8-K

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): January 29, 2004

NUCOR CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware

(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)

1-4119	13-1860817
(Commission File Number)	(IRS Employer Identification No.)

2100 Rexford Road, Charlotte, North Carolina	28211
(Address of principal executive offices)	(Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (704) 366-7000

N/A

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)

Item  9. Regulation FD Disclosure and Item 12. Results of Operations and Financial Condition

On January 29, 2004, Nucor Corporation issued a news release reporting its financial results for the year ended December 31, 2003. A copy of the news release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this current report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

NUCOR CORPORATION
By:	/s/  Terry S. Lisenby
	Terry S. Lisenby Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Executive Vice President

Date: January 29, 2004

2

INDEX TO EXHIBITS

Exhibit No.	Description
99.1	News Release of Nucor Corporation, issued January 29, 2004

3

EX-99.1

News Release

NUCOR REPORTS RESULTS FOR THE YEAR AND FOURTH QUARTER OF 2003

CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA, January 29, 2004 – Nucor Corporation’s (NYSE: NUE) consolidated net sales for the fourth quarter of 2003 increased 4% over this year’s third quarter net sales to $1,661,100,000. Fourth quarter earnings for 2003 were $20,600,000 ($.26 per share), compared with $16,000,000 ($.20 per share) in the third quarter of 2003.

Nucor’s consolidated net sales for 2003 increased 30% to $6,265,800,000, compared with $4,801,800,000 in 2002. Average sales price per ton increased less than 1% while total tons shipped to outside customers increased 30%. In the fourth quarter of 2003, Nucor’s consolidated net sales increased 28% to $1,661,100,000, compared with $1,294,600,000 in last year’s fourth quarter. Average sales price per ton increased 2% from the fourth quarter of 2002 and increased 5% from the third quarter of 2003. Total tons shipped to outside customers increased 26% from the fourth quarter of 2002 and decreased 2% from the third quarter of 2003. The increase in total tons shipped was primarily due to the acquisitions of the assets of Trico Steel Company, LLC in July 2002 and the assets of Birmingham Steel Corporation in December 2002. Excluding the increases resulting from these acquisitions, total tons shipped to outside customers increased 6% from 2002 to 2003 and increased 5% from the fourth quarter of 2002 to the fourth quarter of 2003.

Nucor’s consolidated net earnings for the current year decreased 61% to $62,800,000 ($.80 per share), compared with $162,100,000 ($2.07 per share) in 2002. Net earnings for this year’s fourth quarter decreased 52% to $20,600,000 ($.26 per share), compared with $42,900,000 ($.55 per share) in the fourth quarter of 2002. Net earnings for the fourth quarter of 2003 were negatively impacted by higher scrap and energy costs as well as by continued severely depressed levels of activity in the nonresidential construction and capital goods markets. The average scrap and scrap substitute cost per ton used increased $27 (25%) from 2002, increased $37 (31%) from the fourth quarter of 2002 to the fourth quarter of 2003, and increased $18 (13%) from the third quarter of 2003 to the fourth quarter of 2003. The average scrap cost per ton purchased increased $65 (57%) from December 2002 to December 2003. Nucor incurred a charge to value inventories using the last-in, first-out (LIFO) method of accounting of $115,000,000 in 2003 (including a LIFO charge of $17,600,000 for Nucor-Yamato Steel Company, of which Nucor owns 51%), compared with a charge of $34,300,000 in 2002 (including a LIFO charge of $50,000 for Nucor-Yamato Steel Company). In the fourth quarter of 2003, the LIFO charge was $75,500,000 (including a LIFO charge of $8,900,000 for Nucor-Yamato Steel Company), which was significantly higher than our forecast, compared with $15,600,000 in the fourth quarter of 2002 (including a LIFO credit of $1,400,000 for Nucor-Yamato Steel Company). Total energy costs increased approximately $4 per ton from 2002 to 2003 and increased $3 per ton from the fourth quarter of 2002 to the fourth quarter of 2003.

