Nucor Announces Guidance for the Second Quarter of 2026 Earnings
Rhea-AI Summary
Nucor (NYSE:NUE) issued guidance for its second quarter ending July 4, 2026, expecting earnings of $4.70–$4.80 per diluted share. Excluding a $0.20 non-cash benefit from its Helion investment, adjusted EPS is guided to $4.50–$4.60, above prior-year and prior-quarter results.
The company anticipates higher earnings across all segments, benefits from ~$130 million in raw material cost refunds, and has returned ~$630 million to shareholders year-to-date through buybacks and dividends.
Positive
- Q2 2026 EPS guidance of $4.70–$4.80 per diluted share
- Adjusted Q2 2026 EPS guided to $4.50–$4.60 excluding $0.20 non-cash benefit
- All operating segments expected to post higher earnings versus Q1 2026
- Steel mills segment aided by higher prices and ~$130 million cash refunds
- Steel products segment guided to higher earnings on stronger volumes and pricing
- Shareholder returns of approximately $630 million year-to-date, including 1.12 million shares repurchased at $223.47
Negative
- None.
News Market Reaction – NUE
In the Jun 18 session, NUE declined 3.47%, reflecting a moderate negative market reaction.
Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.
Key Figures
Historical Context
| Date | Event | Sentiment | 24h Move | Catalyst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-09 | Dividend declaration | Positive | -1.4% | Announced 213th consecutive quarterly cash dividend of $0.56 per share. |
| 2026-04-27 | Earnings release | Positive | +4.7% | Reported Q1 2026 EPS of $3.23 with strong sales and large buyback authorization. |
| 2026-04-14 | Earnings call notice | Neutral | +0.2% | Announced webcast for Q1 2026 results and Q&A session with management. |
| 2026-03-19 | Guidance update | Positive | +0.5% | Issued Q1 2026 EPS guidance of $2.70–$2.80 with segment earnings growth outlook. |
| 2026-03-03 | Executive retirement | Neutral | -1.8% | Announced planned retirement of Executive Vice President Dan Needham. |
24h Move is the share-price change in the day after each event; other market factors may also have contributed.
The stock often aligns with positive earnings and guidance updates but has shown occasional divergence on dividends and corporate news.
Key Terms
non-gaap financial
generally accepted accounting principles financial
forward-looking statements regulatory
AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.
Non-Cash Benefit Recorded in the Second Quarter of 2026
Included in the second quarter of 2026 non-adjusted guidance range is an estimated benefit of approximately
Second Quarter of 2026 Outlook Compared to the First Quarter of 2026
Earnings in the second quarter of 2026 are expected to increase across all three of our operating segments as compared to the first quarter of 2026, with the largest increase in the steel mills segment. The expected increase in the steel mills segment is due to higher average selling prices and stable volumes. It also reflects approximately
Capital Returns
As of June 17, 2026, Nucor has repurchased approximately 1.12 million shares at an average price of
Second Quarter of 2026 Earnings Release and Conference Call
Nucor plans to release its earnings after the markets close on Monday, July 27, 2026, and will host a conference call the morning of Tuesday, July 28, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time to review the Company's second quarter results. The event will be broadcast on the internet, and instructions on how to access will be sent closer to the call.
About Nucor
Nucor and its affiliates are manufacturers of steel and steel products, with operating facilities in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Products produced include: carbon and alloy steel -- in bars, beams, sheet and plate; hollow structural section tubing; electrical conduit; steel racking; steel piling; steel joists and joist girders; steel deck; fabricated concrete reinforcing steel; cold finished steel; precision castings; steel fasteners; metal building systems; insulated metal panels; overhead doors; steel grating; wire and wire mesh; and utility structures. Nucor, through The David J. Joseph Company and its affiliates, also brokers ferrous and nonferrous metals, pig iron and hot briquetted iron / direct reduced iron; supplies ferro-alloys; and processes ferrous and nonferrous scrap. Nucor is North America's largest recycler.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
The Company uses certain non-GAAP (Generally Accepted Accounting Principles) financial measures in this news release, including adjusted net earnings per diluted share (and expected guidance range thereof). Generally, a non-GAAP financial measure is a numerical measure of a company's performance or financial position that either excludes or includes amounts that are not normally excluded or included in the most directly comparable financial measure calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP.
We define adjusted net earnings per diluted share (and expected guidance range thereof) as the net earnings per diluted share subtracting the per diluted share impact of a certain non-cash benefit, net of tax. Please note that other companies might define their non-GAAP financial measures differently than we do.
Management presents the non-GAAP financial measure of adjusted net earnings per diluted share in this news release because it considers it to be an important supplemental measure of performance. Management believes that this non-GAAP financial measure provides additional insight for analysts and investors evaluating the Company's financial and operational performance by providing a consistent basis of comparison across periods.
Reconciliation of Adjusted Net Earnings Per Diluted Share (Unaudited)
Three Months (13 Weeks) Ended | ||||||||
July 4, 2026 | ||||||||
Lower End of Range | Upper End of Range | |||||||
Net earnings per diluted share | $ | 4.70 | $ | 4.80 | ||||
Less: Certain non-cash benefit, net of tax | (0.20) | (0.20) | ||||||
Adjusted net earnings per diluted share | $ | 4.50 | $ | 4.60 | ||||
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements contained in this news release are "forward-looking statements" that involve risks and uncertainties which we expect will or may occur in the future and may impact our business, financial condition and results of operations. The words "anticipate," "believe," "expect," "intend," "project," "may," "will," "should," "could" and similar expressions are intended to identify those forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements reflect the Company's best judgment based on current information, and, although we base these statements on circumstances that we believe to be reasonable when made, there can be no assurance that future events will not affect the accuracy of such forward-looking information. As such, the forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, and actual results may vary materially from the projected results and expectations discussed in this news release. Factors that might cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: (1) competitive pressure on sales and pricing, including pressure from imports and substitute materials; (2)
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SOURCE Nucor Corporation