NUCOR CORP
For the period ended Sep 28, 2024. Filed Nov 6, 2024.
View on SEC.govAbout this filing
A company's report for each of its first three quarters. The financial statements are not audited. It shows how the business has moved since the last annual report, and what management says changed.
Sep 28, 2024 · Filed Nov 6, 2024
NUE$244.97-0.3%Stored close · as of Nov 6, 2026
What changed in Management’s Discussion and Analysis?
Read the current filingPrevious report: 10-Q
Period ended 2024-06-29; filed 2024-08-07.
0000950170-24-092479
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of OperationsCurrent report: 10-Q
Period ended 2024-09-28; filed 2024-11-06.
0000950170-24-121863
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of OperationsThe baseline is this issuer’s latest earlier reporting period of the same form that was filed before the current report. A previous 10-Q is a different quarter, not a year-over-year comparison. Amendments are excluded.
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6 unchanged; 1 reworded; 66 added; 0 removed; 0 previous and 1 current paragraphs rearranged.
Tables are not compared: 0 previous and 5 current tables excluded. Dates, whitespace, punctuation and numbering changes are ignored; changes to financial figures remain significant.
A changed paragraph is not evidence that risk increased or decreased. An unchanged paragraph does not establish that risk stayed the same.
Added paragraphs (66)
Current report
Results of Operations
Current report
Nucor reported net earnings attributable to Nucor stockholders of $249.9 million, or $1.05 per diluted share, for the third quarter of 2024, as compared to net earnings attributable to Nucor stockholders of $1.14 billion, or $4.57 per diluted share, for the third quarter of 2023.
Current report
Included in the third quarter of 2024 net earnings was $123.0 million of losses and impairments of assets (none in the third quarter of 2023). Of that amount, $83.0 million related to certain non-current assets in the raw materials segment and $40.0 million related to certain non-current assets in the steel products segment.
Current report
Excluding the losses and impairments of assets, the largest driver of the decrease in earnings in the third quarter of 2024 compared to the third quarter of 2023 was the decreased earnings of the steel mills segment. Though shipments to outside customers improved slightly in the third quarter of 2024 as compared to the third quarter of 2023, metal margins decreased significantly as average selling prices decreased across all product groups within the steel mills segment. The steel products segment’s earnings in the third quarter of 2024 decreased significantly compared to the third quarter of 2023. The primary driver of the decrease in the earnings of the steel products segment was the decreased earnings of our joist and deck businesses, which had decreased average selling prices and lower volumes. Earnings in the raw materials segment decreased in the third quarter of 2024 compared to the third quarter of 2023, primarily due to the decreased performance of our scrap processing and DRI operations.
Current report
Nucor reported net earnings attributable to Nucor stockholders of $1.74 billion, or $7.22 per diluted share, for the first nine months of 2024, as compared to net earnings attributable to Nucor stockholders of $3.74 billion, or $14.83 per diluted share, for the first nine months of 2023. Earnings decreased across all three segments for the first nine months of 2024 as compared to the first nine months of 2023, with the largest decrease in the steel products segment. In the steel products segment, average selling prices for our joist and deck businesses have moderated from historically high levels and steadily declined from the beginning of 2023 through the first nine months of 2024. The decrease in average selling prices, combined with lower volumes for the joist and deck businesses, were the largest contributors to the decrease in the earnings of the steel products segment in the first nine months of 2024 as compared to the first nine months of 2023. The steel mills segment's earnings decreased in the first nine months of 2024 compared to the first nine months of 2023, primarily due to lower metal margins caused by lower average selling prices and decreased volumes. Earnings in the raw materials segment decreased in the first nine months of 2024 compared to the first nine months of 2023, primarily due to the decreased earnings of our scrap processing and DRI operations.
Current report
The following discussion provides a greater quantitative and qualitative analysis of Nucor’s performance in the third quarter and first nine months of 2024 as compared to the third quarter and first nine months of 2023.
Current report
Net Sales
Current report
Net sales to external customers by segment for the third quarter and first nine months of 2024 and 2023 were as follows (in thousands):
Current report
Net sales for the third quarter of 2024 decreased 15% from the third quarter of 2023. Average sales price per ton decreased 15% from $1,406 in the third quarter of 2023 to $1,201 in the third quarter of 2024. Total tons shipped to outside customers in the third quarter of 2024 were approximately 6,196,000 tons, a 1% decrease from the third quarter of 2023.
