NUE

NUCOR CORP

Basic Materials | Large Cap

$0.74

EPS Forecast

$6,821

Revenue Forecast

Announcing earnings for the quarter ending 2024-12-31 soon
EX-99.1 2 d299286dex991.htm EX-99.1 EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

 

LOGO

Nucor Reports Record Quarterly and Annual Earnings

for the Fourth Quarter and Year Ended 2021

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – January 27, 2022 - Nucor Corporation (NYSE: NUE) today announced consolidated net earnings of $2.25 billion, or $7.97 per diluted share, for the fourth quarter of 2021. By comparison, Nucor reported consolidated net earnings of $2.13 billion, or $7.28 per diluted share, for the third quarter of 2021 and $398.8 million, or $1.30 per diluted share, for the fourth quarter of 2020.

For the full year 2021, Nucor reported consolidated net earnings of $6.83 billion, or $23.16 per diluted share, compared with consolidated net earnings of $721.5 million, or $2.36 per diluted share, in 2020.

“By so many measures, 2021 was an extraordinary year for Nucor. Our team delivered incredible financial and operational results in 2021. However, I am even prouder of the fact that our team had a record year in Safety performance for the second straight year,” said Leon Topalian, Nucor’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “Our record financial performance is the result of years of work investing to strategically position and grow our portfolio of capabilities across the steel value chain.

“We appreciate the trust our customers place in Nucor with every order and we will continue to position ourselves to build the capabilities that drive growth and shared success. Congratulations to the entire Nucor team for an extraordinary year and we look forward to continuing to lead our industry in both Safety and Profitability.”

Selected Segment Data

Earnings (loss) before income taxes and noncontrolling interests by segment for the fourth quarter and full year 2021 and 2020 were as follows (in thousands):

 

     Three Months (13 Weeks) Ended      Twelve Months (52 Weeks) Ended  
     Dec. 31, 2021      Dec. 31, 2020      Dec. 31, 2021      Dec. 31, 2020  

Steel mills

   $ 3,128,700      $ 208,069      $ 9,735,020      $ 720,151  

Steel products

     451,713        188,138        1,291,450        690,547  

Raw materials

     44,708        26,689        549,956        23,621  

Corporate/eliminations

     (617,364      (205,130      (2,375,568      (598,781
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
   $ 3,007,757      $ 217,766      $ 9,200,858      $ 835,538  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Financial Review

Nucor’s consolidated net sales increased slightly to $10.36 billion in the fourth quarter of 2021 compared with $10.31 billion in the third quarter of 2021 and increased 97% compared with $5.26 billion in the fourth quarter of 2020. Average sales price per ton in the fourth quarter of 2021 increased 12% compared with the third quarter of 2021 and increased 99% compared with the fourth quarter of 2020. A total of 6,417,000 tons were shipped to outside customers in the fourth quarter of 2021, an 11% decrease from the third quarter of 2021 and a 1% decrease compared to the fourth quarter of 2020. Total steel mill shipments in the fourth quarter of

 

Page 1 of 9

Nucor Executive Offices: 1915 Rexford Road, Charlotte, North Carolina 28211

Phone 704-366-7000 Fax 704-362-4208 www.nucor.com


LOGO

Nucor Reports Record Quarterly and Annual Earnings

for the Fourth Quarter and Year Ended 2021 (Continued)

 

2021 decreased 10% as compared to the third quarter of 2021 and increased 1% compared to shipments in the fourth quarter of 2020. Steel mill shipments to internal customers represented 22% of total steel mill shipments in the fourth quarter of 2021, a slight increase compared to 21% in the third quarter of 2021 and 19% in the fourth quarter of 2020. Downstream steel product shipments to outside customers in the fourth quarter of 2021 decreased 12% from the third quarter of 2021 and decreased 1% compared to the fourth quarter of 2020.

For 2021, Nucor’s consolidated net sales of $36.48 billion increased 81% compared with consolidated net sales of $20.14 billion reported in 2020. Total tons shipped to outside customers in 2021 were 28,247,000, an increase of 11% from 2020, while the average sales price per ton in 2021 increased 64% from 2020.

The average scrap and scrap substitute cost per gross ton used in the fourth quarter of 2021 was $508, a 1% decrease compared to $511 in the third quarter of 2021 and a 67% increase compared to $305 in the fourth quarter of 2020. The average scrap and scrap substitute cost per gross ton used in the full year 2021 was $469, a 62% increase compared to $290 in the full year 2020.

