Earnings review- Nucor (NUE) -Q2 2026
Muffett Investments
Earnings Watch · Stock Analysis Division
Earnings Review
27 July 2026
◆ Basic Materials · Steel
Nucor Corporation
Report Period
Q1 FY2026
Reported: 2026-07-27
Headline
Strong Beat
✓ Strong Beat
Key Metrics at a Glance
Revenue Growth
+21.3%
YoY
Operating Margin
11.8%
+769bps YoY
Free Cash Flow
$225.0M
+145.5% YoY
Net Position
Net Debt
-$4.9B
EPS (Diluted)
$10.08
N/A
Financial Metrics — Detailed Breakdown
| Metric | Q1 FY2026 | Q1 FY2025 | YoY Change | Consensus Est. | vs. Estimate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Revenue | $9.5B | $7.8B | +21.3% | — | N/A |
| Gross Profit | $1.5B | $605.0M | +148.1% | — | N/A |
| Gross Margin | 15.8% | 7.7% | +808bps | — | N/A |
| Operating Income | $1.1B | $324.0M | +246.6% | — | N/A |
| Operating Margin | 11.8% | 4.1% | +769bps | — | N/A |
| Net Income | $743.0M | $156.0M | +376.3% | — | N/A |
| Net Margin | 7.8% | 2.0% | +583bps | — | N/A |
| Operating Cash Flow | $886.0M | $364.0M | +143.4% | — | N/A |
| Free Cash Flow | $225.0M | -$495.0M | +145.5% | — | N/A |
| FCF Margin | 2.4% | -6.3% | +869bps | — | N/A |
| Total Debt | $7.1B | $7.9B | -9.6% | — | N/A |
| Cash & Equivalents | $2.2B | $3.2B | -29.5% | — | N/A |
| Net Cash / (Debt) | -$4.9B | -$4.7B | -3.7% | — | N/A |
| EPS (Diluted) | $10.08 | $N/A | N/A | $— | N/A |
⚠ Management Commentary — Signals
- No significant red flags detected in EDGAR filing.
📈 Price Reaction
Pre-Earnings Close
$241.15
2026-07-27
Post-Earnings Price
$247.86
Next trading session
1-Day Move
+2.78%
vs. market
52-Week Range
$131.32 – $270.90
Price data sourced from Yahoo Finance. Reaction shown vs. prior trading session close.
Our Verdict
Very Bullish
Nucor reported a strong beat quarter, with revenue grew +21.3% YoY to $9.5B. operating margins expanded by 769bps to 11.8%. Free cash flow came in at $225.0M. The balance sheet remains under watch given the debt load.
- Revenue grew strongly at +21.3% YoY — well above average.
- Operating margin expanded strongly by 769bps — profitability improving.
- Free cash flow grew +145.5% YoY — strong cash generation continues.
- Modest positive price reaction of +2.8% — market broadly satisfied but not euphoric.
