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JHX vs. NUE: James Hardie Industries vs. Nucor Stock Comparison

How do James Hardie Industries (JHX) 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

James Hardie Industries (JHX) and Nucor (NUE) both fall under the Materials industry group, but JHX is classified in Construction Materials while NUE is classified in Metals & Mining.

Company profile comparison for James Hardie Industries (JHX) and Nucor (NUE)
Profile ItemJHXNUE
NameJames Hardie Industries plcNucor Corporation
Country/RegionIrelandUnited States
GICS SectorMaterialsMaterials
GICS Industry GroupMaterialsMaterials
GICS IndustryConstruction MaterialsMetals & Mining
GICS Sub-IndustryConstruction MaterialsSteel
Market Capitalization16.20 billion USD55.58 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateOctober 22, 2001March 17, 1980
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

JHX
NUE
GSPC
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James Hardie Industries (JHX) 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 James Hardie Industries (JHX) and Nucor (NUE). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for James Hardie Industries (JHX) and Nucor (NUE). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for James Hardie Industries (JHX) and Nucor (NUE)
MetricJHXNUE
Total Return (1Y)72.20%74.82%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)0.38%19.83%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)-5.23%18.79%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

JHX
NUE
GSPC
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James Hardie Industries (JHX) 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 James Hardie Industries (JHX) and Nucor (NUE). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for James Hardie Industries (JHX) and Nucor (NUE)
MetricJHXNUE
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)44.97%32.37%
Beta (5Y)1.741.82
Max Drawdown (5Y)-60.26%-47.79%
Avg. Volume (3M)9.36M1.37M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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JHX 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 James Hardie Industries (JHX) and Nucor (NUE)
MetricJHXNUE
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)1.512.18
Sortino Ratio (1Y)2.593.28

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both James Hardie Industries (JHX) at 5.46% and Nucor (NUE) at 17.58% land near their industries’ usual ROE ranges, so capital efficiency looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

JHX

Materials industry group

5.46%

Max
52.88%
Q3
19.49%
Median
8.76%
JHX
5.46%
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%
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James Hardie Industries (JHX) vs. Nucor (NUE): A comparison of their ROE against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Both James Hardie Industries (JHX) at 6.22% 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.

JHX

Materials industry group

6.22%

Max
38.66%
Q3
15.98%
JHX
6.22%
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%
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James Hardie Industries (JHX) vs. Nucor (NUE): A comparison of their net margin against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both James Hardie Industries (JHX) at 19.56% and Nucor (NUE) at 16.73% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.

JHX

Materials industry group

19.56%

Max
66.70%
Q3
28.92%
JHX
19.56%
Median
12.56%
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%
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James Hardie Industries (JHX) vs. Nucor (NUE): A comparison of their operating margin against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for James Hardie Industries (JHX) and Nucor (NUE)
MetricJHXNUE
ROE (TTM)5.46%17.58%
ROA (TTM)4.42%8.82%
Net Margin (TTM)6.22%9.26%
Operating Margin (TTM)19.56%16.73%
Gross Margin (TTM)38.25%17.39%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both James Hardie Industries (JHX) at 24.71% 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.

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James Hardie Industries (JHX) 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 James Hardie Industries (JHX) at -80.61% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker earnings momentum.

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James Hardie Industries (JHX) vs. Nucor (NUE): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for James Hardie Industries (JHX) and Nucor (NUE)
MetricJHXNUE
Revenue Growth (YoY)24.71%5.73%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)8.59%-7.84%
EPS Growth (YoY)-80.61%-11.11%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)-45.13%-36.08%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both James Hardie Industries (JHX) at 2.12 and Nucor (NUE) at 2.46 carry current ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges, suggesting balanced short-term liquidity relative to peers.

JHX

Materials industry group

2.12

Max
5.96
Q3
3.30
Median
2.24
JHX
2.12
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
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James Hardie Industries (JHX) vs. Nucor (NUE): A comparison of their current ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both James Hardie Industries (JHX) at 0.63 and Nucor (NUE) at 0.29 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.

JHX

Materials industry group

0.63

Max
1.98
Q3
0.89
JHX
0.63
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
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James Hardie Industries (JHX) vs. Nucor (NUE): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for James Hardie Industries (JHX) and Nucor (NUE)
MetricJHXNUE
Current Ratio (MRQ)2.122.46
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.630.29
Net Debt / EBITDA2.430.52

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

James Hardie Industries (JHX) pays no dividend (yield 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Nucor (NUE) reports a yield of 0.91%, ranking against industry peers normally.

JHX

Materials industry group

0.00%

Max
4.52%
Q3
1.85%
Median
0.38%
JHX
0.00%
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%
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James Hardie Industries (JHX) vs. Nucor (NUE): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

James Hardie Industries (JHX) pays no dividend (payout 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Nucor (NUE) reports a payout of 17.78%, ranking against industry peers normally.

JHX

Materials industry group

0.00%

Max
83.62%
Q3
41.37%
Median
9.54%
JHX
0.00%
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%
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James Hardie Industries (JHX) vs. Nucor (NUE): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for James Hardie Industries (JHX) and Nucor (NUE)
MetricJHXNUE
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.00%0.91%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)0.00%17.78%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Nucor (NUE) at 15.60 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while James Hardie Industries (JHX) at 48.02 sits in the richer quartile — JHX needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.

JHX

Materials industry group

48.02

Max
59.00
JHX
48.02
Q3
32.93
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
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James Hardie Industries (JHX) vs. Nucor (NUE): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

On P/S ratio, both James Hardie Industries (JHX) at 2.86 and Nucor (NUE) at 1.43 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.

JHX

Materials industry group

2.86

Max
9.62
Q3
4.34
JHX
2.86
Median
1.87
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
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James Hardie Industries (JHX) 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 James Hardie Industries (JHX) at 2.41 and Nucor (NUE) at 2.43 are valued close to their industries’ norm against book — neither stands out from peers.

JHX

Materials industry group

2.41

Max
6.59
Q3
3.55
JHX
2.41
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
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James Hardie Industries (JHX) vs. Nucor (NUE): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for James Hardie Industries (JHX) and Nucor (NUE)
MetricJHXNUE
P/E Ratio (TTM)48.0215.60
P/S Ratio (TTM)2.861.43
P/B Ratio (MRQ)2.412.43
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)0.98%2.77%