Nucor(US:NUE)2026-01-27 16:02Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Adjusted earnings for Q4 were $1.73 per share, with full-year earnings at $7.71 per share, while EBITDA totaled $918 million for the quarter and approximately $4.2 billion for the year [7][20] - The company returned $1.2 billion to shareholders through dividends and share buybacks, representing about 70% of net earnings, and ended the year with $2.7 billion in cash [8][25] - For 2026, capital expenditures (CapEx) are estimated at approximately $2.5 billion, down from $3.4 billion in 2025 [22][23] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The steel mill segment generated $516 million in pretax earnings for Q4, down roughly 35% from the prior quarter, with shipment volumes declining 8% [21] - The steel products segment reported pretax earnings of $230 million, down from $319 million in the previous quarter, with volume declines primarily in the rebar fabrication business [21][22] - The raw material segment's pretax earnings were approximately $24 million, compared to $43 million in the prior quarter, due to scheduled outages [22] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The foreign import share of the U.S. finished steel market dropped from approximately 25% last year to 16% in October and an estimated 14% in November [15][16] - Domestic steel demand is expected to be slightly up relative to 2025, with strong backlogs in the steel mill segment up nearly 40% year-over-year [18][19] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to become the world's safest steel company, achieving the lowest injury and illness rate in its history for 2025 [4] - Nucor's growth strategy focuses on generating more value for customers and shareholders, with significant investments in high-margin products and steel-adjacent businesses [9][10] - The company has invested approximately $20 billion since 2020 to enhance steelmaking capabilities and expand into downstream businesses [14] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed optimism for 2026, expecting higher consolidated earnings across all segments, driven by improved demand and fewer outages [26][27] - The company anticipates that trade policies will continue to support the domestic steel industry, with a focus on enforcing tariffs against unfairly traded imports [16][59] - Management noted that while demand remains strong in many sectors, improvements in interest rate-sensitive markets like automotive and residential construction have yet to materialize [17] Other Important Information - The company has a strong commitment to maintaining a balanced capital allocation framework, with a focus on shareholder returns and growth investments [24][25] - Nucor's board approved an increase in the quarterly dividend to $0.56 per share, marking 53 consecutive years of dividend payments [25] Q&A Session Summary Question: CapEx outlook for 2027 - Management discussed the expected CapEx for 2027, indicating that the West Virginia project will absorb the majority of CapEx, with ongoing maintenance capital estimated at around $800 million [31][38] Question: Expansionary projects beyond 2026 - Management highlighted potential growth areas in data centers, energy infrastructure, and towers and structures, emphasizing a focus on lower CapEx opportunities [40][41] Question: EBITDA expectations relative to previous guidance - Management acknowledged the previous EBITDA guidance of $6.7 billion and indicated that while the West Virginia project will contribute, it may not reach full run rate by 2027 [44][48] Question: Spare capacity and market share - Management noted that Nucor operates at about 85% utilization across sheet mills, providing opportunities to capture market share from imports [50] Question: Pricing policy in light of import parity - Management emphasized that pricing is driven by demand profiles and supply chain conditions in the U.S., with a robust economic backdrop supporting pricing strength [86]