Nucor Reports Results for the Second Quarter of 2024

Rhea-AI Summary

Nucor (NYSE: NUE) reported consolidated net earnings of $645.2 million, or $2.68 per diluted share, for Q2 2024. This represents a decrease from $844.8 million in Q1 2024 and $1.46 billion in Q2 2023. Net sales decreased 1% to $8.08 billion compared to Q1 2024 and 15% compared to Q2 2023. The company's average sales price per ton decreased 2% from Q1 2024 and 11% from Q2 2023. Nucor shipped approximately 6,289,000 tons to outside customers, a 1% increase from Q1 2024 but a 5% decrease from Q2 2023. The company's cash position remains strong with $5.43 billion in cash and cash equivalents. Nucor continues to focus on its long-term growth strategy and has returned over $1.7 billion to investors through June 2024.

Positive

• Strong cash position with $5.43 billion in cash and cash equivalents
• Returned over $1.7 billion to investors through June 2024
• 1% increase in shipments to outside customers compared to Q1 2024
• Maintained strong credit ratings (A-/A-/Baa1) with stable or positive outlooks

Negative

• Net earnings decreased to $645.2 million from $844.8 million in Q1 2024 and $1.46 billion in Q2 2023
• Net sales decreased 15% compared to Q2 2023
• Average sales price per ton decreased 2% from Q1 2024 and 11% from Q2 2023
• Overall operating rates at steel mills decreased to 75% from 82% in Q1 2024
• Expects earnings to decrease in Q3 2024 compared to Q2 2024

Financial Analyst

Nucor's second quarter results reflect a notable decline in earnings, both quarter-over-quarter and year-over-year. Specifically, net earnings of $645.2 million and $2.68 per diluted share are significantly lower than the $844.8 million and $3.46 per diluted share in Q1 2024. This trend is even more pronounced when compared to Q2 2023. The primary driver of this decline is decreased earnings in the steel mills segment, impacted largely by lower average selling prices. Additionally, lower volumes and reduced operating rates (down to 75%) further strain profitability. From a financial perspective, this signifies a challenging market environment. Lower sales prices and reduced volumes could indicate a weakening demand or oversupply in the steel market, essential for investors to monitor going forward. One bright spot is the company's strong liquidity position with $5.43 billion in cash and undrawn credit facilities, providing a buffer against market volatility. Retail investors should be cautious, especially given the forecast for continued earnings declines in Q3 2024.

Market Research Analyst

Nucor's performance is being shaped by broader market conditions, which have softened compared to previous record-setting years. The decline in steel mill segment earnings, driven by lower average selling prices and reduced volumes, is a critical indicator of market saturation or reduced demand. It's worth noting that while shipments to outside customers increased slightly by 1% from Q1 2024, they were still down 5% compared to Q2 2023. This suggests that although there's a marginal quarter-over-quarter recovery, the year-over-year trend remains negative. Furthermore, the company's strategic focus on its core steelmaking operations and expansion into downstream markets offers some long-term growth potential but is currently overshadowed by immediate challenges. Investors should consider the macroeconomic factors, like global steel demand and commodity price trends, which are important for Nucor's future performance.

Tech Expert

Nucor's focus on growth projects, reflected in the $137 million pre-operating and start-up costs for Q2 2024, is a significant commitment to future innovation and market expansion. These projects are essential for maintaining competitive edge and improving operational efficiencies in an industry often impacted by technological advancements. The decline in operating rates to 75% highlights underutilization of capacity, which could be a strategic move to align production with market demand, avoiding excess supply and price drops. The impact of these investments will take time to materialize. Thus, while short-term financials might seem underwhelming, these initiatives could catalyze long-term growth, positioning Nucor favorably when market conditions improve.

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 205^th 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

 

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SOURCE Nucor Corporation

FAQ

What were Nucor's (NUE) earnings per share in Q2 2024?

Nucor reported earnings of $2.68 per diluted share in Q2 2024.

How did Nucor's (NUE) net sales change in Q2 2024 compared to Q2 2023?

Nucor's net sales decreased 15% in Q2 2024 compared to Q2 2023, from $9.52 billion to $8.08 billion.

What was Nucor's (NUE) cash position at the end of Q2 2024?

Nucor had $5.43 billion in cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments at the end of Q2 2024.

How much did Nucor (NUE) return to investors in the first half of 2024?

Nucor returned more than $1.7 billion to investors through June 2024.

What is Nucor's (NUE) outlook for Q3 2024?

Nucor expects earnings in Q3 2024 to decrease compared to Q2 2024, primarily due to lower average selling prices in the steel mills segment.