Nucor Reports Results for the Second Quarter of 2024

Second Quarter of 2024 Highlights

  • Net earnings attributable to Nucor stockholders of $645.2 million, or $2.68 per diluted share.
  • Net sales of $8.08 billion.
  • Net earnings before noncontrolling interests of $712.1 million; EBITDA of $1.23 billion.

CHARLOTTE, N.C., July 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Nucor Corporation (NYSE: NUE) today announced consolidated net earnings attributable to Nucor stockholders of $645.2 million, or $2.68 per diluted share, for the second quarter of 2024. By comparison, Nucor reported consolidated net earnings attributable to Nucor stockholders of $844.8 million, or $3.46 per diluted share, for the first quarter of 2024 and $1.46 billion, or $5.81 per diluted share, for the second quarter of 2023.

In the first six months of 2024, Nucor reported consolidated net earnings attributable to Nucor stockholders of $1.49 billion, or $6.14 per diluted share, compared with consolidated net earnings attributable to Nucor stockholders of $2.60 billion, or $10.26 per diluted share, in the first six months of 2023.

"While market conditions have softened compared to recent record-setting years, Nucor remains focused on its long-term growth strategy and has returned more than $1.7 billion to investors through June," said Leon Topalian, Nucor's Chair, President and Chief Executive Officer.

"Nucor's strategy to grow our core steelmaking operations and expand into steel-adjacent downstream markets positions the company to create attractive shareholder value and improve the company's through-cycle earnings profile. I am incredibly proud of the 32,000 men and women of Nucor who are executing this growth plan while achieving the safest start to any year in Nucor's history."   

Selected Segment Data
Earnings (loss) before income taxes and noncontrolling interests by segment for the second quarter and first six months of 2024 and 2023 were as follows (in thousands):










Three Months (13 Weeks) Ended



Six Months (26 Weeks) Ended




June 29, 2024



July 1, 2023



June 29, 2024



July 1, 2023


Steel mills


$

645,315



$

1,403,547



$

1,747,566



$

2,241,935


Steel products



441,391




1,010,789




952,950




1,981,591


Raw materials



39,396




138,411




48,977




196,551


Corporate/eliminations



(227,939)




(502,965)




(625,989)




(773,511)




$

898,163



$

2,049,782



$

2,123,504



$

3,646,566


Financial Review
Nucor's consolidated net sales decreased 1% to $8.08 billion in the second quarter of 2024 compared with $8.14 billion in the first quarter of 2024 and decreased 15% compared with $9.52 billion in the second quarter of 2023. Average sales price per ton in the second quarter of 2024 decreased 2% compared with the first quarter of 2024 and decreased 11% compared with the second quarter of 2023. A total of approximately 6,289,000 tons were shipped to outside customers in the second quarter of 2024, a 1% increase compared with the first quarter of 2024 and a 5% decrease compared with the second quarter of 2023. Total steel mill shipments in the second quarter of 2024 were comparable to the first quarter of 2024 and decreased 2% as compared to the second quarter of 2023. Steel mill shipments to internal customers represented 21% of total steel mill shipments in the second quarter of 2024, compared with 21% in the first quarter of 2024 and 20% in the second quarter of 2023. Downstream steel product shipments to outside customers in the second quarter of 2024 increased 11% compared with the first quarter of 2024 and decreased 10% compared with the second quarter of 2023.

In the first six months of 2024, Nucor's consolidated net sales of $16.21 billion decreased 11% compared with consolidated net sales of $18.23 billion reported in the first six months of 2023. Total tons shipped to outside customers in the first six months of 2024 were approximately 12,513,000 tons, a decrease of 4% compared with the first six months of 2023, and the average sales price per ton in the first six months of 2024 decreased 7% compared with the first six months of 2023.

The average scrap and scrap substitute cost per gross ton used in the second quarter of 2024 was $396, a 6% decrease compared to $421 in the first quarter of 2024 and a 13% decrease compared to $455 in the second quarter of 2023. The average scrap and scrap substitute cost per gross ton used in the first six months of 2024 was $409, a 6% decrease compared to $435 in the first six months of 2023.