Pre-operating and start-up costs related to the Company’s growth projects were approximately $54 million, or $0.15 per diluted share, in the fourth quarter of 2021, compared with approximately $36 million, or $0.09 per diluted share, in the third quarter of 2021 and approximately $28 million, or $0.07 per diluted share, in the fourth quarter of 2020.

In the full year 2021, pre-operating and start-up costs related to the Company’s growth projects were approximately $130 million, or $0.34 per diluted share, compared with approximately $101 million, or $0.25 per diluted share, in 2020.

Overall operating rates at the Company’s steel mills decreased to 89% in the fourth quarter of 2021 as compared to 96% in the third quarter of 2021 and increased from 87% in the fourth quarter of 2020. Operating rates for the full year 2021 increased to 94% as compared to 82% for the full year 2020.

Included in the Company’s fourth quarter of 2020 earnings were the following: non-cash impairment charges of $130.2 million, or $0.33 per diluted share; net benefits of $48.2 million, or $0.16 per diluted share, and $39.7 million, or $0.13 per diluted share, related to certain tax items; and a net benefit of $17.9 million, or $0.05 per diluted share, resulting from the transaction that concluded Nucor’s investment in Duferdofin Nucor S.r.l.

 

Page 2 of 9

Nucor Executive Offices: 1915 Rexford Road, Charlotte, North Carolina 28211

Phone 704-366-7000 Fax 704-362-4208 www.nucor.com


LOGO

Nucor Reports Record Quarterly and Annual Earnings

for the Fourth Quarter and Year Ended 2021 (Continued)

 

Financial Strength

At the end of the fourth quarter of 2021, Nucor had $2.76 billion in cash and cash equivalents, short-term investments and restricted cash and cash equivalents on hand. The Company’s $1.75 billion revolving credit facility remains undrawn and does not expire until November 2026. Nucor continues to have the strongest credit rating in the North American steel sector (Baa1/A-) with stable outlooks at both Moody’s and Standard & Poor’s.

Commitment to Returning Capital to Stockholders

During the fourth quarter of 2021, Nucor repurchased approximately 13.5 million shares of its common stock at an average price of $111.63 per share (33.8 million shares in the full year 2021 at an average price of $96.92 per share). On December 2, 2021, Nucor’s Board of Directors approved a new share repurchase program under which Nucor is authorized to repurchase up to $4.00 billion of Nucor’s common stock and terminated any previously authorized share repurchase programs. As of December 31, 2021, Nucor had approximately 272,000,000 shares outstanding and approximately $3.8 billion remaining available for repurchases under its share repurchase program.

On December 2, 2021, Nucor’s Board of Directors declared a cash dividend of $0.50 per share. This cash dividend is payable on February 11, 2022 to stockholders of record as of December 31, 2021 and is Nucor’s 195th consecutive quarterly cash dividend. Nucor has increased its regular, or base, dividend for 49 consecutive years – every year since it first began paying dividends in 1973. For the full year 2021, Nucor returned approximately $3.76 billion to stockholders in the form of share repurchases and dividend payments.

Fourth Quarter of 2021 Analysis

Steel mills segment earnings in the fourth quarter of 2021 were comparable to the third quarter of 2021 despite lower volumes and a planned outage for the month of December at our sheet mill in Kentucky. The steel products segment generated increased earnings in the fourth quarter of 2021 as compared to the third quarter of 2021 as demand in nonresidential construction markets remained strong. Raw materials segment earnings decreased in the fourth quarter of 2021 as compared to the third quarter of 2021 primarily due to margin compression at our direct reduced iron facilities.

First Quarter of 2022 Outlook

End use market demand remains strong for steel and steel products, and we are confident that 2022 will be another year of strong profitability for Nucor. We expect consolidated net earnings attributable to Nucor stockholders in the first quarter of 2022 will be slightly reduced from the record results of the fourth quarter of 2021. Diluted earnings per share for first quarter of 2022 will benefit from lower weighted average shares outstanding.

