiders have sold a total of 82,378 shares of company stock valued at $18,963,930 in the last 90 days. 0.62% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Nucor Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, August 11th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, June 30th will be paid a $0.56 dividend. This represents a $2.24 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.9%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, June 30th. Nucor’s dividend payout ratio is 22.18%.

Nucor News Summary

Here are the key news stories impacting Nucor this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Quarterly earnings and revenue exceeded expectations. Nucor posted adjusted earnings of $4.84 per diluted share, above the $4.46 analyst consensus, while net sales of $10.40 billion surpassed estimates of $10.15 billion. Headline earnings were $5.04 per share, including a $0.20-per-share non-cash benefit. Nucor Reports Results for the Second Quarter of 2026
• Positive Sentiment: Results improved sharply from both comparison periods. Net earnings rose to $1.16 billion from $743 million in the first quarter and $603 million a year earlier. Nucor attributed the sequential improvement primarily to higher average selling prices and increased volumes in its steel mills segment. Nucor Q2 earnings rise to $1.16 billion on $10.40 billion sales
• Positive Sentiment: Management expects further year-over-year improvement. Nucor forecast higher consolidated reported earnings in the third quarter, providing investors with a favorable near-term outlook. The company also returned approximately $479 million to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases and repurchased 1.53 million shares during the quarter. Nucor Reports Results for the Second Quarter of 2026
• Neutral Sentiment: Nucor ended the quarter with $2.69 billion in cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments, supporting financial flexibility and continued shareholder returns. EBITDA was $2.02 billion.
• Negative Sentiment: The earnings beat may have been largely anticipated. Nucor shares have traded near their 52-week high and above their 50-day and 200-day moving averages, while the stock carries a P/E ratio of about 24.5. That elevated valuation may limit additional upside unless steel prices, volumes, and third-quarter results continue to outperform expectations.

About Nucor

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.