Key Stats for Nucor Stock
- Price Change: +1.9%
- Current Price: $190
- Advanced Model Target: $220
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What Happened?
Shares of Nucor Corporation (NUE) gained 1.9% to close at $190 on Wednesday as investors looked past an earnings miss to focus on a robust 2026 outlook.
The company reported Q4 adjusted EPS of $1.73, which missed analyst estimates, but issued strong guidance driven by a 40.0% year-over-year increase in its steel mills backlog.
Management confirmed that shipment volumes are expected to grow 5.0% in 2026 as demand from data centers and infrastructure projects accelerates.
Analysts at Jefferies recently raised their price target to $200, citing the company’s ability to capture market share as steel imports decline.
Meanwhile, BNP Paribas Exane boosted its target to $185, highlighting the stock’s resilience and “Outperform” rating.
Sector peers like Cleveland-Cliffs (NYSE:CLF) and Steel Dynamics (NASDAQ:STLD) are also benefiting from the onshoring of manufacturing, but Nucor’s diversified portfolio sets it apart.
The board also declared a quarterly dividend of $0.56 per share, marking the company’s 53rd consecutive year of base dividend increases.
See analysts’ growth forecasts and price targets for Nucor stock (It’s free!) >>>
Is Nucor Undervalued Today?
During the earnings call, CEO Leon Topalian emphasized the historic strength of the company’s order book entering the new year.
He stated: “We enter 2026 with real momentum… backlogs are up nearly 40% year-over-year in the steel mills segment and 15% in steel products.”
Regarding the capital allocation shift, management noted that a reduction in spending will unlock significant cash flow for shareholders.
Furthermore, he noted: “We expect meaningfully higher free cash flow in 2026… as we plan to reduce capital expenditures to approximately $2.5 billion.”
Additionally, the leadership team believes that the completion of major growth projects, including the new West Virginia sheet mill, will drive EBITDA expansion through 2026.
Read the full Nucor Transcript on TIKR to see the 2026 infrastructure roadmap >>>
According to TIKR’s Advanced Valuation Model, the current market price of $190 offers a solid entry point for a “quality compounder” with accelerating cash flows.
- Target Price: $220
- Current Price: $190
- Potential Upside: +15.7%
The investment case for Nucor rests on its status as North America’s most diversified and sustainable steelmaker.
If Nucor continues to execute its growth projects and returns cash to shareholders as planned, the gap to $220 is likely to close steadily in 2026.
Conclusion: The steel giant is forged for a steady 2026. With a 15.7% upside potential and a model pointing to $220, Nucor stock offers a resilient mix of dividend consistency and infrastructure growth exposure through 2026.
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How Much Upside Does Nucor Stock Have From Here?
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Disclaimer:
Please note that the articles on TIKR are not intended to serve as investment or financial advice from TIKR or our content team, nor are they recommendations to buy or sell any stocks. We create our content based on TIKR Terminal’s investment data and analysts’ estimates. Our analysis might not include recent company news or important updates. TIKR has no position in any stocks mentioned. Thank you for reading, and happy investing!