NUE vs. STLD: Nucor vs. Steel Dynamics Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

How do Nucor (NUE) and Steel Dynamics (STLD) 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

Nucor (NUE) and Steel Dynamics (STLD) are both classified in the Steel sub-industry within the broader Metals & Mining industry, placing them in the closest GICS peer bucket.

Company profile comparison for Nucor (NUE) and Steel Dynamics (STLD)
Profile Item	NUE	STLD
Name	Nucor Corporation	Steel Dynamics, Inc.
Country/Region	United States	United States
GICS Sector	Materials	Materials
GICS Industry Group	Materials	Materials
GICS Industry	Metals & Mining	Metals & Mining
GICS Sub-Industry	Steel	Steel
Market Capitalization	55.58 billion USD	31.70 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	Nasdaq
Listing Date	March 17, 1980	November 22, 1996
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

NUE

STLD

GSPC

Nucor (NUE) vs. Steel Dynamics (STLD), 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 Nucor (NUE) and Steel Dynamics (STLD). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Nucor (NUE) and Steel Dynamics (STLD)
Metric	NUE	STLD
Total Return (1Y)	74.82%	52.02%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	19.83%	29.83%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	18.79%	30.20%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

NUE

STLD

GSPC

Nucor (NUE) vs. Steel Dynamics (STLD), 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 Nucor (NUE) and Steel Dynamics (STLD). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Nucor (NUE) and Steel Dynamics (STLD)
Metric	NUE	STLD
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	32.37%	36.62%
Beta (5Y)	1.82	1.46
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-47.79%	-32.20%
Avg. Volume (3M)	1.37M	1.06M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

NUE and STLD 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 Nucor (NUE) and Steel Dynamics (STLD)
Metric	NUE	STLD
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	2.18	1.30
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	3.28	1.92

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Steel Dynamics (STLD) at 20.81% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Nucor (NUE) at 17.58% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for STLD.

NUE

Materials industry group

17.58%

Max: 52.88%
Q3: 19.49%
NUE: 17.58%
Median: 8.76%
Q1: -3.41%
Min: -32.81%

STLD

Materials industry group

20.81%

Max: 52.88%
STLD: 20.81%
Q3: 19.49%
Median: 8.76%
Q1: -3.41%
Min: -32.81%

Nucor (NUE) vs. Steel Dynamics (STLD): A comparison of their ROE against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Both Nucor (NUE) at 9.26% and Steel Dynamics (STLD) at 8.82% keep about the typical share of revenue as profit for their industries — neither bottom line stands out from peers.

NUE

Materials industry group

9.26%

Max: 38.66%
Q3: 15.98%
NUE: 9.26%
Median: 5.28%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: -20.40%

STLD

Materials industry group

8.82%

Max: 38.66%
Q3: 15.98%
STLD: 8.82%
Median: 5.28%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: -20.40%

Nucor (NUE) vs. Steel Dynamics (STLD): A comparison of their net margin against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Nucor (NUE) at 16.73% and Steel Dynamics (STLD) at 15.46% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.

NUE

Materials industry group

16.73%

Max: 66.70%
Q3: 28.92%
NUE: 16.73%
Median: 12.56%
Q1: 3.28%
Min: -14.07%

STLD

Materials industry group

15.46%

Max: 66.70%
Q3: 28.92%
STLD: 15.46%
Median: 12.56%
Q1: 3.28%
Min: -14.07%

Nucor (NUE) vs. Steel Dynamics (STLD): A comparison of their operating margin against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Nucor (NUE) and Steel Dynamics (STLD)
Metric	NUE	STLD
ROE (TTM)	17.58%	20.81%
ROA (TTM)	8.82%	9.45%
Net Margin (TTM)	9.26%	8.82%
Operating Margin (TTM)	16.73%	15.46%
Gross Margin (TTM)	17.39%	15.90%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Nucor (NUE) at 5.73% and Steel Dynamics (STLD) at 3.63% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

Nucor (NUE) vs. Steel Dynamics (STLD): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both Nucor (NUE) at -11.11% and Steel Dynamics (STLD) at -18.80% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

Nucor (NUE) vs. Steel Dynamics (STLD): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Nucor (NUE) and Steel Dynamics (STLD)
Metric	NUE	STLD
Revenue Growth (YoY)	5.73%	3.63%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	-7.84%	-6.53%
EPS Growth (YoY)	-11.11%	-18.80%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	-36.08%	-27.45%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Nucor (NUE) at 2.46 and Steel Dynamics (STLD) at 3.15 carry current ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges, suggesting balanced short-term liquidity relative to peers.