In the fourth quarter of 2003, consolidated net earnings included other income of $4,400,000 related to a gain on sale of equipment. Also during 2003 and 2002, Nucor received graphite electrodes anti-trust settlements of $7,100,000 and $29,900,000, respectively. No graphite electrodes anti-trust settlements were received in the fourth quarter of 2003 or 2002. In both 2003 and 2002, Nucor revised estimates for environmental reserves as additional information was obtained, reducing environmental reserves by $8,300,000 and $22,900,000, respectively. During the fourth quarter of 2003, Nucor reduced environmental reserves by $200,000, compared with an increase of $1,400,000 in the fourth quarter of 2002.

Page 1 of 4

Nucor Executive Offices:    2100 Rexford Road, Charlotte, North Carolina 28211

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

News Release

NUCOR REPORTS RESULTS FOR THE YEAR AND FOURTH QUARTER OF 2003 (Continued)

Nucor established annual tonnage records for steel production, total steel shipments and steel shipments to outside customers in 2003. Steel production was 17,441,000 tons for the year, compared with 13,622,000 tons in 2002, an increase of 28%. Total steel shipments increased 31% to 17,656,000 tons in 2003, compared with 13,438,000 tons in the previous year. Steel sales to outside customers increased 32% to 16,263,000 tons in 2003, compared with 12,314,000 tons in 2002. In the steel products segment, steel joist production for 2003 was 503,000 tons, compared with 462,000 tons in the previous year. Steel deck sales were 353,000 tons, compared with 330,000 tons in 2002. Cold finished steel sales were 237,000 tons in 2003, compared with 226,000 tons in the previous year.

Pre-operating and start-up costs of new facilities increased to $117,500,000 in 2003, compared with $84,400,000 in 2002. For the fourth quarter of 2003, pre-operating and start-up costs decreased to $26,000,000, compared with $31,200,000 in the fourth quarter of 2002. In 2003, these costs primarily related to the start-up of the sheet mill in Decatur, Alabama and the Castrip^® facility at our sheet mill in Crawfordsville, Indiana. In 2002, these costs primarily related to the start-up of the Castrip facility, the Vulcraft facility in Chemung, New York and Nucor Steel Decatur, LLC. The operating performance of Nucor Steel Decatur continues to improve. The impact of Nucor Steel Decatur on start-up costs will continue to decrease in the first quarter of 2004.

Nucor had an effective tax rate of 6.1% in 2003 compared with 29.5% in 2002, and had an effective tax rate of (29.9%) in the fourth quarter of 2003 compared with 14.0% in the fourth quarter of 2002. The decrease in the effective tax rate is primarily due to state income tax credits, resolution of certain tax issues, and the effect of reduced pre-tax earnings. Nucor recorded state income tax credits of $10,500,000 in 2003 and $16,200,000 in 2002. In the fourth quarter of 2003 and 2002, Nucor recorded state income tax credits of $3,100,000 and $16,200,000, respectively.

Earlier this week, Nucor announced the purchase of a one-half interest in Harris Steel, Inc. from Harris Steel Group, Inc. for a cash purchase price of approximately $21,000,000. In addition, Harris Steel Group may receive up to an additional $6,000,000 upon the achievement of certain operating results of the venture over the next five years. Closing of the transaction is expected to occur within the next 30 days.

Nucor expects the first quarter of 2004 to be impacted by high scrap costs but anticipates that higher average selling prices will provide increased margins. Nucor expects to earn between $.40 and $.60 per share in the first quarter of 2004, compared to $.23 per share in the first quarter of 2003. If economic conditions continue to recover, we expect profitability to improve as 2004 progresses.

Nucor is the largest steel producer in the United States and is the nation’s largest recycler. Nucor and affiliates are manufacturers of steel products, with operating facilities in fourteen states. Products produced are: carbon and alloy steel – in bars, beams, sheet and plate; steel joists and joist girders; steel deck; cold finished steel; steel fasteners; metal building systems; and light gauge steel framing.

