Citi maintains Nucor Buy rating, $160 price target amid guidance

Published 24/03/2025, 10:42
Citi maintains Nucor Buy rating, $160 price target amid guidance

On Monday, Citi analyst Alexander Hacking confirmed the firm’s Buy rating and a $160.00 price target for Nucor Corporation (NYSE:NUE), despite acknowledging a weaker-than-anticipated first-quarter guidance that led to the stock’s underperformance last Friday. According to InvestingPro data, Nucor currently trades at $122.01 and shows signs of being undervalued, with a GOOD overall financial health score of 2.59. Hacking’s analysis suggests that Nucor’s results continue to be influenced by utilization rates, with shipments not meeting the levels suggested by new capacity expansions and historical models.

Hacking attributes this to a combination of market discipline and the current demand environment, which provides Nucor with significant operating leverage for future steel demand. He notes that the updated Section 232 tariffs, which now include downstream products, should provide some support to the company. While tariff uncertainty poses risks, InvestingPro data shows Nucor maintains strong fundamentals with a current ratio of 2.51 and moderate debt levels. The company has also maintained dividend payments for an impressive 53 consecutive years, demonstrating remarkable financial stability.

The Citi analyst has adjusted the company’s EBITDA forecast for 2025, increasing it by 1% to $3.9 billion. This revision is based on the expectation that Nucor’s financial performance will strengthen sequentially in the second and third quarters of the year. For context, InvestingPro reports the company’s current LTM EBITDA at $4.335 billion, with a solid EV/EBITDA ratio of 7.31x.

Nucor’s stock had experienced a decline of approximately 4% on Friday following the release of the first-quarter guidance. Despite this, Hacking’s reiteration of the Buy rating indicates a continued positive outlook for the steel manufacturer’s stock.

Investors and market watchers will be keeping a close eye on Nucor’s performance in the upcoming quarters, as the company navigates the challenges and opportunities within the steel industry, including market demand fluctuations and the impact of trade policies on its operations.

In other recent news, Nucor Corporation has announced its earnings guidance for the first quarter of 2025, projecting earnings per share (EPS) between $0.45 and $0.55. This guidance is significantly below analysts’ expectations of $1.05 and includes one-time charges related to the closure of two facilities. United States Steel (NYSE:X) Corporation also provided its first-quarter guidance, expecting an adjusted EPS between ($0.53) and ($0.49), which did not meet the consensus estimate of ($0.32). Both companies are navigating challenging market conditions, with Nucor’s steel products segment facing lower average selling prices and United States Steel dealing with logistical constraints in the mining sector.

Additionally, President Donald Trump has announced a 25% tariff increase on imports from Canada, affecting steel and aluminum companies. This move has led to a rise in shares for U.S.-based steel producers, including Nucor and United States Steel. Meanwhile, Nucor has announced executive retirements and promotions, with Gregory J. Murphy set to retire in June 2025 and Benjamin M. Pickett and Douglas R. Wilner stepping into new executive roles. These changes are part of Nucor’s ongoing commitment to corporate governance and strategic growth.

The recent developments underscore the dynamic environment in which these companies operate, influenced by both internal strategies and external trade policies.

This article was generated with the support of AI and reviewed by an editor. For more information see our T&C.

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