Nucor Corporation expects results for the first quarter ending April 2, 2011 to be in the range of $0.30 to $0.35 per diluted share, up $0.20 more per diluted share than Q1 2010 and after Q4 2010’s loss of $0.04 per diluted share, according to the company’s press release.

Nucor’s profitability has improved since the beginning of the quarter “as utilization rates increased and as price increases for steel mill products caught up with higher raw material costs.” Nucor expects the second quarter to also have improved profitability. The most demanded products are ones sold to the manufacturing/industrial sector, including special bar quality products, sheet and plate while demand still lacks in residential and non-residential construction markets.