Short Interest in Nucor Corporation (NYSE:NUE) Rises By 21.9%

Nucor Corporation (NYSE:NUE) saw a significant increase in short interest during the month of December. As of December 31st, there was short interest totaling 5,051,295 shares, an increase of 21.9% from the December 15th total of 4,142,648 shares. Currently, 2.2% of the shares of the company are sold short. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 1,552,502 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 3.3 days. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 1,552,502 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 3.3 days. Currently, 2.2% of the shares of the company are sold short.

Nucor Trading Down 0.2%

Shares of NYSE NUE traded down $0.42 during mid-day trading on Monday, hitting $174.37. 1,737,825 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,350,271. The company has a quick ratio of 1.51, a current ratio of 2.77 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.30. Nucor has a 1 year low of $97.59 and a 1 year high of $175.94. The stock has a market capitalization of $39.91 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 24.49, a PEG ratio of 0.95 and a beta of 1.87. The business has a 50 day moving average of $161.11 and a two-hundred day moving average of $148.41.

Nucor (NYSE:NUE) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Monday, October 27th. The basic materials company reported $2.63 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.30 by $0.33. Nucor had a return on equity of 7.80% and a net margin of 5.18%.The firm had revenue of $8.52 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $8.27 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $1.49 EPS. Nucor’s revenue was up 14.5% on a year-over-year basis. Nucor has set its Q4 2025 guidance at -2.630 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that Nucor will post 7.64 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Nucor Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, February 11th. Investors of record on Wednesday, December 31st will be paid a $0.56 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, December 31st. This represents a $2.24 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.3%. This is a positive change from Nucor’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.55. Nucor’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 31.46%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, CFO Stephen D. Laxton sold 2,003 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, October 30th. The stock was sold at an average price of $151.57, for a total value of $303,594.71. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer owned 88,174 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $13,364,533.18. This represents a 2.22% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Also, EVP John J. Hollatz sold 7,000 shares of Nucor stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, November 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $149.88, for a total transaction of $1,049,160.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president owned 96,550 shares in the company, valued at approximately $14,470,914. This represents a 6.76% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. In the last ninety days, insiders have sold 25,995 shares of company stock valued at $3,990,634. Corporate insiders own 0.71% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Trading of Nucor

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. Stance Capital LLC purchased a new stake in Nucor in the 3rd quarter worth about $25,000. IMA Advisory Services Inc. grew its stake in Nucor by 51.4% during the 2nd quarter. IMA Advisory Services Inc. now owns 221 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $29,000 after acquiring an additional 75 shares in the last quarter. Matrix Trust Co increased its holdings in shares of Nucor by 53.8% in the 2nd quarter. Matrix Trust Co now owns 240 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $31,000 after purchasing an additional 84 shares during the period. AXS Investments LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Nucor in the third quarter worth approximately $37,000. Finally, Vision Financial Markets LLC lifted its position in shares of Nucor by 281.7% in the third quarter. Vision Financial Markets LLC now owns 271 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $37,000 after purchasing an additional 200 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 76.48% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of analysts have commented on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company set a $176.00 price target on shares of Nucor in a research report on Thursday, December 18th. The Goldman Sachs Group upped their target price on Nucor from $182.00 to $196.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday. Weiss Ratings reiterated a “hold (c)” rating on shares of Nucor in a research report on Monday, December 29th. UBS Group upped their price objective on Nucor from $165.00 to $168.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, October 29th. Finally, Wall Street Zen lowered Nucor from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Saturday, December 20th. Nine research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and two have assigned a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, Nucor presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $177.27.

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.