KeyCorp Initiates Coverage on Nucor (NYSE:NUE)

Equities research analysts at KeyCorp initiated coverage on shares of Nucor (NYSE:NUE) in a research report issued to clients and investors on Wednesday, MarketBeat.com reports. The firm set a “sector weight” rating on the basic materials company’s stock.

NUE has been the topic of several other research reports. Jefferies Financial Group increased their price target on Nucor from $190.00 to $200.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Monday, January 12th. Seaport Research Partners lifted their price objective on shares of Nucor from $170.00 to $185.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, January 30th. BMO Capital Markets lifted their price objective on shares of Nucor from $190.00 to $196.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Tuesday, March 3rd. Morgan Stanley reiterated an “equal weight” rating and set a $180.00 price objective (up from $165.00) on shares of Nucor in a research report on Friday, January 9th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company increased their target price on shares of Nucor from $194.00 to $197.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Friday, March 20th. Nine equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and three have given a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $188.90.

Nucor Stock Up 0.5%

Shares of NYSE:NUE opened at $165.96 on Wednesday. The company has a market cap of $37.80 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.01, a PEG ratio of 0.59 and a beta of 1.83. Nucor has a 12 month low of $97.59 and a 12 month high of $196.90. The company has a current ratio of 2.94, a quick ratio of 1.57 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.31. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $176.08 and a 200 day moving average price of $159.36.

Nucor (NYSE:NUE) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Monday, January 26th. The basic materials company reported $1.73 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.91 by ($0.18). The company had revenue of $7.69 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $7.93 billion. Nucor had a return on equity of 8.26% and a net margin of 5.37%.The company’s revenue was up 8.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $1.22 earnings per share. As a group, equities research analysts predict that Nucor will post 7.64 earnings per share for the current year.

Nucor declared that its board has initiated a share buyback plan on Friday, February 20th that allows the company to buyback $4.00 billion in shares. This buyback authorization allows the basic materials company to buy up to 9.7% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback plans are generally an indication that the company’s leadership believes its shares are undervalued.

Insider Buying and Selling at Nucor

In other news, EVP Kenneth Rex Query sold 7,452 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $196.02, for a total transaction of $1,460,741.04. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 76,628 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $15,020,620.56. The trade was a 8.86% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Also, EVP Daniel R. Needham sold 3,881 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, January 30th. The stock was sold at an average price of $178.00, for a total transaction of $690,818.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president owned 88,298 shares in the company, valued at approximately $15,717,044. The trade was a 4.21% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Insiders have sold 26,401 shares of company stock valued at $4,936,152 in the last quarter. 0.46% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Nucor

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Integrated Wealth Concepts LLC increased its position in shares of Nucor by 21.1% during the first quarter. Integrated Wealth Concepts LLC now owns 3,266 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $393,000 after acquiring an additional 568 shares during the period. Dynamic Technology Lab Private Ltd bought a new position in Nucor in the first quarter worth approximately $259,000. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. grew its stake in Nucor by 81.8% in the first quarter. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. now owns 340 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $41,000 after purchasing an additional 153 shares in the last quarter. Sivia Capital Partners LLC purchased a new position in Nucor during the 2nd quarter worth $390,000. Finally, Franklin Resources Inc. raised its position in Nucor by 15.6% during the 2nd quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 353,149 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $45,747,000 after purchasing an additional 47,688 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 76.48% of the company’s stock.

More Nucor News

Here are the key news stories impacting Nucor this week:

• Positive Sentiment: UBS upgraded Nucor from Neutral to Buy and raised its price target to $190, calling the recent pullback an attractive entry point and signaling upside versus current levels. Nucor Was Just Upgraded to Buy by UBS With $190 Price Target
• Positive Sentiment: Seaport Research reiterated its Buy rating and maintained a $185 price target after Nucor’s Q1 pre-announcement, noting improving profitability aligning with management commentary. Seaport Research Keeps $185 Target on Nucor (NUE), Flags Improving Profitability
• Neutral Sentiment: KeyCorp initiated coverage with a “sector weight” rating, adding institutional coverage but not changing the consensus directional view. KeyCorp Coverage Note
• Neutral Sentiment: Industry reports (Zacks) highlight mixed demand — softer Chinese activity but resilient non-residential construction and rising domestic steel prices — a backdrop that supports Nucor’s pricing power but keeps earnings visibility uneven. Zacks Industry Outlook Highlights Agnico ArcelorMittal, Nucor and Steel Dynamics
• Negative Sentiment: Nucor’s most recent quarterly report (Jan. 26) missed EPS ($1.73 vs. $1.91 expected) and revenue expectations, which can cap near-term upside until guidance clarity and margin trends improve.

Nucor Company Profile

Nucor Corporation (NYSE: NUE) is an American steel producer headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina. The company is primarily engaged in the manufacture and sale of steel and steel products, operating a network of steel mills, recycling facilities and fabrication plants across the United States and North America. Nucor’s operations emphasize electric arc furnace steelmaking using recycled scrap metal, which supports a decentralized, mill-based production model focused on efficiency and flexibility.

Product offerings span a broad range of basic and value‑added steel items, including sheet, plate, merchant bar, structural beams, reinforcing bar, tubing, fasteners and fabricated components.