MLM vs. NUE: Martin Marietta Materials vs. Nucor Stock Comparison
How do Martin Marietta Materials (MLM) 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
Martin Marietta Materials (MLM) and Nucor (NUE) both fall under the Materials industry group, but MLM is classified in Construction Materials while NUE is classified in Metals & Mining.
| Profile Item | MLM | NUE |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Martin Marietta Materials, Inc. | Nucor Corporation |
| Country/Region | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Materials | Materials |
| GICS Industry Group | Materials | Materials |
| GICS Industry | Construction Materials | Metals & Mining |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Construction Materials | Steel |
| Market Capitalization | 36.85 billion USD | 55.58 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | February 17, 1994 | March 17, 1980 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | MLM | NUE |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | -12.23% | 74.82% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 6.32% | 19.83% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 5.43% | 18.79% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | MLM | NUE |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 29.72% | 32.37% |
| Beta (5Y) | 1.02 | 1.82 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -33.19% | -47.79% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 805.11K | 1.37M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | MLM | NUE |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | -0.56 | 2.18 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | -0.75 | 3.28 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Both Martin Marietta Materials (MLM) at 6.02% 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.
MLM
Materials industry group
6.02%
- Max
- 52.88%
- Q3
- 19.49%
- Median
- 8.76%
- MLM
- 6.02%
- 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)
Martin Marietta Materials (MLM) at 31.88% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of Nucor (NUE) at 9.26%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.
MLM
Materials industry group
31.88%
- Max
- 38.66%
- MLM
- 31.88%
- Q3
- 15.98%
- 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 Martin Marietta Materials (MLM) at 22.29% and Nucor (NUE) at 16.73% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.
MLM
Materials industry group
22.29%
- Max
- 66.70%
- Q3
- 28.92%
- MLM
- 22.29%
- 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%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | MLM | NUE |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 6.02% | 17.58% |
| ROA (TTM) | 3.27% | 8.82% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 31.88% | 9.26% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 22.29% | 16.73% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 26.74% | 17.39% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Both Martin Marietta Materials (MLM) at 8.62% 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 Martin Marietta Materials (MLM) at -42.09% 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 | MLM | NUE |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 8.62% | 5.73% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | -0.06% | -7.84% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | -42.09% | -11.11% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 10.61% | -36.08% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Both Martin Marietta Materials (MLM) at 1.63 and Nucor (NUE) at 2.46 carry current ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges, suggesting balanced short-term liquidity relative to peers.
MLM
Materials industry group
1.63
- Max
- 5.96
- Q3
- 3.30
- Median
- 2.24
- MLM
- 1.63
- 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
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Both Martin Marietta Materials (MLM) at 0.75 and Nucor (NUE) at 0.29 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.
MLM
Materials industry group
0.75
- Max
- 1.98
- Q3
- 0.89
- MLM
- 0.75
- 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 | MLM | NUE |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 1.63 | 2.46 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 0.75 | 0.29 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 5.88 | 0.52 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Both Martin Marietta Materials (MLM) at 0.63% and Nucor (NUE) at 0.91% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.
MLM
Materials industry group
0.63%
- Max
- 4.52%
- Q3
- 1.85%
- MLM
- 0.63%
- 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)
Both Martin Marietta Materials (MLM) at 24.85% and Nucor (NUE) at 17.78% keep payout ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges — dividend policies that share earnings without consuming too much of them.
MLM
Materials industry group
24.85%
- Max
- 83.62%
- Q3
- 41.37%
- MLM
- 24.85%
- 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 | MLM | NUE |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.63% | 0.91% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 24.85% | 17.78% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Nucor (NUE) at 15.60 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Martin Marietta Materials (MLM) at 38.67 sits in the richer quartile — MLM needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.
MLM
Materials industry group
38.67
- Max
- 59.00
- MLM
- 38.67
- 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
P/S Ratio (TTM)
Nucor (NUE) at 1.43 is priced about in line with its industry on P/S ratio, while Martin Marietta Materials (MLM) at 5.11 sits in the pricier quartile — MLM costs more per dollar of sales.
MLM
Materials industry group
5.11
- Max
- 9.62
- MLM
- 5.11
- Q3
- 4.34
- 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
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
On P/B ratio, both Martin Marietta Materials (MLM) at 2.09 and Nucor (NUE) at 2.43 are valued close to their industries’ norm against book — neither stands out from peers.
MLM
Materials industry group
2.09
- Max
- 6.59
- Q3
- 3.55
- MLM
- 2.09
- 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 | MLM | NUE |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 38.67 | 15.60 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 5.11 | 1.43 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 2.09 | 2.43 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 4.54% | 2.77% |