Pre-operating and start-up costs related to the Company's growth projects were approximately $137 million, or $0.43 per diluted share, in the second quarter of 2024, compared with approximately $125 million, or $0.39 per diluted share, in the first quarter of 2024 and approximately $90 million, or $0.27 per diluted share, in the second quarter of 2023.

In the first six months of 2024, pre-operating and start-up costs related to the Company's growth projects were approximately $262 million, or $0.82 per diluted share, compared with approximately $172 million, or $0.52 per diluted share, in the first six months of 2023.

Overall operating rates at the Company's steel mills decreased to 75% in the second quarter of 2024 as compared to 82% in the first quarter of 2024 and 84% in the second quarter of 2023. Operating rates in the first six months of 2024 decreased to 79% as compared to 82% in the first six months of 2023.

Financial Strength
At the end of the second quarter of 2024, we had $5.43 billion in cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments on hand. The Company's $1.75 billion revolving credit facility remains undrawn and does not expire until November 2026.  Nucor continues to have the strongest credit ratings in the North American steel sector (A-/A-/Baa1) with stable outlooks at Standard & Poor's and Fitch Ratings and a positive outlook at Moody's.

Commitment to Returning Capital to Stockholders
During the second quarter of 2024, Nucor repurchased approximately 2.9 million shares of its common stock at an average price of $170.70 per share (approximately 8.5 million shares during the first six months of 2024 at an average price of $177.30 per share). As of June 29, 2024, Nucor had approximately $1.82 billion remaining authorized and available for repurchases under its share repurchase program. This share repurchase authorization is discretionary and has no scheduled expiration date.

On June 6, 2024, Nucor's Board of Directors declared a cash dividend of $0.54 per share. This cash dividend is payable on August 9, 2024, to stockholders of record as of June 28, 2024, and is Nucor's 205th consecutive quarterly cash dividend.

Second Quarter of 2024 Analysis
The largest driver of the decrease in earnings in the second quarter of 2024 as compared to the first quarter of 2024 was the decreased earnings of the steel mills segment, primarily due to lower average selling prices, and, to a lesser extent, decreased volumes. The steel products segment had decreased earnings in the second quarter of 2024 as compared to the first quarter of 2024 due to lower average selling prices, partially offset by increased volumes. Earnings in the raw materials segment increased in the second quarter of 2024 as compared to the first quarter of 2024 due to the increased profitability of our direct reduced iron facilities.

Third Quarter of 2024 Outlook
We expect earnings in the third quarter of 2024 to decrease compared to the second quarter of 2024. The largest driver for the expected decrease in earnings in the third quarter of 2024 is the expected decrease in earnings of the steel mills segment, primarily due to lower average selling prices. We expect earnings in the steel products segment to decrease in the third quarter of 2024 as compared to the second quarter of 2024 due to lower average selling prices. The earnings of the raw materials segment are expected to decrease in the third quarter of 2024 as compared to the second quarter of 2024.

Earnings Conference Call
You are invited to listen to the live broadcast of Nucor's conference call during which management will discuss Nucor's second quarter results on July 23, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time. The call can be accessed via webcast from the Investor Relations section of Nucor's website (nucor.com/investors). A presentation with supplemental information to accompany the call has been posted to Nucor's Investor Relations website. A playback of the webcast will be posted to the same site within one day of the live event.

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 EBITDA. 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 EBITDA as net earnings before noncontrolling interests, adding back the following items: interest (income) expense, net; provision for income taxes; depreciation; and amortization. Please note that other companies might define their non-GAAP financial measures differently than we do.

Management presents the non-GAAP financial measure of EBITDA 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.