Page 2 of 4

Nucor Executive Offices:     2100 Rexford Road, Charlotte, North Carolina 28211

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

News Release

NUCOR REPORTS RESULTS FOR THE YEAR AND FOURTH QUARTER OF 2003 (Continued)

Certain statements contained in this news release are “forward-looking statements” that involve risks and uncertainties. Although the Company believes they are based on reasonable assumptions, there can be no assurance that future events will not affect their accuracy. Such events include, among others, general economic conditions and the timing of the recovery of the non-residential construction market; market demand for steel products; availability and costs of electricity, natural gas and raw materials; U.S. and foreign trade policies affecting steel imports or exports; and significant changes in governmental regulations affecting environmental compliance. 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.

You are invited to listen to the live broadcast of Nucor’s conference call in which management will discuss Nucor’s year-end results on January 29, 2004 at 2:00 pm eastern time. The conference call will be available over the Internet at www.nucor.com, under Investor Information.

Unaudited figures are as follows:

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS (Unaudited)

	Year Ended December 31,						Quarter Ended December 31,
	2003			2002			2003			2002
NET SALES	$	6,265,823,467		$	4,801,776,537		$	1,661,080,252		$	1,294,577,927
COSTS, EXPENSES AND OTHER:
Cost of products sold		5,996,547,199			4,332,277,330			1,603,119,456			1,176,294,837
Marketing, administrative and other expenses		165,369,035			175,588,347			34,742,869			49,434,738
Interest expense, net		24,626,865			14,285,934			4,643,200			5,709,843
Minority interests		23,949,779			79,471,911			7,166,677			13,247,891
Other income		(11,546,634	)		(29,900,000	)		(4,411,545	)		—
		6,198,946,244			4,571,723,522			1,645,260,657			1,244,687,309
EARNINGS BEFORE INCOME TAXES		66,877,223			230,053,015			15,819,595			49,890,618
Provision (benefit) for income taxes		4,096,000			67,973,000			(4,733,000	)		7,000,000
NET EARNINGS	$	62,781,223		$	162,080,015		$	20,552,595		$	42,890,618
NET EARNINGS PER SHARE:
Basic	$	0.80		$	2.08		$	0.26		$	0.55
Diluted	$	0.80		$	2.07		$	0.26		$	0.55
AVERAGE SHARES OUTSTANDING:
Basic		78,265,686			78,089,501			78,453,450			78,176,554
Diluted		78,416,703			78,249,540			78,662,485			78,202,337

Page 3 of 4

Nucor Executive Offices:    2100 Rexford Road, Charlotte, North Carolina 28211

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

News Release

NUCOR REPORTS RESULTS FOR THE YEAR AND FOURTH QUARTER OF 2003 (Continued)

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Unaudited)

	Dec. 31, 2003			Dec. 31, 2002
Assets
CURRENT ASSETS:
Cash and short-term investments	$	350,332,243		$	219,004,868
Accounts receivable		572,479,237			483,607,972
Inventories		560,395,527			588,989,548
Other current assets		137,352,901			123,759,260
Total current assets		1,620,559,908			1,415,361,648
PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT		2,817,135,193			2,932,058,102
OTHER ASSETS		54,657,953			33,581,467
	$	4,492,353,054		$	4,381,001,217
Liabilities and stockholders’ equity
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Long-term debt due within one year	$	—		$	16,000,000
Accounts payable		329,862,740			247,229,067
Federal income taxes		—			8,948,999
Salaries, wages and related accruals		91,187,156			116,246,817
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities		208,544,950			203,110,945
Total current liabilities		629,594,846			591,535,828
LONG-TERM DEBT DUE AFTER ONE YEAR		903,550,000			878,550,000
DEFERRED CREDITS AND OTHER LIABILITIES		439,851,754			371,271,399
MINORITY INTERESTS		177,278,666			216,654,501
STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY:
Common stock		36,426,650			36,271,453
Additional paid-in capital		117,399,387			99,395,806
Retained earnings		2,641,708,428			2,641,581,152
		2,795,534,465			2,777,248,411
Treasury stock		(453,456,677	)		(454,258,922	)
Total stockholders’ equity		2,342,077,788			2,322,989,489
	$	4,492,353,054		$	4,381,001,217

Page 4 of 4

Nucor Executive Offices:    2100 Rexford Road, Charlotte, North Carolina 28211

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