Nucor CorporationNYSE: NUE
Materials · Steel
$243.81
-3.48%
Vol: 2.0M
Research Digest
Thursday, June 18, 2026
No significant overnight updates
No material news in the last 48 hours.
Previous Market Intelligence
13 daysJun 17Nucor drew fresh bullish analyst attention with JPMorgan raising its price target to $282 on June 10, 2026 and the board declaring a $0.56 quarterly dividend on June 9, as shares ride strong momentum.Positive▶
JPMorgan raised its Nucor price target to $282 from $240 on June 10, 2026, among a cluster of bullish calls including Bank of America at $290 (Buy) and Goldman Sachs at $240 (Buy). Nucor's board declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.56 per share on June 9, 2026. Shares have shown strong momentum, up ~17% over 30 days and ~122% over one year, recently near $260-$266. CEO Leon Topalian argued in late April the stock remains undervalued. Bear case: GuruFocus pegs fair value near $170, implying the stock is ~53% overvalued, and 2025 earnings fell ~14% to $1.74 billion, raising concerns the rally has outrun fundamentals.
Jun 16No significant overnight updatesNeutral▶
No material news in the last 48 hours.
Jun 15No significant overnight updatesNeutral▶
No material news in the last 48 hours.
Jun 14No significant overnight updatesNeutral▶
No material news in the last 48 hours.
May 21Nucor EVP Randy Spicer sold 2,500 shares for $562,500 on May 18 as stock trades near 52-week highs after blowout Q1.Neutral▶
Nucor EVP Randy Spicer sold 2,500 shares at $225 on May 18, 2026, totaling $562,500, adding to a wave of insider sales that has seen CEO Leon Topalian unload roughly $14.5M over six months. The sales come as the stock sits near its 52-week high of $235.45 following a 96% one-year return driven by strong Q1 2026 results: revenue of $9.5B (+21% YoY) and EPS of $3.23 versus $2.82 expected. BMO raised its target to $250 from $235 with an Outperform rating, while UBS turned more cautious citing stretched valuation. Stockholders re-elected all eight directors at the May 14 annual meeting.
May 20Nucor CEO Leon Topalian exercised options and sold 52,000 shares around the high $220s on May 15, 2026 following Q1 earnings beat and Fitch's A- rating affirmation.Mixed▶
Nucor CEO Leon Topalian exercised options for 52,000 shares and sold the same on May 15, 2026 at weighted average prices in the high $220s per share, banking roughly $11.8 million. The insider sales follow strong Q1 2026 results released May 13 showing revenue of $9.50B (+21% YoY), EPS of $3.23 beating $2.82 consensus, and net income of $743M vs. $156M a year earlier. BMO Capital responded by raising its price target to $250 from $235 (Outperform). Fitch Ratings affirmed an A- rating with Stable Outlook on May 12, citing expected EBITDA leverage below 1.5x through 2029. VP/Controller Michael Keller also sold ~$1.03M on May 4. Risk: clustered C-suite selling at multi-month highs may signal management views the stock as fully valued near term.
May 19Nucor hits all-time high $235.45 after Q1 beat ($3.23 EPS, $9.5B revenue) and Argus raises PT to $262.Positive▶
Nucor reported Q1 2026 revenue of $9.50B (+21% YoY) and EPS of $3.23 vs $2.82 consensus; net income jumped to $743M from $156M. The company authorized a new $4B share repurchase plan and raised hot-rolled coil pricing by $10/short ton to $1,080 on May 11. Argus raised PT to $262 from $200 (Buy) on May 15. Shares hit an all-time high of $235.45, trading $223.04-$227.65 on May 18. EVP Bradley Ford sold 2,240 shares May 7 for ~$520K. Risk: insider selling, cyclical demand concerns.
May 18Nucor surges after Q1 earnings beat as Argus raises price target following strong steel demand and buyback authorization.Positive▶
Nucor reported Q1 2026 revenue of $9.5 billion (+21% YoY) and EPS of $3.23, beating Zacks consensus of $2.82. Net income climbed to $743M from $156M YoY, driven by 12% higher average price per ton and 9% higher shipments. Demand and backlogs strengthened across steel mills and steel products segments. Argus raised its price target on May 15 following the earnings beat and new buyback authorization. Seaport Research raised PT to $245 from $185. The company guided for higher Q2 earnings. The 30-day share return is +30.84% and 1-year total return is 99.27%. Insider selling activity noted: EVP Daniel Needham sold 12,888 shares ($2.9M), EVP Noah Hanners sold 6,472 shares ($1.5M).
May 15Nucor stock hits all-time high $235.45 as Q1 revenue jumps 21% to $9.5B; BMO Capital raises PT to $250.Positive▶
Nucor reported Q1 2026 EPS of $3.23 (vs $0.67 prior year), beating consensus of $2.82. Revenue rose 21% YoY to $9.5 billion (vs $8.88B expected) as average sales price per ton increased 12% and shipments to external customers grew 9% to ~7.43M tons. Net earnings were $743M. Steel mills delivered record quarterly shipments with a 14% increase in average selling price per ton and 8% rise in outside shipments. The stock reached an all-time high of $235.45 (+100.67% over 1 year). BMO Capital raised its price target to $250 from $235 (Outperform). Management guides higher consolidated Q2 earnings across all three segments. The company has raised its dividend for 16 consecutive years. Key risk is steel cycle reversal. Sentiment strongly positive.
