AVY vs. NUE: Avery Dennison vs. Nucor Stock Comparison
How do Avery Dennison (AVY) and Nucor (NUE) stack up? This page sets them side by side across company profile, performance and risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividends, and valuation, with selected fundamentals also measured against each stock's industry-group peers.
Company Profile
Avery Dennison (AVY) and Nucor (NUE) both fall under the Materials industry group, but AVY is classified in Containers & Packaging while NUE is classified in Metals & Mining.
| Profile Item | AVY | NUE |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Avery Dennison Corporation | Nucor Corporation |
| Country/Region | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Materials | Materials |
| GICS Industry Group | Materials | Materials |
| GICS Industry | Containers & Packaging | Metals & Mining |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Paper & Plastic Packaging Products & Materials | Steel |
| Market Capitalization | 14.10 billion USD | 55.58 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | February 21, 1973 | March 17, 1980 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | AVY | NUE |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 10.80% | 74.82% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 3.97% | 19.83% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | -1.88% | 18.79% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | AVY | NUE |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 24.05% | 32.37% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.75 | 1.82 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -31.73% | -47.79% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 836.04K | 1.37M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | AVY | NUE |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 0.27 | 2.18 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 0.43 | 3.28 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Avery Dennison (AVY) at 30.80% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Nucor (NUE) at 17.58% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for AVY.
AVY
Materials industry group
30.80%
- Max
- 52.88%
- AVY
- 30.80%
- Q3
- 19.49%
- Median
- 8.76%
- Q1
- -3.41%
- Min
- -32.81%
NUE
Materials industry group
17.58%
- Max
- 52.88%
- Q3
- 19.49%
- NUE
- 17.58%
- Median
- 8.76%
- Q1
- -3.41%
- Min
- -32.81%
Net Margin (TTM)
Both Avery Dennison (AVY) at 7.56% and Nucor (NUE) at 9.26% keep about the typical share of revenue as profit for their industries — neither bottom line stands out from peers.
AVY
Materials industry group
7.56%
- Max
- 38.66%
- Q3
- 15.98%
- AVY
- 7.56%
- Median
- 5.28%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- -20.40%
NUE
Materials industry group
9.26%
- Max
- 38.66%
- Q3
- 15.98%
- NUE
- 9.26%
- Median
- 5.28%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- -20.40%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Both Avery Dennison (AVY) at 12.10% and Nucor (NUE) at 16.73% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.
AVY
Materials industry group
12.10%
- Max
- 66.70%
- Q3
- 28.92%
- Median
- 12.56%
- AVY
- 12.10%
- Q1
- 3.28%
- Min
- -14.07%
NUE
Materials industry group
16.73%
- Max
- 66.70%
- Q3
- 28.92%
- NUE
- 16.73%
- Median
- 12.56%
- Q1
- 3.28%
- Min
- -14.07%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | AVY | NUE |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 30.80% | 17.58% |
| ROA (TTM) | 8.28% | 8.82% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 7.56% | 9.26% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 12.10% | 16.73% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 28.83% | 17.39% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Both Avery Dennison (AVY) at 1.14% and Nucor (NUE) at 5.73% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
EPS Growth
Both Avery Dennison (AVY) at 0.69% and Nucor (NUE) at -11.11% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | AVY | NUE |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 1.14% | 5.73% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | -0.68% | -7.84% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 0.69% | -11.11% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | -1.54% | -36.08% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Nucor (NUE) at 2.46 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Avery Dennison (AVY) at 1.16 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for AVY.
AVY
Materials industry group
1.16
- Max
- 5.96
- Q3
- 3.30
- Median
- 2.24
- Q1
- 1.45
- AVY
- 1.16
- Min
- 0.16
NUE
Materials industry group
2.46
- Max
- 5.96
- Q3
- 3.30
- NUE
- 2.46
- Median
- 2.24
- Q1
- 1.45
- Min
- 0.16
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Nucor (NUE) at 0.29 carries an industry-typical debt-to-equity mix, while Avery Dennison (AVY) at 1.52 uses more debt funding than most peers.
AVY
Materials industry group
1.52
- Max
- 1.98
- AVY
- 1.52
- Q3
- 0.89
- Median
- 0.47
- Q1
- 0.13
- Min
- 0.00
NUE
Materials industry group
0.29
- Max
- 1.98
- Q3
- 0.89
- Median
- 0.47
- NUE
- 0.29
- Q1
- 0.13
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | AVY | NUE |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 1.16 | 2.46 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 1.52 | 0.29 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 2.20 | 0.52 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Avery Dennison (AVY) at 2.05% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while Nucor (NUE) at 0.91% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, AVY the richer one.
AVY
Materials industry group
2.05%
- Max
- 4.52%
- AVY
- 2.05%
- Q3
- 1.85%
- Median
- 0.38%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
NUE
Materials industry group
0.91%
- Max
- 4.52%
- Q3
- 1.85%
- NUE
- 0.91%
- Median
- 0.38%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Nucor (NUE) at 17.78% pays out a band-typical share of earnings, while Avery Dennison (AVY) at 41.99% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.
AVY
Materials industry group
41.99%
- Max
- 83.62%
- AVY
- 41.99%
- Q3
- 41.37%
- Median
- 9.54%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
NUE
Materials industry group
17.78%
- Max
- 83.62%
- Q3
- 41.37%
- NUE
- 17.78%
- Median
- 9.54%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | AVY | NUE |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 2.05% | 0.91% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 41.99% | 17.78% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Both Avery Dennison (AVY) at 20.21 and Nucor (NUE) at 15.60 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.
AVY
Materials industry group
20.21
- Max
- 59.00
- Q3
- 32.93
- AVY
- 20.21
- Median
- 18.82
- Q1
- 11.96
- Min
- 3.93
NUE
Materials industry group
15.60
- Max
- 59.00
- Q3
- 32.93
- Median
- 18.82
- NUE
- 15.60
- Q1
- 11.96
- Min
- 3.93
P/S Ratio (TTM)
On P/S ratio, both Avery Dennison (AVY) at 1.51 and Nucor (NUE) at 1.43 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.
AVY
Materials industry group
1.51
- Max
- 9.62
- Q3
- 4.34
- Median
- 1.87
- AVY
- 1.51
- Q1
- 0.73
- Min
- 0.00
NUE
Materials industry group
1.43
- Max
- 9.62
- Q3
- 4.34
- Median
- 1.87
- NUE
- 1.43
- Q1
- 0.73
- Min
- 0.00
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Nucor (NUE) at 2.43 is valued about in line with its industry on P/B ratio, while Avery Dennison (AVY) at 5.91 carries an above-peer premium to book — AVY is pricier on assets.
AVY
Materials industry group
5.91
- Max
- 6.59
- AVY
- 5.91
- Q3
- 3.55
- Median
- 2.08
- Q1
- 1.26
- Min
- -0.17
NUE
Materials industry group
2.43
- Max
- 6.59
- Q3
- 3.55
- NUE
- 2.43
- Median
- 2.08
- Q1
- 1.26
- Min
- -0.17
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | AVY | NUE |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 20.21 | 15.60 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 1.51 | 1.43 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 5.91 | 2.43 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 6.90% | 2.77% |