Zacks Research Weighs in on Nucor’s Q3 Earnings (NYSE:NUE)

Nucor Corporation (NYSE:NUE) – Equities research analysts at Zacks Research cut their Q3 2026 EPS estimates for Nucor in a report released on Monday, October 12th. Zacks Research analyst Team now anticipates that the basic materials company will earn $5.61 per share for the quarter, down from their prior estimate of $5.90. Zacks Research has a “Hold” rating on the stock. The consensus estimate for Nucor’s current full-year earnings is $19.62 per share. Zacks Research also issued estimates for Nucor’s Q3 2027 earnings at $5.13 EPS, Q3 2028 earnings at $6.05 EPS and FY2028 earnings at $21.21 EPS.

Nucor (NYSE:NUE) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Monday, July 27th. The basic materials company reported $4.84 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $4.46 by $0.38. Nucor had a return on equity of 12.73% and a net margin of 7.99%. The firm had revenue of $10.40 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $10.15 billion. During the same period last year, the company posted $2.60 EPS. The business’s quarterly revenue was up 23.0% on a year-over-year basis.

Other analysts have also issued research reports about the stock. UBS Group lifted their price objective on shares of Nucor from $224.00 to $256.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 28th. Wells Fargo & Company cut their target price on shares of Nucor from $285.00 to $280.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, September 18th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their price target on shares of Nucor from $308.00 to $296.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Friday, October 9th. Citigroup reaffirmed a “buy” rating on shares of Nucor in a research note on Wednesday, July 29th. Finally, Barclays lifted their price target on shares of Nucor from $272.00 to $295.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 29th. Thirteen equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and four have given a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $276.07.

Nucor Price Performance

Shares of NUE opened at $256.97 on Tuesday. The firm has a market cap of $58.30 billion, a PE ratio of 20.42, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.62 and a beta of 1.84. Nucor has a 52-week low of $131.32 and a 52-week high of $280.11. The business’s 50 day moving average price is $254.39 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $237.25. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.27, a quick ratio of 1.36 and a current ratio of 2.51.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Nucor

Several large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in NUE. BlackRock Inc. purchased a new stake in Nucor during the second quarter valued at about $4,452,563,000. Bank of America Corp DE bought a new stake in Nucor during the second quarter worth about $462,886,000. Berkshire Hathaway Inc bought a new stake in Nucor during the second quarter worth about $413,814,000. Bank of New York Mellon Corp purchased a new position in shares of Nucor in the 2nd quarter worth about $330,902,000. Finally, Legal & General Group Plc purchased a new position in shares of Nucor in the 2nd quarter worth about $324,154,000. Institutional investors own 76.48% of the company’s stock.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Nucor news, COO Stephen Laxton sold 3,968 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Thursday, July 30th. The shares were sold at an average price of $256.96, for a total transaction of $1,019,617.28. Following the completion of the sale, the chief operating officer owned 77,867 shares in the company, valued at approximately $20,008,704.32. The trade was a 4.85% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, EVP Thomas Batterbee sold 4,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Monday, August 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $261.02, for a total transaction of $1,044,080.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president owned 16,138 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,212,340.76. The trade was a 19.86% decrease in their position. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Insiders own 0.62% of the company’s stock.

Nucor Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, November 10th. Investors of record on Wednesday, September 30th will be given a $0.56 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, September 30th. This represents a $2.24 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.9%. Nucor’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 17.86%.

Key Headlines Impacting Nucor

Here are the key news stories impacting Nucor this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Utility-infrastructure expansion: Nucor will invest $105 million to expand its Nucor Towers & Structures facility in Crawfordsville, Indiana. The project adds more than 120,000 square feet of automated manufacturing capacity and 100 jobs, positioning the company to benefit from rising U.S. electricity-transmission and distribution demand. Nucor Indiana expansion article
• Positive Sentiment: Higher-value product mix: The investment could strengthen Nucor’s role in utility poles and related structural products, potentially diversifying revenue beyond conventional steel and improving its exposure to long-term grid-modernization spending. Nucor utility pole expansion article
• Positive Sentiment: Upward earnings revisions: Zacks Research raised its Q4 2026 EPS estimate to $6.84 from $4.81 and its FY2027 estimate to $19.44 from $18.83. The firm maintained a Hold rating, but the revisions suggest improving earnings expectations.
• Positive Sentiment: Strong investor momentum: NUE was included in Zacks’ Rank #1 (Strong Buy) momentum and value-stock lists for October 14, reinforcing the stock’s recent performance and valuation appeal. Zacks momentum stocks list
• Neutral Sentiment: Upcoming results: Nucor invited investors to its third-quarter 2026 earnings conference call. The event could provide updated guidance on steel demand, margins and whether the Indiana expansion is translating into broader earnings growth. Nucor third-quarter earnings call announcement
• Negative Sentiment: Mixed forecast signals: Zacks lowered several Q3 2026 and Q3 2027 EPS estimates, including Q3 2026 to $5.61 from $5.90, indicating near-term earnings uncertainty despite longer-term upward revisions.

Nucor Company Profile

Nucor Corporation is a Charlotte, North Carolina-based steel producer and one of the largest steel companies in North America. The company operates electric arc furnace (EAF) steel mills that use recycled scrap steel as a primary raw material, along with facilities that manufacture and process steel products for construction, manufacturing, transportation, energy and other industrial markets.

Nucor’s product portfolio includes carbon and alloy steel in sheet, plate, bar and structural forms, as well as reinforcing steel, wire and wire mesh.