 

Page 3 of 9

Nucor Executive Offices: 1915 Rexford Road, Charlotte, North Carolina 28211

Phone 704-366-7000 Fax 704-362-4208 www.nucor.com


LOGO

Nucor Reports Record Quarterly and Annual Earnings

for the Fourth Quarter and Year Ended 2021 (Continued)

 

Steel mill segment earnings are expected to decline in the first quarter of 2022 due to decreased profitability of our sheet mills. The steel products segment is expected to achieve further margin expansion and profitability in the first quarter of 2022 as backlog pricing has improved reflecting higher steel costs. Earnings of the raw materials segment are expected to improve slightly in the first quarter of 2022 as compared to the fourth quarter of 2021 due to the improved profitability of our direct reduced iron facilities, partially offset by the impact of lower scrap prices on our scrap brokerage and processing operations.

Earnings Conference Call

You are invited to listen to the live broadcast of Nucor’s conference call during which management will discuss Nucor’s fourth quarter results on January 27, 2022 at 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time. The conference call will be available over the Internet at www.nucor.com, under Investors.

About Nucor

Nucor and its affiliates are manufacturers of steel and steel products, with operating facilities in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Products produced include: carbon and alloy steel — in bars, beams, sheet and plate; hollow structural section tubing; electrical conduit; steel racking; steel piling; steel joists and joist girders; steel deck; fabricated concrete reinforcing steel; cold finished steel; precision castings; steel fasteners; metal building systems; insulated metal panels; steel grating; and wire and wire mesh. Nucor, through The David J. Joseph Company, also brokers ferrous and nonferrous metals, pig iron and hot briquetted iron / direct reduced iron; supplies ferro-alloys; and processes ferrous and nonferrous scrap. Nucor is North America’s largest recycler.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements contained in this news release are “forward-looking statements” that involve risks and uncertainties. The words “anticipate,” “believe,” “expect,” “intend,” “project,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “could” and similar expressions are intended to identify those forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements reflect the Company’s best judgment based on current information, and, although we base these statements on circumstances that we believe to be reasonable when made, there can be no assurance that future events will not affect the accuracy of such forward-looking information. As such, the forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, and actual results may vary materially from the projected results and expectations discussed in this news release. Factors that might cause the Company’s actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: (1) competitive pressure on sales and pricing, including pressure from imports and substitute materials; (2) U.S. and foreign trade policies affecting steel imports or exports; (3) the sensitivity of the results of our operations to prevailing market steel prices and changes in the supply and cost of raw materials, including pig iron, iron ore and scrap steel; (4) the availability and cost of electricity and natural gas, which could negatively affect our cost of steel production or result in a delay or cancellation of existing or future

 

Page 4 of 9

Nucor Executive Offices: 1915 Rexford Road, Charlotte, North Carolina 28211

Phone 704-366-7000 Fax 704-362-4208 www.nucor.com


LOGO

Nucor Reports Record Quarterly and Annual Earnings

for the Fourth Quarter and Year Ended 2021 (Continued)

 

drilling within our natural gas drilling programs; (5) critical equipment failures and business interruptions; (6) market demand for steel products, which, in the case of many of our products, is driven by the level of nonresidential construction activity in the United States; (7) impairment in the recorded value of inventory, equity investments, fixed assets, goodwill or other long-lived assets; (8) uncertainties surrounding the global economy, including excess world capacity for steel production; (9) fluctuations in currency conversion rates; (10) significant changes in laws or government regulations affecting environmental compliance, including legislation and regulations that result in greater regulation of greenhouse gas emissions that could increase our energy costs, capital expenditures and operating costs or cause one or more of our permits to be revoked or make it more difficult to obtain permit modifications; (11) the cyclical nature of the steel industry; (12) capital investments and their impact on our performance; (13) our safety performance; and (14) the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and any variants of the virus. These and other factors are discussed in Nucor’s regulatory filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including those in “Item 1A. Risk Factors” of Nucor’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release speak only as of this date, and Nucor does not assume any obligation to update them, except as may be required by applicable law.

