Nucor Reports Record Quarterly Earnings for the Third Quarter of 2021

Rhea-AI Summary

Nucor Corporation (NYSE: NUE) reported record net earnings of $2.13 billion, or $7.28 per diluted share, for Q3 2021, up from $1.51 billion in Q2 2021 and $193.4 million in Q3 2020. Year-to-date, earnings reached $4.58 billion, significantly higher than $322.6 million in the same period last year. Consolidated net sales increased 17% to $10.31 billion compared to Q2 2021 and 109% compared to Q3 2020. The company repurchased 8.2 million shares and declared a cash dividend of $0.405 per share, marking its 194th consecutive quarterly dividend.

Positive

• Record quarterly earnings of $2.13 billion, or $7.28 per diluted share.
• Net sales increased 17% to $10.31 billion in Q3 2021.
• Year-to-date earnings reached $4.58 billion, a substantial rise from $322.6 million in the first nine months of 2020.
• 8.2 million shares repurchased at an average price of $104.60 per share.
• Cash dividend of $0.405 per share declared, sustaining 194 consecutive quarterly dividends.

Negative

• Average scrap cost increased 12% in Q3 2021 compared to Q2 2021.
• Total tons shipped to outside customers decreased 4% from Q2 2021.

CHARLOTTE, N.C., Oct. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Nucor Corporation (NYSE: NUE) today announced record quarterly consolidated net earnings of $2.13 billion, or $7.28 per diluted share, for the third quarter of 2021. By comparison, Nucor reported consolidated net earnings of $1.51 billion, or $5.04 per diluted share, for the second quarter of 2021 and $193.4 million, or $0.63 per diluted share, for the third quarter of 2020. 

In the first nine months of 2021, Nucor reported consolidated net earnings of $4.58 billion, or $15.34 per diluted share, compared with consolidated net earnings of $322.6 million, or $1.06 per diluted share, in the first nine months of 2020.

"During the third quarter, we once again achieved record results, with earnings per share of $7.28. Our third quarter performance surpassed our previous record of $5.04 set in the second quarter of this year and almost matched our full year earnings record of $7.42 that we set back in 2018," said Leon Topalian, Nucor's President and Chief Executive Officer. "Congratulations to the entire Nucor team for delivering the phenomenal results we have seen so far this year while staying focused on our Safety goals. I am incredibly proud of our team and what we have accomplished."

Selected Segment Data
Earnings (loss) before income taxes and noncontrolling interests by segment for the third quarter and first nine months of 2021 and 2020 were as follows (in thousands):

		Three Months (13 Weeks) Ended								Nine Months (39 Weeks) Ended
		Oct. 2, 2021				Oct. 3, 2020				Oct. 2, 2021				Oct. 3, 2020
Steel mills		$	3,116,539			$	205,152			$	6,606,320			$	512,082
Steel products			368,595				186,976				839,737				502,409
Raw materials			161,870				6,232				505,248				(3,068)
Corporate/eliminations			(777,897)				(107,942)				(1,758,204)				(393,651)
		$	2,869,107			$	290,418			$	6,193,101			$	617,772

The steel mills segment and the steel products segment both set a record for the highest quarterly earnings before income taxes and noncontrolling interests in the third quarter of 2021.

Financial Review
Nucor's consolidated net sales increased 17% to $10.31 billion in the third quarter of 2021 compared with $8.79 billion in the second quarter of 2021 and increased 109% compared with $4.93 billion in the third quarter of 2020. Average sales price per ton in the third quarter of 2021 increased 22% compared with the second quarter of 2021 and increased 86% compared with the third quarter of 2020. A total of 7,172,000 tons were shipped to outside customers in the third quarter of 2021, a 4% decrease from the second quarter of 2021 and a 13% increase from the third quarter of 2020. Total steel mill shipments in the third quarter of 2021 decreased 3% as compared to the second quarter of 2021 and increased 16% as compared to the third quarter of 2020. Steel mill shipments to internal customers represented 21% of total steel mill shipments in the third quarter of 2021, compared with 20% in the second quarter of 2021 and 21% in the third quarter of 2020. Downstream steel product shipments to outside customers in the third quarter of 2021 was consistent with the second quarter of 2021 and increased 3% from the third quarter of 2020.