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) U.S. and foreign trade policies affecting steel imports or exports; (3) the sensitivity of the results of our operations to general market conditions, and in particular, prevailing market steel prices and changes in the supply and cost of raw materials, including pig iron, iron ore and scrap steel; (4) the availability and cost of electricity and natural gas, which could negatively affect our cost of steel production or result in a delay or cancellation of existing or future drilling within our natural gas drilling programs; (5) critical equipment failures and business interruptions; (6) market demand for steel products, which, in the case of many of our products, is driven by the level of nonresidential construction activity in the United States; (7) impairment in the recorded value of inventory, equity investments, fixed assets, goodwill or other long-lived assets; (8) uncertainties and volatility surrounding the global economy, including excess world capacity for steel production, inflation and interest rate changes; (9) fluctuations in currency conversion rates; (10) significant changes in laws or government regulations affecting environmental compliance, including legislation and regulations that result in greater regulation of greenhouse gas emissions that could increase our energy costs, capital expenditures and operating costs or cause one or more of our permits to be revoked or make it more difficult to obtain permit modifications; (11) the cyclical nature of the steel industry; (12) capital investments and their impact on our performance; (13) our safety performance; (14) our ability to integrate businesses we acquire; and (15) the impact of any pandemic or public health situation. These and other factors are discussed in Nucor's regulatory filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, including those in "Item 1A. Risk Factors" of Nucor's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release speak only as of this date, and Nucor does not assume any obligation to update them, except as may be required by applicable law.

Tonnage Data


(In thousands)





























Three Months (13 Weeks) Ended



Six Months (26 Weeks) Ended




June 29, 2024



July 1, 2023



Percent
Change



June 29, 2024



July 1, 2023



Percent
Change


Steel mills total shipments:

























Sheet



2,869




2,786




3

%



5,843




5,605




4

%

Bars



2,005




2,122




-6

%



3,917




4,291




-9

%

Structural



512




505




1

%



1,062




1,041




2

%

Plate



448




520




-14

%



860




974




-12

%

Other



33




46




-28

%



75




103




-27

%




5,867




5,979




-2

%



11,757




12,014




-2

%


























Sales tons to outside customers:

























Steel mills



4,617




4,774




-3

%



9,293




9,578




-3

%

Joist



103




142




-27

%



202




277




-27

%

Deck



82




107




-23

%



163




206




-21

%

Cold finished



96




112




-14

%



195




229




-15

%

Rebar fabrication products



265




332




-20

%



503




611




-18

%

Piling



158




113




40

%



256




214




20

%

Tubular products



214




239




-10

%



422




514




-18

%

Other steel products



156




148




5

%



298




283




5

%

Raw materials



598




621




-4

%



1,181




1,119




6

%




6,289




6,588




-5

%



12,513




13,031




-4

%


























 

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings (Unaudited)

(In thousands, except per share data)




Three Months (13 Weeks) Ended



Six Months (26 Weeks) Ended




June 29, 2024



July 1, 2023



June 29, 2024



July 1, 2023


Net sales


$

8,077,172



$

9,523,256



$

16,214,255



$

18,233,236


Costs, expenses and other:

















Cost of products sold



6,883,117




7,021,582




13,497,020




13,733,360


Marketing, administrative and other expenses



307,230




453,388




652,625




843,283


Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates



(9,032)




(6,094)




(18,801)




(4,754)


Interest (income) expense, net



(2,306)




4,598




(40,093)




14,781





7,179,009




7,473,474




14,090,751




14,586,670


Earnings before income taxes and noncontrolling interests



898,163




2,049,782




2,123,504




3,646,566


Provision for income taxes



186,020




462,707




452,399




827,862


Net earnings before noncontrolling interests



712,143




1,587,075




1,671,105




2,818,704


Earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests



66,926




125,721




181,047




220,808


Net earnings attributable to Nucor stockholders


$

645,217



$

1,461,354



$

1,490,058



$

2,597,896


Net earnings per share:

















Basic


$

2.68



$

5.82



$

6.15



$

10.28


Diluted


$

2.68



$

5.81



$

6.14



$

10.26


Average shares outstanding:

















Basic



239,580




250,144




241,329




251,876


Diluted



239,935




250,524




241,528




252,334


 

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited)

(In thousands)




June 29, 2024



Dec. 31, 2023


ASSETS









Current assets:









Cash and cash equivalents


$

4,638,978



$

6,383,298


Short-term investments



795,180




747,479


Accounts receivable, net



3,113,079




2,953,311


Inventories, net



5,255,843




5,577,758


Other current assets



455,042




724,012


Total current assets



14,258,122




16,385,858


Property, plant and equipment, net



11,999,189




11,049,767


Restricted cash and cash equivalents



-




3,494


Goodwill



4,000,144




3,968,847


Other intangible assets, net



3,051,479




3,108,015


Other assets



876,291




824,518


Total assets


$

34,185,225



$

35,340,499


LIABILITIES









Current liabilities:









