Nucor (NUE): analysis in plain words
Is Nucor cheap or expensive? How it makes money, whether it grows and its risks, explained in plain words and with its official accounts.
Nucor (NUE) is listed on the NYSE and we classify it in materials and chemicals. Below are its key dated figures, how it makes money, how it compares with its sector, what works for and against Nucor according to those figures, and the questions people ask most about the stock. No buy or sell tips.
Nucor (NUE) key figures as of November 4, 2026
| Figure | Value | What it measures |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $267.91 | Last price on November 4, 2026 |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 17.1x | Price over earnings per share |
| Revenue growth | +32.0% | Latest quarter vs the same quarter a year earlier |
| Net margin (TTM) | 9.3% | Profit for every 100 of sales |
| Net debt / EBITDA | 0.5x | Years of operating profit to repay debt |
| Dividend yield | 0.82% | Annual dividend over price |
| Market cap | $60.8 billion | What the stock market values it at |
The Nucor figures come from Yahoo Finance, the same source the Fintols analysis uses, retrieved on November 4, 2026. Any NUE figure that is not available shows as N/A: we do not estimate it.
How Nucor makes money
Nucor makes steel in electric arc furnaces that melt down scrap, at mills across the United States. Steel Mills is its largest segment, followed by Steel Products, which includes joists, tubing and building systems, and Raw Materials, covering scrap and iron. Customers include builders and auto and equipment makers.
Over the last 12 months, Nucor brought in revenue of $38.8 billion. For every 100 it sells, Nucor keeps 17.4 after the direct cost of what it sells (gross margin) and 16.7 after all operating costs (operating margin). With 33,000 full-time employees, that is about $1 million of revenue per employee.
Nucor against its sector
To know whether a Nucor figure is high or low you have to put it next to similar companies. This table compares Nucor with the median of the 10 materials and chemicals companies Fintols covers, with data as of November 4, 2026.
| Figure | Nucor | materials and chemicals median |
|---|---|---|
| P/E | 17.1x | 28.5x (10) |
| Revenue growth | +32.0% | +9.2% (11) |
| Net margin | 9.3% | 10.7% (11) |
| Dividend yield | 0.82% | 0.99% (11) |
| Net debt / EBITDA | 0.5x | 2.0x (11) |
In short, against the typical materials and chemicals company, Nucor trades on a lower P/E, grows faster and pays a lower dividend yield. By size, Nucor ranks number 7 of 7 materials and chemicals companies quoted in USD on Fintols.
The bull case for Nucor
What works in favour of Nucor, according to its figures as of November 4, 2026:
- Nucor grew sales +32.0% in its latest quarter against the same quarter a year earlier, while the median materials and chemicals company Fintols tracks grew +9.2%.
- Analysts expect Nucor earnings to rise: its P/E on the next 12 months of estimated earnings is 12.4x, below the current 17.1x.
- On a P/E basis Nucor trades cheaper than its sector: 17.1x its annual earnings, against 28.5x for the materials and chemicals median (10 companies with data).
The main risk for Nucor
Nucor stock moves much more than the market: its beta is 1.81, so in a broad sell-off it tends to fall further than the index.
And, like the rest of materials and chemicals, Nucor is exposed to the price of what it sells (metals, chemicals), which depends on the world economy and is out of its control.
Frequently asked questions about Nucor
Is it a good time to buy Nucor stock?
Fintols does not tell you whether to buy or sell Nucor, and nobody knows what the price will do tomorrow. What we can show you is where it stands today. As of November 4, 2026, Nucor stock trades at $267.91, 7% below its 52-week high ($287.70) and 90% above its low ($140.93). Its P/E is 17.1x against a materials and chemicals median of 28.5x, and 12.4x on the earnings analysts expect over the next 12 months. With Nucor, as with any stock, timing matters less than understanding the business, investing for the long run and not betting everything on a single company.
Does Nucor pay a dividend?
Yes. As of November 4, 2026, Nucor pays $2.24 per share a year, which at today's price is a yield of 0.82%. It uses 18% of its profit to pay it, which leaves room to keep paying it if profit dips. The materials and chemicals median on Fintols is 0.99%.
Is Nucor stock expensive?
It depends on what you compare it with. On P/E, Nucor trades at 17.1x its last 12 months of earnings: cheaper than the materials and chemicals median (28.5x). Including its debt, Nucor is valued at 10.0x its EBITDA (EV/EBITDA). A high P/E alone does not make Nucor expensive: it can be justified if earnings grow fast, and a low one can reflect a business in trouble.
Who are Nucor's competitors?
On Fintols we compare Nucor with Freeport-McMoRan, Newmont and Linde, which are also in materials and chemicals. As of November 4, 2026, Freeport-McMoRan is worth $89.9 billion and trades on a P/E of 26.3; Newmont is worth $122.7 billion and trades on a P/E of 13.7; Linde is worth $240.9 billion and trades on a P/E of 34.8. Each has a side-by-side comparison with Nucor below.
Nucor competitors
- Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) analysis · Nucor vs Freeport-McMoRan comparison
- Newmont (NEM) analysis · Nucor vs Newmont comparison
- Linde (LIN) analysis · Nucor vs Linde comparison
To understand Nucor better
- How to Read a Balance Sheet: A Beginner's Guide
- P/E Ratio and EPS Explained: How to Read Them Without Traps
More companies like Nucor: materials and chemicals stocks and S&P 500 companies. Open the full NUE analysis with its valuation and scenarios. Educational content about Nucor, not investment advice.