May 14Nucor hit a 52-week high of $235.44 on May 13 after Q1 2026 revenue surged 21% to $9.5B and EPS of $3.23 crushed the $2.82 estimate, with management guiding higher Q2 earnings.Positive▶
Nucor reported Q1 2026 results on May 13 with net sales rising 21% YoY to $9.50B (vs $8.88B consensus), and net earnings climbing to $743M, or $3.23 per diluted share (vs $2.82 estimate) — up from $156M and $0.67 a year earlier. The steel mills segment posted record quarterly shipments, a 14% increase in average selling price per ton, and 8% rise in outside shipments. Management guided for higher consolidated earnings in Q2 2026 across all three segments. Shares hit a new 52-week high of $235.44 mid-day on May 13. Zacks added NUE to its Rank #1 Strong Buy list with sharply raised FY2026-FY2028 estimates. Multiple insiders sold in early May: EVP Bradley Ford (2,240 shares/$519,962), EVP Allen Behr (10,096 shares/$2.28M), VP Michael Keller (4,554 shares/$1.03M). Nucor has raised its dividend 16 consecutive years.
May 13Nucor surges on Q1 2026 earnings beat with $3.23 EPS and Q2 guidance hike, though insider selling raises questionsMixed▶
Nucor reported strong Q1 2026 earnings on May 11, 2026, with adjusted EPS of $3.23 (beating estimates by 14.54%) and revenue of $9.5 billion (beating by 6.98%), driving a 4.18% stock surge. Net earnings reached $743 million, and management issued higher Q2 2026 guidance. The 30-day share price return is 30.84% and 1-year total shareholder return is 99.27%. However, insider selling has been notable, with EVPs Noah Hanners, Allen Behr, and Bradley Ford, plus VP/Controller Michael Keller, all selling shares in early May. The stock trades near its 52-week high of $233.74 around $229.29 with a market cap of $52.23B, leading some analysts to question the bull case.
May 12Nucor executives sell $8M+ of stock in early May after Q1 beat and raised Q2 guidance amid concerns of cooling steel pricesMixed▶
Following a Q1 2026 earnings beat on May 2 with sales of $9.5B and net income of $743M, plus guidance for higher Q2 earnings on better metal margins and volumes, multiple Nucor executives have sold significant stock in early May. EVP Daniel R. Needham sold 12,888 shares ($2.91M); EVP Allen C. Behr sold 10,096 shares ($2.28M); EVP Noah C. Hanners disposed of 6,472 shares ($1.47M); VP/Corporate Controller Michael Keller sold 4,554 shares ($1.03M); and EVP Bradley Ford sold 2,240 shares ($519,962). Analysts note the stock's sharp rally has prompted more neutral views, citing potential for steel prices to ease toward lower import parity levels. Wells Fargo had raised its target to $213 from $197 (Overweight) on April 16. Stock trading at $227.08 with $51.81B market cap.
May 11Nucor executives sold significant insider blocks May 1-5 totaling 23,362 shares (~$5.4M) following Q1 2026 strength, with stock trading near $227 after 102% one-year gain.Mixed▶
Multiple Nucor executives sold company shares in open-market transactions in early May 2026: EVP Noah Hanners sold 6,472 shares on May 1 (avg $226.50), VP/Controller Michael Keller sold 4,554 shares May 4 ($1.03M), EVP Allen Behr sold 10,096 shares May 4 ($2.28M), and EVP Bradley Ford sold 2,240 shares May 5 ($520K). Insider selling clusters often draw investor attention after strong rallies. Nucor reported Q1 2026 sales of $9.5B and net income of $743M with guidance for higher Q2 consolidated earnings on record steel mill shipments and robust backlogs. BMO Capital's Katja Jancic highlighted the strong start to 2026, though some analysts shifted to neutral citing the 102% one-year rally and view that steel prices may ease toward import parity. Risk: import parity pricing pressure and elevated valuation after sharp rally.
Sector Peers
| Company | Price | Day | 1M | Fwd P/E | Beta | Mkt Cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NUENUCOR | $243.81 | -3.48% | +8.1% | 14.7x | 1.91 | $55.5B |
| STLDSTEEL | $249.73 | -7.55% | +9.5% | 13.9x | 1.52 | $36.0B |
| LINLINDE | $512.15 | -0.72% | +1.1% | 26.0x | 0.73 | $236.8B |
| NEMNEWMONT | $104.04 | -1.54% | -3.4% | 9.1x | 0.46 | $110.8B |
| FCXFREEPORT | $68.84 | -0.32% | +12.8% | 17.6x | 1.36 | $98.7B |
| SHWSHERWIN | $321.36 | +2.41% | +4.3% | 24.2x | 1.13 | $79.1B |
Key Fundamentals
RSI (14-Day)
52-Week Range
Moving Averages
Price above both MAs — bullish structure.