Nucor(US:NUE) ZACKS·2025-12-18 13:46Core Insights - Nucor Corporation (NUE) has projected fourth-quarter earnings per share (EPS) for the period ending December 31, 2025, in the range of $1.65 to $1.75, indicating a decline from $2.63 in the third quarter of 2025 but an improvement over $1.22 in the fourth quarter of 2024 [1][7] Earnings Outlook - The anticipated decline in earnings is attributed to seasonal factors and fewer shipping days, with the steel mills segment expected to see moderated earnings due to lower shipment volumes and margin pressure, especially in sheet products [2][7] - The steel products segment is forecasted to experience reduced profitability due to lower volumes and higher average costs per ton, although this is partially offset by improved realized pricing [3] - The raw materials segment is expected to underperform due to two planned outages at Nucor's direct reduced iron facilities [3] Shareholder Returns - Despite the earnings decline, Nucor has prioritized shareholder returns, repurchasing approximately 0.7 million shares at an average price of about $145.23 during the quarter, totaling around 5.4 million shares repurchased year-to-date at an average cost of roughly $128.66 per share [4][7] - Including dividends, Nucor has returned about $1.2 billion to shareholders year-to-date in 2025 [4][7] Future Outlook - Management remains optimistic for 2026, citing significantly higher order backlogs compared to the previous year, particularly in construction-related end markets such as energy, infrastructure, data centers, and manufacturing [5] - The company anticipates a gradual improvement in market conditions, supported by favorable monetary, tax, and trade policies [5] - Nucor is scheduled to report fourth-quarter results after market close on January 26, 2026 [5] Stock Performance - Shares of NUE have increased by 27.3% over the past six months, compared to a 33.6% rise in the industry [6]