NUE

Materials industry group

2.46

Max: 5.96
Q3: 3.30
NUE: 2.46
Median: 2.24
Q1: 1.45
Min: 0.16

STLD

Materials industry group

3.15

Max: 5.96
Q3: 3.30
STLD: 3.15
Median: 2.24
Q1: 1.45
Min: 0.16

Nucor (NUE) vs. Steel Dynamics (STLD): A comparison of their current ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both Nucor (NUE) at 0.29 and Steel Dynamics (STLD) at 0.45 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.

NUE

Materials industry group

0.29

Max: 1.98
Q3: 0.89
Median: 0.47
NUE: 0.29
Q1: 0.13
Min: 0.00

STLD

Materials industry group

0.45

Max: 1.98
Q3: 0.89
Median: 0.47
STLD: 0.45
Q1: 0.13
Min: 0.00

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

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Nucor (NUE) and Steel Dynamics (STLD)
Metric	NUE	STLD
Current Ratio (MRQ)	2.46	3.15
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	0.29	0.45
Net Debt / EBITDA	0.52	1.09

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Nucor (NUE) at 0.91% and Steel Dynamics (STLD) at 0.94% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.

NUE

Materials industry group

0.91%

Max: 4.52%
Q3: 1.85%
NUE: 0.91%
Median: 0.38%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

STLD

Materials industry group

0.94%

Max: 4.52%
Q3: 1.85%
STLD: 0.94%
Median: 0.38%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Nucor (NUE) vs. Steel Dynamics (STLD): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both Nucor (NUE) at 17.78% and Steel Dynamics (STLD) at 15.44% keep payout ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges — dividend policies that share earnings without consuming too much of them.

NUE

Materials industry group

17.78%

Max: 83.62%
Q3: 41.37%
NUE: 17.78%
Median: 9.54%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

STLD

Materials industry group

15.44%

Max: 83.62%
Q3: 41.37%
STLD: 15.44%
Median: 9.54%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Nucor (NUE) vs. Steel Dynamics (STLD): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Nucor (NUE) and Steel Dynamics (STLD)
Metric	NUE	STLD
Dividend Yield (TTM)	0.91%	0.94%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	17.78%	15.44%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Nucor (NUE) at 15.60 and Steel Dynamics (STLD) at 16.46 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.

NUE

Materials industry group

15.60

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

STLD

Materials industry group

16.46

Max: 59.00
Q3: 32.93
Median: 18.82
STLD: 16.46
Q1: 11.96
Min: 3.93

Nucor (NUE) vs. Steel Dynamics (STLD): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

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

NUE

Materials industry group

1.43

Max: 9.62
Q3: 4.34
Median: 1.87
NUE: 1.43
Q1: 0.73
Min: 0.00

STLD

Materials industry group

1.43

Max: 9.62
Q3: 4.34
Median: 1.87
STLD: 1.43
Q1: 0.73
Min: 0.00

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

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

On P/B ratio, both Nucor (NUE) at 2.43 and Steel Dynamics (STLD) at 3.23 are valued close to their industries’ norm against book — neither stands out from peers.

NUE

Materials industry group

2.43

Max: 6.59
Q3: 3.55
NUE: 2.43
Median: 2.08
Q1: 1.26
Min: -0.17

STLD

Materials industry group

3.23

Max: 6.59
Q3: 3.55
STLD: 3.23
Median: 2.08
Q1: 1.26
Min: -0.17

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

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Nucor (NUE) and Steel Dynamics (STLD)
Metric	NUE	STLD
P/E Ratio (TTM)	15.60	16.46
P/S Ratio (TTM)	1.43	1.43
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	2.43	3.23
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	2.77%	1.36%