DOW vs. NUE: Dow vs. Nucor Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

How do Dow (DOW) 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

Dow (DOW) and Nucor (NUE) both fall under the Materials industry group, but DOW is classified in Chemicals while NUE is classified in Metals & Mining.

Company profile comparison for Dow (DOW) and Nucor (NUE)
Profile Item	DOW	NUE
Name	Dow Inc.	Nucor Corporation
Country/Region	United States	United States
GICS Sector	Materials	Materials
GICS Industry Group	Materials	Materials
GICS Industry	Chemicals	Metals & Mining
GICS Sub-Industry	Commodity Chemicals	Steel
Market Capitalization	22.73 billion USD	55.58 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	NYSE
Listing Date	March 20, 2019	March 17, 1980
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

DOW

NUE

GSPC

Dow (DOW) vs. Nucor (NUE), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Trailing Returns

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Trailing total returns for Dow (DOW) and Nucor (NUE). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Dow (DOW) and Nucor (NUE). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Dow (DOW) and Nucor (NUE)
Metric	DOW	NUE
Total Return (1Y)	46.93%	74.82%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	-8.46%	19.83%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	-6.94%	18.79%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

DOW

NUE

GSPC

Dow (DOW) vs. Nucor (NUE), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Return Distribution

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Distribution of monthly total returns for Dow (DOW) and Nucor (NUE). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Nucor (NUE) has an aggressive beta of 1.82, indicating higher sensitivity to broad-market moves, while Dow (DOW) is defensive at 0.44 and tends to be less market-sensitive — they sit on opposite ends of the beta spectrum.

Risk profile metrics for Dow (DOW) and Nucor (NUE)
Metric	DOW	NUE
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	41.81%	32.37%
Beta (5Y)	0.44	1.82
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-64.37%	-47.79%
Avg. Volume (3M)	8.52M	1.37M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

DOW and NUE are plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. The dashed Capital Allocation Line runs from the risk-free rate through the shared industry median.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for Dow (DOW) and Nucor (NUE)
Metric	DOW	NUE
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	1.02	2.18
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	1.62	3.28

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Dow (DOW) reports a negative ROE of -3.24%; negative ROE can reflect losses or negative shareholders’ equity, so it is harder to read as capital efficiency. Meanwhile Nucor (NUE) reports 17.58%, ranking against industry peers normally.

DOW

Materials industry group

-3.24%

Max: 52.88%
Q3: 19.49%
Median: 8.76%
DOW: -3.24%
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%

Dow (DOW) vs. Nucor (NUE): A comparison of their ROE against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Dow (DOW) reports a negative net margin of -2.11%, usually indicating a net loss over the period. Meanwhile Nucor (NUE) reports 9.26%, ranking against industry peers normally.

DOW

Materials industry group

-2.11%

Max: 38.66%
Q3: 15.98%
Median: 5.28%
Q1: 0.00%
DOW: -2.11%
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%

Dow (DOW) vs. Nucor (NUE): A comparison of their net margin against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Dow (DOW) at 6.78% and Nucor (NUE) at 16.73% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.

DOW

Materials industry group

6.78%

Max: 66.70%
Q3: 28.92%
Median: 12.56%
DOW: 6.78%
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%

Dow (DOW) vs. Nucor (NUE): A comparison of their operating margin against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Dow (DOW) and Nucor (NUE)
Metric	DOW	NUE
ROE (TTM)	-3.24%	17.58%
ROA (TTM)	1.87%	8.82%
Net Margin (TTM)	-2.11%	9.26%
Operating Margin (TTM)	6.78%	16.73%
Gross Margin (TTM)	11.01%	17.39%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Nucor (NUE) at 5.73% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while Dow (DOW) at -6.97% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.

Dow (DOW) vs. Nucor (NUE): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Nucor (NUE) at -11.11% is around its peer norm for EPS growth, while Dow (DOW) at -335.67% falls below its industry range, a notably weak earnings reading.

Dow (DOW) vs. Nucor (NUE): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Dow (DOW) and Nucor (NUE)
Metric	DOW	NUE
Revenue Growth (YoY)	-6.97%	5.73%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	-11.11%	-7.84%
EPS Growth (YoY)	-335.67%	-11.11%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	--	-36.08%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Dow (DOW) at 1.76 and Nucor (NUE) at 2.46 carry current ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges, suggesting balanced short-term liquidity relative to peers.

DOW

Materials industry group

1.76

Max: 5.96
Q3: 3.30
Median: 2.24
DOW: 1.76
Q1: 1.45
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

Dow (DOW) vs. Nucor (NUE): A comparison of their current ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Nucor (NUE) at 0.29 carries an industry-typical debt-to-equity mix, while Dow (DOW) at 1.08 uses more debt funding than most peers.

DOW

Materials industry group

1.08

Max: 1.98
DOW: 1.08
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

Dow (DOW) vs. Nucor (NUE): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Dow (DOW) and Nucor (NUE)
Metric	DOW	NUE
Current Ratio (MRQ)	1.76	2.46
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	1.08	0.29
Net Debt / EBITDA	3.21	0.52

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Dow (DOW) at 4.38% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while Nucor (NUE) at 0.91% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, DOW the richer one.

DOW

Materials industry group

4.38%

Max: 4.52%
DOW: 4.38%
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%

Dow (DOW) vs. Nucor (NUE): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Dow (DOW) reports payout ratio above 100% at 700.00%, meaning dividends exceeded current-period earnings and sustainability needs extra context. Meanwhile Nucor (NUE) reports 17.78%, ranking against industry peers normally.

DOW

Materials industry group

700.00%

DOW: 700.00%
Max: 83.62%
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%

Dow (DOW) vs. Nucor (NUE): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Dow (DOW) and Nucor (NUE)
Metric	DOW	NUE
Dividend Yield (TTM)	4.38%	0.91%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	700.00%	17.78%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

An earnings multiple is available for just one side: Nucor (NUE) trades at 15.60 times trailing earnings, ranked against its peers, while Dow (DOW) has no P/E ratio this period.

DOW

Materials industry group

Max: 59.00
Q3: 32.93
Median: 18.82
Q1: 11.96
Min: 3.93
DOW: --

NUE

Materials industry group

15.60

Max: 59.00
Q3: 32.93
Median: 18.82
NUE: 15.60
Q1: 11.96
Min: 3.93

Dow (DOW) vs. Nucor (NUE): DOW does not report P/E ratio, so it has no value marker; NUE is benchmarked against the Materials industry group.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Dow (DOW) at 0.53 sits in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile while Nucor (NUE) at 1.43 prices around its industry’s middle — DOW costs less per dollar of sales, though read it alongside growth and margins.

DOW

Materials industry group

0.53

Max: 9.62
Q3: 4.34
Median: 1.87
Q1: 0.73
DOW: 0.53
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

Dow (DOW) vs. Nucor (NUE): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

On P/B ratio, both Dow (DOW) at 1.41 and Nucor (NUE) at 2.43 are valued close to their industries’ norm against book — neither stands out from peers.

DOW

Materials industry group

1.41

Max: 6.59
Q3: 3.55
Median: 2.08
DOW: 1.41
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

Dow (DOW) vs. Nucor (NUE): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Dow (DOW) and Nucor (NUE)
Metric	DOW	NUE
P/E Ratio (TTM)	--	15.60
P/S Ratio (TTM)	0.53	1.43
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	1.41	2.43
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	3.95%	2.77%