Contact Information

For Investor/Analyst Inquiries - Paul Donnelly, 704-264-8807, or Gregg Lucas, 704-972-1841

For Media Inquiries - Katherine Miller, 704-353-9015

 

Page 5 of 9

Nucor Executive Offices: 1915 Rexford Road, Charlotte, North Carolina 28211

Phone 704-366-7000 Fax 704-362-4208 www.nucor.com


LOGO

Nucor Reports Record Quarterly and Annual Earnings

for the Fourth Quarter and Year Ended 2021 (Continued)

 

Tonnage Data

(In thousands)

 

     Three Months (13 Weeks) Ended     Twelve Months (52 Weeks) Ended  
     Dec. 31, 2021      Dec. 31, 2020      Percent
Change
    Dec. 31, 2021      Dec. 31, 2020      Percent
Change
 

Steel mills total shipments:

                

Sheet

     2,502        2,660        -6     11,131        10,005        11

Bars

     2,177        2,072        5     9,269        8,164        14

Structural

     607        511        19     2,649        2,265        17

Plate

     489        485        1     2,289        1,957        17

Other

     94        65        45     352        295        19
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
     5,869        5,793        1     25,690        22,686        13
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Sales tons to outside customers:

                

Steel mills

     4,606        4,667        -1     20,296        18,049        12

Joist

     173        151        15     702        557        26

Deck

     132        131        1     536        496        8

Cold finished

     112        106        6     495        406        22

Rebar fabrication products

     289        284        2     1,232        1,232        —    

Piling

     103        127        -19     554        649        -15

Tubular products

     222        264        -16     1,013        1,080        -6

Other steel products

     122        96        27     447        374        20

Raw materials

     658        660        —         2,972        2,676        11
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
     6,417        6,486        -1     28,247        25,519        11
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

Page 6 of 9

Nucor Executive Offices: 1915 Rexford Road, Charlotte, North Carolina 28211

Phone 704-366-7000 Fax 704-362-4208 www.nucor.com


LOGO

Nucor Reports Record Quarterly and Annual Earnings

for the Fourth Quarter and Year Ended 2021 (Continued)

 

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings (Unaudited)

(In thousands, except per share data)

 

     Three Months (13 Weeks) Ended     Twelve Months (52 Weeks) Ended  
     Dec. 31, 2021     Dec. 31, 2020     Dec. 31, 2021     Dec. 31, 2020  

Net sales

   $ 10,364,412     $ 5,260,055     $ 36,483,939     $ 20,139,658  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Costs, expenses and other:

        

Cost of products sold

     6,841,211       4,541,527       25,458,525       17,911,708  

Marketing, administrative and other expenses

     502,070       154,119       1,706,609       615,041  

Equity in (earnings) losses of unconsolidated affiliates

     (37,962     (3,889     (103,068     10,533  

Losses and impairments of assets

     11,191       314,190       62,161       613,640  

Interest expense, net

     40,145       36,342       158,854       153,198  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
     7,356,655     5,042,289     27,283,081     19,304,120  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Earnings before income taxes and noncontrolling interests

     3,007,757       217,766       9,200,858       835,538  

Provision for income taxes

     667,625       (208,100     2,078,488       (490
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net earnings

     2,340,132       425,866       7,122,370       836,028  

Earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests

     89,714       27,023       294,909       114,558  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net earnings attributable to Nucor stockholders

   $ 2,250,418     $ 398,843     $ 6,827,461     $ 721,470  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net earnings per share:

        

Basic

   $ 7.99     $ 1.31     $ 23.23     $ 2.37  

Diluted

   $ 7.97     $ 1.30     $ 23.16     $ 2.36  

Average shares outstanding:

        

Basic

     280,451       303,467       292,491       303,168  

Diluted

     281,046       303,806       293,390       303,271  

 

Page 7 of 9

Nucor Executive Offices: 1915 Rexford Road, Charlotte, North Carolina 28211

Phone 704-366-7000 Fax 704-362-4208 www.nucor.com


LOGO

Nucor Reports Record Quarterly and Annual Earnings

for the Fourth Quarter and Year Ended 2021 (Continued)

 

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited)

(In thousands)

 

     Dec. 31, 2021     Dec. 31, 2020  

ASSETS

    

Current assets:

    

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 2,364,858     $ 2,639,671  

Short-term investments

     253,005       408,004  

Accounts receivable, net

     3,853,972       2,298,850  

Inventories, net

     6,011,182       3,569,089  

Other current assets

     316,540       573,048  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current assets

     12,799,557       9,488,662  

Property, plant and equipment, net

     8,114,818       6,899,110  

Restricted cash and cash equivalents

     143,800       115,258  

Goodwill

     2,827,344       2,229,672  

Other intangible assets, net

     1,103,759       668,021  

Other assets

     833,794       724,671  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total assets