In the first nine months of 2021, Nucor's consolidated net sales of $26.12 billion were an increase of 76% compared with consolidated net sales of $14.88 billion reported in the first nine months of 2020. Total tons shipped to outside customers in the first nine months of 2021 were 21,830,000, an increase of 15% from the first nine months of 2020, while the average sales price per ton in the first nine months of 2021 increased 53% from the first nine months of 2020.

The average scrap and scrap substitute cost per gross ton used in the third quarter of 2021 was $511, a 12% increase compared to $457 in the second quarter of 2021 and an 84% increase compared to $277 in the third quarter of 2020. The average scrap and scrap substitute cost per gross ton used in the first nine months of 2021 was $457, a 60% increase compared to $285 in the first nine months of 2020.

Included in the second quarter of 2021 earnings is a $42.0 million, or $0.11 per diluted share, non-cash impairment charge related to our leasehold interest in unproved oil and natural gas properties. This charge is included in the raw materials segment. Included in earnings for the third quarter of 2020 is a restructuring charge of $16.4 million, or $0.04 per diluted share, related to the realignment of Nucor's metal buildings business. This charge is included in the steel products segment.

Pre-operating and start-up costs related to the Company's growth projects were approximately $36 million, or $0.09 per diluted share, in the third quarter of 2021, compared with approximately $22 million, or $0.06 per diluted share, in the second quarter of 2021 and approximately $22 million, or $0.06 per diluted share, in the third quarter of 2020.

In the first nine months of 2021, pre-operating and start-up costs related to the Company's growth projects were approximately $76 million, or $0.19 per diluted share, compared with approximately $73 million, or $0.18 per diluted share, in the first nine months of 2020.

Overall operating rates at the Company's steel mills decreased to 96% in the third quarter of 2021 as compared to 97% in the second quarter of 2021 and increased from 83% in the third quarter of 2020. Operating rates in the first nine months of 2021 increased to 96% as compared to 80% in the first nine months of 2020.

Financial Strength
At the end of the third quarter of 2021, we had $2.29 billion in cash and cash equivalents, short-term investments and restricted cash and cash equivalents on hand. Our significant cash flow generation has allowed us to maintain our strong liquidity position all while funding two strategic acquisitions and continuing to execute our share repurchase program during the third quarter. 

The Company's $1.50 billion revolving credit facility remains undrawn and does not expire until April 2023.  Nucor continues to have the strongest credit rating in the North American steel sector (Baa1/A-) with stable outlooks at both Moody's and Standard & Poor's.

Commitment to Returning Capital to Stockholders
During the third quarter of 2021, Nucor repurchased approximately 8.2 million shares of its common stock at an average price of $104.60 per share (20.3 million shares year-to-date at an average price of $87.19 per share). As of October 2, 2021, Nucor had approximately 285,799,000 shares outstanding and approximately $1.9 billion remaining for repurchases under its newly authorized share repurchase program.

On September 17, 2021, Nucor's board of directors declared a cash dividend of $0.405 per share. This cash dividend is payable on November 10, 2021 to stockholders of record as of September 30, 2021 and is Nucor's 194^th consecutive quarterly cash dividend.

Third Quarter of 2021 Analysis
All three operating segments continued to generate robust profitability in the third quarter of 2021. Earnings of the steel mills segment increased significantly in the third quarter of 2021 as compared to the second quarter of 2021, mainly driven by higher realized selling prices. The steel products segment generated significantly increased earnings in the third quarter of 2021 due to margin expansion caused by higher average selling prices. The raw materials segment's earnings in the third quarter of 2021 were comparable to the second quarter of 2021, excluding the impairment charge recorded in the second quarter of 2021.

Fourth Quarter of 2021 Outlook
We expect continued strong results for the fourth quarter of 2021, potentially exceeding the net earnings record set in the third quarter of 2021. Demand remains robust across most end-use markets, a trend we expect will continue well into 2022. Backlogs in our steel mills and steel products segments remain elevated compared to historical levels.

