Short Interest in Nucor Corporation (NYSE:NUE) Increases By 21.9%
by Teresa Graham · The Cerbat GemNucor Corporation (NYSE:NUE – Get Free Report) was the recipient of a large increase in short interest in the month of December. As of December 31st, there was short interest totaling 5,051,295 shares, an increase of 21.9% from the December 15th total of 4,142,648 shares. Approximately 2.2% of the company’s stock are sold short. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 1,552,502 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 3.3 days. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 1,552,502 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 3.3 days. Approximately 2.2% of the company’s stock are sold short.
Nucor Stock Performance
Shares of Nucor stock traded down $0.42 on Monday, reaching $174.37. The stock had a trading volume of 1,737,825 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,350,271. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.30, a quick ratio of 1.51 and a current ratio of 2.77. The business’s 50-day moving average price is $161.11 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $148.41. The stock has a market cap of $39.91 billion, a P/E ratio of 24.49, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.95 and a beta of 1.87. Nucor has a fifty-two week low of $97.59 and a fifty-two week high of $175.94.
Nucor (NYSE:NUE – Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Monday, October 27th. The basic materials company reported $2.63 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.30 by $0.33. Nucor had a net margin of 5.18% and a return on equity of 7.80%. The firm had revenue of $8.52 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $8.27 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $1.49 EPS. The business’s quarterly revenue was up 14.5% on a year-over-year basis. Nucor has set its Q4 2025 guidance at -2.630 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts forecast that Nucor will post 7.64 EPS for the current year.
Nucor Increases Dividend
The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, February 11th. Investors of record on Wednesday, December 31st will be paid a dividend of $0.56 per share. This represents a $2.24 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.3%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, December 31st. This is a positive change from Nucor’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.55. Nucor’s dividend payout ratio is currently 31.46%.
Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth
Several brokerages have weighed in on NUE. Wall Street Zen lowered Nucor from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Saturday, December 20th. UBS Group increased their price objective on Nucor from $165.00 to $168.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, October 29th. Morgan Stanley reissued an “equal weight” rating and issued a $180.00 target price (up from $165.00) on shares of Nucor in a research report on Friday, January 9th. BNP Paribas Exane raised their price target on shares of Nucor from $165.00 to $185.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a report on Friday, January 2nd. Finally, Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a “hold (c)” rating on shares of Nucor in a research note on Monday, December 29th. Nine analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and two have issued a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $177.27.
Insider Activity at Nucor
In other Nucor news, EVP Thomas J. Batterbee sold 2,000 shares of Nucor stock in a transaction on Tuesday, December 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $165.28, for a total transaction of $330,560.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president owned 17,952 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $2,967,106.56. This trade represents a 10.02% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, EVP Allen C. Behr sold 5,950 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Friday, December 19th. The shares were sold at an average price of $157.89, for a total transaction of $939,445.50. Following the transaction, the executive vice president owned 67,711 shares in the company, valued at approximately $10,690,889.79. This represents a 8.08% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Insiders have sold 25,995 shares of company stock worth $3,990,634 in the last quarter. 0.71% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.
Institutional Inflows and Outflows
Several institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. RFG Advisory LLC grew its stake in shares of Nucor by 2.9% in the second quarter. RFG Advisory LLC now owns 2,462 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $319,000 after acquiring an additional 69 shares during the last quarter. Rosenberg Matthew Hamilton boosted its holdings in Nucor by 3.6% in the 4th quarter. Rosenberg Matthew Hamilton now owns 2,011 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $328,000 after purchasing an additional 69 shares during the period. Whittier Trust Co. grew its position in Nucor by 5.6% in the 3rd quarter. Whittier Trust Co. now owns 1,330 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $184,000 after purchasing an additional 70 shares during the last quarter. IMA Advisory Services Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Nucor by 51.4% during the 2nd quarter. IMA Advisory Services Inc. now owns 221 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $29,000 after purchasing an additional 75 shares during the period. Finally, HUB Investment Partners LLC raised its position in shares of Nucor by 1.9% during the second quarter. HUB Investment Partners LLC now owns 4,099 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $531,000 after buying an additional 75 shares during the last quarter. 76.48% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.
About Nucor
Nucor Corporation (NYSE: NUE) is an American steel producer headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina. The company is primarily engaged in the manufacture and sale of steel and steel products, operating a network of steel mills, recycling facilities and fabrication plants across the United States and North America. Nucor’s operations emphasize electric arc furnace steelmaking using recycled scrap metal, which supports a decentralized, mill-based production model focused on efficiency and flexibility.
Product offerings span a broad range of basic and value‑added steel items, including sheet, plate, merchant bar, structural beams, reinforcing bar, tubing, fasteners and fabricated components.