Short-term debt


$

168,510



$

119,211


Current portion of long-term debt and finance lease obligations



1,075,203




74,102


Accounts payable



1,744,657




2,020,289


Salaries, wages and related accruals



857,481




1,326,390


Accrued expenses and other current liabilities



1,019,410




1,054,517


Total current liabilities



4,865,261




4,594,509


Long-term debt and finance lease obligations due after one year



5,648,555




6,648,873


Deferred credits and other liabilities



1,898,901




1,973,363


Total liabilities



12,412,717




13,216,745


Commitments and contingencies









EQUITY









Nucor stockholders' equity:









Common stock



152,061




152,061


Additional paid-in capital



2,189,371




2,176,243


Retained earnings



29,991,834




28,762,045


Accumulated other comprehensive loss,

   net of income taxes



(177,638)




(162,072)


Treasury stock



(11,432,103)




(9,987,643)


Total Nucor stockholders' equity



20,723,525




20,940,634


Noncontrolling interests



1,048,983




1,183,120


Total equity



21,772,508




22,123,754


Total liabilities and equity


$

34,185,225



$

35,340,499


 

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited)

(In thousands)




Six Months (26 Weeks) Ended




June 29, 2024



July 1, 2023


Operating activities:









Net earnings before noncontrolling interests


$

1,671,105



$

2,818,704


Adjustments:









Depreciation



527,626




448,836


Amortization



119,850




117,231


Stock-based compensation



82,725




83,587


Deferred income taxes



(77,611)




(44,609)


Distributions from affiliates



7,877




18,621


Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates



(18,801)




(4,754)


Changes in assets and liabilities (exclusive of acquisitions and dispositions):









Accounts receivable



(153,856)




(270,314)


Inventories



333,247




(174,437)


Accounts payable



(314,761)




242,071


Federal income taxes



132,931




396,341


Salaries, wages and related accruals



(426,098)




(573,993)


Other operating activities



60,697




70,313


Cash provided by operating activities



1,944,931




3,127,597


Investing activities:









Capital expenditures



(1,471,234)




(1,057,086)


Investment in and advances to affiliates



(79)




(35,078)


Disposition of plant and equipment



9,530




5,289


Acquisitions (net of cash acquired)



(108,943)




-


Purchases of investments



(886,892)




(701,639)


Proceeds from the sale of investments



855,965




408,854


Other investing activities



1,324




-


Cash used in investing activities



(1,600,329)




(1,379,660)


Financing activities:









Net change in short-term debt



49,299




(15,742)


Repayment of long-term debt



(5,000)




(5,000)


Proceeds from exercise of stock options



3,357




7,123


Payment of tax withholdings on certain stock-based compensation



(47,018)




(42,120)


Distributions to noncontrolling interests



(315,189)




(388,771)


Cash dividends



(264,367)




(259,894)


Acquisition of treasury stock



(1,501,283)




(876,698)


Other financing activities



(7,065)




(8,296)


Cash used in financing activities



(2,087,266)




(1,589,398)


Effect of exchange rate changes on cash



(5,150)




3,469


Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents and

   restricted cash and cash equivalents



(1,747,814)




162,008


Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash and cash

   equivalents - beginning of year



6,386,792




4,361,220


Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash and cash

   equivalents - end of six months


$

4,638,978



$

4,523,228


Non-cash investing activity:









Change in accrued plant and equipment purchases


$

37,106



$

(36,580)


 

Non-GAAP Financial Measures


Reconciliation of EBITDA (Unaudited)


(In thousands)





















Three Months (13 Weeks) Ended



6 Months (26 Weeks) Ended




June 29, 2024



July 1, 2023



June 29, 2024



July 1, 2023


Net earnings before noncontrolling interests


$

712,143



$

1,587,075



$

1,671,105



$

2,818,704


Depreciation



270,688




227,747




527,626




448,836


Amortization



61,167




58,462




119,850




117,231


Interest (income) expense, net



(2,306)




4,598




(40,093)




14,781


Provision for income taxes



186,020




462,707




452,399




827,862


EBITDA


$

1,227,712



$

2,340,589



$

2,730,887



$

4,227,414


 

SOURCE Nucor Corporation