We expect the profitability of the steel mills segment to improve in the fourth quarter of 2021 as compared to the third quarter of 2021, driven by additional earnings growth at our sheet and plate mills. We expect the profitability of the steel products segment to increase in the fourth quarter of 2021 compared to the third quarter of 2021. The raw materials segment's earnings in the fourth quarter of 2021 are expected to decrease compared to the third quarter of 2021 due primarily to margin compression at our direct reduced iron facilities.

Earnings Conference Call
You are invited to listen to the live broadcast of Nucor's conference call during which management will discuss Nucor's third quarter results on October 21, 2021 at 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time. The conference call will be available over the Internet at www.nucor.com, under Investors.

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; steel grating; and wire and wire mesh. Nucor, through The David J. Joseph Company, 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.

Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements contained in this news release are "forward-looking statements" that involve risks and uncertainties. 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 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 surrounding the global economy, including excess world capacity for steel production; (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; and (14) the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and any variants of the virus. These and other factors are discussed in Nucor's regulatory filings with the 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, 2020. 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						Nine Months (39 Weeks) Ended
		Oct. 2, 2021		Oct. 3, 2020		Percent Change		Oct. 2, 2021		Oct. 3, 2020		Percent Change
Steel mills total shipments:
Sheet		2,789		2,469		13%		8,629		7,345		17%
Bars		2,350		2,119		11%		7,092		6,092		16%
Structural		738		553		33%		2,042		1,754		16%
Plate		605		424		43%		1,800		1,472		22%
Other		61		61		-		258		230		12%
		6,543		5,626		16%		19,821		16,893		17%
Sales tons to outside customers:
Steel mills		5,144		4,442		16%		15,690		13,382		17%
Joist		190		153		24%		529		406		30%
Deck		139		129		8%		404		365		11%
Cold finished		123		99		24%		383		300		28%
Rebar fabrication products		323		328		-2%		943		948		-
Piling		144		186		-23%		451		522		-14%
Tubular products		272		280		-3%		791		816		-3%
Other steel products		116		92		26%		325		278		17%
Raw materials		721		658		10%		2,314		2,016		15%
		7,172		6,367		13%		21,830		19,033		15%

 

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings (Unaudited)
(In thousands, except per share data)
		Three Months (13 Weeks) Ended								Nine Months (39 Weeks) Ended
		Oct. 2, 2021				Oct. 3, 2020				Oct. 2, 2021				Oct. 3, 2020
Net sales		$	10,313,223			$	4,927,960			$	26,119,527			$	14,879,603
Costs, expenses and other:
Cost of products sold			6,906,950				4,425,765				18,617,314				13,370,181
Marketing, administrative and other expenses			526,345				165,513				1,204,539				460,922
Equity in (earnings) losses of unconsolidated affiliates			(32,464)				(479)				(65,106)				14,422
Losses on assets			-				6,604				50,970				299,450
Interest expense, net			43,285				40,139				118,709				116,856
			7,444,116				4,637,542				19,926,426				14,261,831
Earnings before income taxes and noncontrolling interests			2,869,107				290,418				6,193,101				617,772
Provision for income taxes			645,842				67,788				1,410,863				207,610
Net earnings			2,223,265				222,630				4,782,238				410,162
Earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests			95,522				29,215				205,195				87,535
Net earnings attributable to Nucor stockholders		$	2,127,743			$	193,415			$	4,577,043			$	322,627
Net earnings per share:
Basic		$	7.29			$	0.63			$	15.37			$	1.06
Diluted		$	7.28			$	0.63			$	15.34			$	1.06
Average shares outstanding:
Basic			290,510				303,394				296,431				303,072
Diluted			291,152				303,441				296,928				303,099

 

