Company Announcements
April 27, 2026
Soaring steel shipments drive Nucor earnings sky-high
Written by Laura Miller
| First quarter ended April 4 | 2026 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Net sales | $9,496 | $7,225 | 31.4% |
| Net earnings (loss) | $743 | $156 | 376.3% |
| Per diluted share | $3.23 | $0.67 | 382.1% |
Nucor Corp. is entering the second quarter “with real momentum,” according to its chief executive, as the company reported soaring sales and profits in the first quarter.
In earnings released after market close on Monday, Chair and CEO Leon Topalian said, “Nucor teammates delivered a strong start to 2026, with our steel mills segment achieving a new quarterly shipment record.”
The company reported net earnings attributable to Nucor shareholders of $743 million – nearly double the previous quarter’s $378 million and up 376% from a year earlier. Sales of $9.5 billion were up 24% sequentially and 31% year over year.
Topalian said strong demand, growing contributions from investments, and federal trade policies drove sequential earnings growth in all three of the Charlotte, N.C.-based steel company’s segments.
Nucor’s steel mills segment was the primary driver of increased earnings, with the company reporting higher average selling prices and volumes across all product groups.
Meanwhile, increased volumes and stable average realized pricing led to improved earnings in the steel products segment.
The raw materials segment also reported higher selling prices, volumes, and earnings.
Outlook
Nucor expects earnings to improve further across its three operating segments in the second quarter.
Driving the increase for the steel mills segment will be stable volumes and higher selling prices.
The steel products segment should see the reverse: higher volumes, stable pricing.
The company expects the raw materials segment to see higher pricing and earnings.
