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On Monday, BMO Capital Markets adjusted its stance on Nucor Corporation (NYSE:NUE), enhancing the steelmaker’s stock rating from Market Perform to Outperform. Accompanying the upgrade, the firm also increased Nucor’s price target to $145 from the previous $140. According to InvestingPro data, Nucor has demonstrated strong financial discipline, maintaining dividend payments for 53 consecutive years and achieving robust returns over the past five years.
The upgrade reflects BMO’s confidence in Nucor’s ongoing multi-year organic growth plan, which is expected to bolster long-term profitability and free cash flow (FCF). BMO analysts noted Nucor’s strategic positioning to gain from the recent doubling of steel tariffs, given the company’s relatively lower utilization rates and diversified product portfolio. With a current ratio of 2.52 and liquid assets exceeding short-term obligations, Nucor maintains a strong financial position to execute its growth strategy.
BMO acknowledged the unpredictable nature of tariff policies but underscored the attractiveness of Nucor’s valuation. With shares trading at approximately 5.5 times the estimated 2026 enterprise value to earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EV/EBITDA), BMO views the valuation as compelling. InvestingPro analysis suggests Nucor is currently undervalued, with additional insights available in the comprehensive Pro Research Report, which offers deep-dive analysis of 1,400+ top stocks.
The analysts’ remarks also included an expectation of volume growth potential for Nucor, which could be a direct benefit from the adjusted tariff landscape. This potential for increased volume growth, along with Nucor’s varied product mix, plays into the reasoning behind the raised price target.
The revised price target of $145 represents a vote of confidence in Nucor’s future performance and suggests a positive outlook for the company’s stock. The target is based on a higher multiple, reflecting the analysts’ upgraded assessment of Nucor’s market prospects.
In other recent news, Nucor Corporation reported its first-quarter 2025 earnings, revealing adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $0.77, which slightly missed the forecasted $0.79. However, the company exceeded revenue expectations, posting $7.83 billion against a forecast of $7.23 billion. The Steel Mills segment was a notable contributor, showing a 43% increase in pre-tax earnings compared to the previous quarter. Nucor returned $430 million to shareholders through dividends and buybacks and plans to invest significantly in growth, with an estimated $3 billion in capital expenditure for 2025. The company anticipates improved earnings in the second quarter, driven by continued growth in domestic steel demand. Additionally, Nucor’s CEO, Leon Topalian, highlighted the company’s strategic focus on expansion and innovation, while CFO Steve Laxton noted the strong backlog growth in the Steel Mills and Steel Products segments. The firm also addressed potential risks, such as tariff impacts and macroeconomic pressures, but remains confident in its ability to manage these challenges effectively.
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