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited)
(In thousands)
		Oct. 2, 2021				Dec. 31, 2020
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents		$	1,764,293			$	2,639,671
Short-term investments			247,247				408,004
Accounts receivable, net			4,087,293				2,298,850
Inventories, net			5,678,715				3,569,089
Other current assets			346,277				573,048
Total current assets			12,123,825				9,488,662
Property, plant and equipment, net			7,777,277				6,899,110
Restricted cash and cash equivalents			281,345				115,258
Goodwill			2,787,992				2,229,672
Other intangible assets, net			1,171,292				668,021
Other assets			807,748				724,671
Total assets		$	24,949,479			$	20,125,394
LIABILITIES
Current liabilities:
Short-term debt		$	102,737			$	57,906
Current portion of long-term debt and finance lease obligations			615,130				10,885
Accounts payable			1,870,035				1,432,159
Salaries, wages and related accruals			1,323,365				462,727
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities			886,332				664,183
Total current liabilities			4,797,599				2,627,860
Long-term debt and finance lease obligations due after one year			4,949,945				5,271,789
Deferred credits and other liabilities			1,251,643				993,884
Total liabilities			10,999,187				8,893,533
EQUITY
Nucor stockholders' equity:
Common stock			152,061				152,061
Additional paid-in capital			2,131,514				2,121,288
Retained earnings			15,561,261				11,343,852
Accumulated other comprehensive loss,    net of income taxes			(85,901)				(118,861)
Treasury stock			(4,336,415)				(2,709,675)
Total Nucor stockholders' equity			13,422,520				10,788,665
Noncontrolling interests			527,772				443,196
Total equity			13,950,292				11,231,861
Total liabilities and equity		$	24,949,479			$	20,125,394

 

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited)
(In thousands)
		Nine Months (39 Weeks) Ended
		Oct. 2, 2021				Oct. 3, 2020
Operating activities:
Net earnings		$	4,782,238			$	410,162
Adjustments:
Depreciation			546,619				525,688
Amortization			76,656				62,877
Stock-based compensation			97,652				56,122
Deferred income taxes			166,748				140,606
Distributions from affiliates			200				3,021
Equity in (earnings) losses of unconsolidated affiliates			(65,106)				14,422
Losses on assets			50,970				299,450
Changes in assets and liabilities (exclusive of acquisitions and dispositions):
Accounts receivable			(1,622,668)				37,547
Inventories			(1,976,738)				590,434
Accounts payable			343,014				15,366
Federal income taxes			262,195				18,848
Salaries, wages and related accruals			835,381				(69,235)
Other operating activities			123,202				100,283
Cash provided by operating activities			3,620,363				2,205,591
Investing activities:
Capital expenditures			(1,207,088)				(1,179,081)
Investment in and advances to affiliates			(193)				(16,542)
Disposition of plant and equipment			15,581				19,492
Acquisitions (net of cash acquired)			(1,346,608)				(20,368)
Purchase of investments			(394,141)				(401,986)
Proceeds from the sale of investments			554,898				301,249
Other investing activities			1,042				(33,536)
Cash used in investing activities			(2,376,509)				(1,330,772)
Financing activities:
Net change in short-term debt			44,831				1,334
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt, net of discount			196,990				1,237,635
Repayment of long-term debt			-				(97,150)
Bond issuance related costs			-				(6,250)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options			143,874				-
Payment of tax withholdings on certain stock-based compensation			(71,494)				(17,691)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests			(120,619)				(106,193)
Cash dividends			(366,606)				(368,636)
Acquisition of treasury stock			(1,773,848)				(39,499)
Other financing activities			(7,993)				(6,983)
Cash (used in) provided by financing activities			(1,954,865)				596,567
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash			1,720				(7,790)
Increase in cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash and cash equivalents			(709,291)				1,463,596
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash and cash equivalents - beginning of year			2,754,929				1,534,605
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash and cash equivalents - end of nine months		$	2,045,638			$	2,998,201
Non-cash investing activity:
Change in accrued plant and equipment purchases		$	14,997			$	-

 

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SOURCE Nucor Corporation

FAQ

What were Nucor's earnings results for Q3 2021?

Nucor reported record net earnings of $2.13 billion, or $7.28 per diluted share, for Q3 2021.

How much did Nucor's net sales increase in Q3 2021?

Net sales increased 17% to $10.31 billion in Q3 2021 compared to Q2 2021.

What is Nucor's outlook for Q4 2021?

Nucor expects continued strong results in Q4 2021, potentially exceeding Q3 earnings.

How much is Nucor's cash dividend for Q3 2021?

Nucor declared a cash dividend of $0.405 per share, payable on November 10, 2021.

How many shares has Nucor repurchased this year?

Nucor repurchased approximately 20.3 million shares year-to-date at an average price of $87.19 per share.