Current report
Net sales for the first nine months of 2024 decreased 12% from the first nine months of 2023. Average sales price per ton decreased 10% from $1,402 in the first nine months of 2023 to $1,265 in the first nine months of 2024. Total tons shipped to outside customers in the first nine months of 2024 were approximately 18,709,000 tons, a 3% decrease from the first nine months of 2023.
Current report
In the steel mills segment, sales tons for the third quarter and first nine months of 2024 and 2023 were as follows (in thousands):
Current report
Net sales for the steel mills segment decreased 12% in the third quarter of 2024 from the third quarter of 2023, due primarily to a 13% decrease in the average sales price per ton, from $1,114 to $967.
Current report
Net sales for the steel mills segment decreased 7% in the first nine months of 2024 from the first nine months of 2023, due primarily to a 6% decrease in the average sales price per ton, from $1,105 to $1,042, and a 2% decrease in volumes.
Current report
Outside sales tonnage for the steel products segment for the third quarter and first nine months of 2024 and 2023 was as follows (in thousands):
Current report
Net sales for the steel products segment decreased 23% in the third quarter of 2024 compared to the third quarter of 2023, due to an 11% decrease in shipping volumes and a 13% decrease in the average sales price per ton, from $2,837 to $2,469.
Current report
Net sales for the steel products segment decreased 22% in the first nine months of 2024 compared to the first nine months of 2023, due to a 12% decrease in shipping volumes and a 12% decrease in the average sales price per ton, from $2,865 to $2,530.
Current report
Net sales for the raw materials segment increased 9% in the third quarter of 2024 compared to the third quarter of 2023, due to increased tons shipped to outside customers by the scrap brokerage operations of DJJ. In the third quarter of 2024, approximately 93% of outside sales for the raw materials segment were from the scrap brokerage operations of DJJ, and approximately 3% of outside sales were from the scrap processing operations of DJJ (approximately 92% and 4%, respectively, in the third quarter of 2023).
Current report
Net sales for the raw materials segment increased 3% in the first nine months of 2024 compared to the first nine months of 2023, due to increased tons shipped to outside customers by the scrap brokerage operations of DJJ. In the first nine months of 2024, approximately 93% of outside sales for the raw materials segment were from the scrap brokerage operations of DJJ, and approximately 4% of outside sales were from the scrap processing operations of DJJ (approximately 93% and 3%, respectively, in the first nine months of 2023).
Current report
Gross Margins
Current report
Nucor recorded gross margins of $757.9 million (10%) in the third quarter of 2024, which was a decrease compared to $1.92 billion (22%) in the third quarter of 2023.
Current report
The largest driver of the decrease in gross margins in the third quarter of 2024 as compared to the third quarter of 2023 was lower metal margins across the steel mills segment. Metal margin is the difference between the selling price of steel and the cost of scrap and scrap substitutes.
Current report
Scrap and scrap substitutes are the most significant element in the total cost of steel production. In the steel mills segment, the average scrap and scrap substitute cost per gross ton used in the third quarter of 2024 was $378, a 9% decrease compared to $415 in the third quarter of 2023. Though scrap and scrap substitute costs decreased in the third quarter of 2024 as compared to the third quarter of 2023, total metal margin dollars decreased as the decrease in average selling prices outpaced the decrease in scrap and scrap substitute costs.
Current report
Scrap prices are driven by the global supply and demand for scrap and other iron-based raw materials used to make steel. As we enter the fourth quarter of 2024, scrap prices are comparable to the third quarter of 2024.
Current report
Gross margins in the steel products segment decreased in the third quarter of 2024 compared to the third quarter of 2023, primarily due to decreases at our joist and deck businesses.