   $ 25,823,072     $ 20,125,394  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

LIABILITIES

    

Current liabilities:

    

Short-term debt

   $ 107,723     $ 57,906  

Current portion of long-term debt and finance lease obligations

     615,678       10,885  

Accounts payable

     1,974,041       1,432,159  

Salaries, wages and related accruals

     1,495,166       462,727  

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities

     964,805       664,183  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current liabilities

     5,157,413       2,627,860  

Long-term debt and finance lease obligations due after one year

     4,961,410       5,271,789  

Deferred credits and other liabilities

     1,100,455       993,884  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities

     11,219,278       8,893,533  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

EQUITY

    

Nucor stockholders’ equity:

    

Common stock

     152,061       152,061  

Additional paid-in capital

     2,140,608       2,121,288  

Retained earnings

     17,674,100       11,343,852  

Accumulated other comprehensive loss,

net of income taxes

     (115,282     (118,861

Treasury stock

     (5,835,098     (2,709,675
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Nucor stockholders’ equity

     14,016,389       10,788,665  

Noncontrolling interests

     587,405       443,196  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total equity

     14,603,794       11,231,861  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities and equity

   $ 25,823,072     $ 20,125,394  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

Page 8 of 9

Nucor Executive Offices: 1915 Rexford Road, Charlotte, North Carolina 28211

Phone 704-366-7000 Fax 704-362-4208 www.nucor.com


LOGO

Nucor Reports Record Quarterly and Annual Earnings

for the Fourth Quarter and Year Ended 2021 (Continued)

 

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited)

(In thousands)

 

     Twelve Months (52 Weeks) Ended  
     Dec. 31, 2021     Dec. 31, 2020  

Operating activities:

    

Net earnings

   $ 7,122,370     $ 836,028  

Adjustments:

    

Depreciation

     735,406       702,110  

Amortization

     129,157       83,356  

Stock-based compensation

     135,775       73,853  

Deferred income taxes

     11,665       162,836  

Distributions from affiliates

     200       10,521  

Equity in (earnings) losses of unconsolidated affiliates

     (103,068     10,533  

Losses and impairments of assets

     62,161       613,640  

Changes in assets and liabilities (exclusive of acquisitions and dispositions):

    

Accounts receivable

     (1,392,084     (129,290

Inventories

     (2,307,336     284,081  

Accounts payable

     383,428       250,561  

Federal income taxes

     313,679       (197,275

Salaries, wages and related accruals

     997,034       (41,169

Other operating activities

     142,389       37,092  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash provided by operating activities

     6,230,776       2,696,877  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Investing activities:

    

Capital expenditures

     (1,621,989     (1,543,219

Investment in and advances to affiliates

     (237     (44,427

Disposition of plant and equipment

     19,401       40,933  

Acquisitions (net of cash acquired)

     (1,426,424     (88,071

Purchase of investments

     (493,889     (488,517

Proceeds from the sale of investments

     648,887       392,178  

Other investing activities

     399       (33,171
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash used in investing activities

     (2,873,852     (1,764,294
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Financing activities:

    

Net change in short-term debt

     49,817       (4,538

Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt, net of discount

     196,990       1,237,635  

Repayment of long-term debt

     —         (97,150

Premium on debt exchange

     —         (180,383

Bond issuance related costs

     —         (6,250

Proceeds from exercise of stock options

     145,255       11,846  

Payment of tax withholdings on certain stock-based compensation

     (73,260     (19,102

Distributions to noncontrolling interests

     (150,700     (115,508

Cash dividends

     (483,469     (491,655

Acquisition of treasury stock

     (3,276,088     (39,499

Other financing activities

     (11,424     (9,542
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash (used in) provided by financing activities

     (3,602,879     285,854  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash

     (316     1,887  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

(Decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash and cash equivalents

     (246,271     1,220,324  

Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash and cash equivalents - beginning of year

     2,754,929       1,534,605  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash and cash equivalents - end of year

   $ 2,508,658     $ 2,754,929  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Non-cash investing activity:

    

Change in accrued plant and equipment purchases

   $ 78,375     $ (16,103
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

Page 9 of 9

Nucor Executive Offices: 1915 Rexford Road, Charlotte, North Carolina 28211

Phone 704-366-7000 Fax 704-362-4208 www.nucor.com