UBS Points to Pricing Strength Behind Nucor’s (NUE) Share Gains

Group 1 - Nucor Corporation (NYSE:NUE) is recognized as one of the Dividend Growth Stocks: 25 Aristocrats, indicating its strong track record in dividend payments [1] - UBS analyst Andrew Jones downgraded Nucor from Buy to Neutral, raising the price target to $183 from $168, citing a "full" valuation and pricing [2] - Nucor shares have increased by 32% since mid-October, despite a weaker fourth quarter, driven by strong pricing momentum in flat and long products and a $130/st increase in plate prices [2] Group 2 - Nucor's fourth-quarter profit and revenue fell short of Wall Street expectations, with earnings of $1.73 per share compared to the expected $1.91 per share [3][4] - Revenue for the quarter rose by 9% to $7.69 billion, but this was below the consensus estimate of $7.87 billion [4] - Higher costs impacted margins across Nucor's steelmaking operations, despite US import tariffs lifting spot steel prices [3] Group 3 - Nucor is a leading steel producer with operations in the US, Canada, and Mexico, producing steel and steel products as well as ferrous and non-ferrous materials [5]