Current report
Pre-operating and start-up costs of new facilities were approximately $168 million in the third quarter of 2024 and approximately $100 million in the third quarter of 2023. Pre-operating and start-up costs in the third quarter of both 2024 and 2023 primarily included costs related to the plate mill in Kentucky and the sheet mill under construction in West Virginia. Nucor defines pre-operating and start-up costs, all of which are expensed, as the losses attributable to facilities or major projects that are either under construction or in the early stages of operation. Once these facilities or projects have attained a utilization rate that is consistent with our similar operating facilities, Nucor no longer considers them to be in start-up.
Current report
Gross margins in the raw materials segment decreased in the third quarter of 2024 as compared to the third quarter of 2023 primarily due to the decreased earnings of the scrap processing and DRI operations.
Current report
Nucor recorded gross margins of $3.48 billion (15%) in the first nine months of 2024, which was a decrease compared to $6.42 billion (24%) in the first nine months of 2023.
Current report
The largest driver of the decrease in gross margins in the first nine months of 2024 as compared to the first nine months of 2023 was the decreased earnings of the steel products segment, which was primarily due to the decreased profitability of our joist and deck businesses.
Current report
In the steel mills segment, the average scrap and scrap substitute cost per gross ton used in the first nine months of 2024 was $399, a 7% decrease compared to $429 in the first nine months of 2023. However, the decrease in scrap and scrap substitute costs was more than offset by the decreases in average selling prices and volumes, resulting in lower metal margins.
Current report
Pre-operating and start-up costs of new facilities increased to approximately $430 million in the first nine months of 2024 from approximately $273 million in the first nine months of 2023. Pre-operating and start-up costs in the first nine months of both 2024 and 2023 primarily included costs related to the plate mill in Kentucky and the sheet mill under construction in West Virginia.
Current report
Gross margins in the raw materials segment decreased in the first nine months of 2024 as compared to the first nine months of 2023 primarily due to the decreased earnings of the scrap processing and DRI operations.
Current report
Marketing, Administrative and Other Expenses
Current report
A major component of marketing, administrative and other expenses is profit sharing and other incentive compensation costs. These costs, which are based upon and fluctuate with Nucor’s financial performance, decreased by $119.7 million in the third quarter of 2024 as compared to the third quarter of 2023, and decreased by $285.1 million in the first nine months of 2024 as compared to the first nine months of 2023. These decreases were due to Nucor's decreased profitability in the third quarter and first nine months of 2024 as compared to the respective prior year periods, which resulted in decreased accruals related to profit sharing.
Current report
Equity in (Earnings) Losses of Unconsolidated Affiliates
Current report
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates was $5.3 million in the third quarter of 2024, and equity in losses of unconsolidated affiliates was $1.1 million in the third quarter of 2023. Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates was $24.1 million and $3.7 million in the first nine months of 2024 and 2023, respectively. The increases in equity method investment earnings were primarily due to the increased results of NuMit.
Current report
Losses and Impairments of Assets
Current report
Included in the third quarter of 2024 net earnings was $123.0 million of losses and impairments of assets (none in the third quarter of 2023). During the third quarter of 2024, management determined it was probable that a long-term note receivable in the raw materials segment was no longer collectable and recorded an $83.0 million impairment charge to fully reserve the note receivable. The remaining $40.0 million is related to certain non-current assets, mostly property, plant and equipment, net, related to a business in the steel products segment.
Current report
Interest Expense (Income)
Current report
Net interest expense (income) for the third quarter and first nine months of 2024 and 2023 was as follows (in thousands):
Current report
Interest expense increased in the third quarter of 2024 compared to the third quarter of 2023 due to higher average interest rates on debt and an increase in average debt outstanding. Interest expense decreased in the first nine months of 2024 compared to the first nine months of 2023 due to an increase in capitalized interest.
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Reworded paragraphs (1)
Previous wording
The average utilization rates of all operating facilities in the steel mills, steel products and raw materials segments were approximately 79%, 59% and 75%, respectively, in the first six months of 2024, compared with approximately 82%, 67% and 76%, respectively, in the first six months of 2023.
Current wording
The average utilization rates of all operating facilities in the steel mills, steel products and raw materials segments were approximately 77%, 59% and 73%, respectively, in the first nine months of 2024 compared with approximately 80%, 66% and 74%, respectively, in the first nine months of 2023.
Rearranged current paragraphs (1)
Current report — wording carried from elsewhere
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations