Nucor Corporation (NYSE:NUE) issued guidance for the first quarter of 2026, projecting earnings of $2.70 to $2.80 per diluted share, ahead of the analyst consensus estimate of $2.71 per share. The midpoint of the company’s forecast is $2.75 per share. Shares were little changed following the announcement.
The steel producer said it expects profit growth across all three of its business segments compared with the fourth quarter of 2025. The steel mills division is anticipated to deliver the strongest improvement, supported by higher average selling prices and increased shipment volumes across its product lines.
In the steel products segment, Nucor expects earnings to rise as a result of stronger shipment volumes and stable average pricing. Meanwhile, the raw materials segment is also projected to post modestly higher earnings.
The company’s outlook marks a substantial improvement compared with the first quarter of the prior year, when Nucor reported adjusted earnings of $0.77 per diluted share.
“Earnings in the first quarter of 2026 are expected to increase across all three of our operating segments as compared to the fourth quarter of 2025, with the largest increase in the steel mills segment,” the company stated in its release.
During the first quarter of 2026, Nucor repurchased about 0.7 million shares at an average price of $175.19 each. Year-to-date, the company has returned roughly $250 million to shareholders through a combination of share buybacks and dividend payments.
For the fourth quarter of 2025, Nucor reported net earnings of $1.64 per diluted share and adjusted earnings of $1.73 per diluted share.
Nucor said it plans to report its first-quarter 2026 results after the market closes on April 27, 2026, followed by a conference call scheduled for April 28 at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time.