BASIS OF INTERIM PRESENTATION

9 Months Ended

Sep. 29, 2012

BASIS OF INTERIM PRESENTATION

1. BASIS OF INTERIM PRESENTATION: The information furnished in Item I reflects all adjustments which are, in the opinion of management, necessary to a fair statement of the results for the interim periods and are of a normal and recurring nature unless otherwise noted. The information furnished has not been audited; however, the December 31, 2011 condensed consolidated balance sheet data was derived from audited financial statements but does not include all disclosures required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. The condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto included in Nucor’s annual report for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011.

During the first quarter of 2012, we began classifying internal fleet and some common carrier costs in cost of products sold in the condensed consolidated statements of earnings. We made this change so that all freight costs will be recorded within the same financial statement line item to allow users of our financial statements to better understand our expense structure. This change resulted in the reclassification of $17.7 million of these costs from marketing, administrative, and other expenses to cost of products sold in the quarter ended October 1, 2011 ($49.2 million in the first nine months of 2011) in order to conform to the current year presentation. Additionally, certain other prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform to current period presentation. These reclassifications did not have an impact on net earnings for the current or any prior periods.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements – In January 2012, Nucor adopted accounting guidance regarding changes to the presentation of comprehensive income in the financial statements. The new accounting guidance requires entities to report components of comprehensive income in either (1) a single continuous statement of comprehensive income or (2) two separate but consecutive statements of net income and other comprehensive income. We have elected to report the components of comprehensive income in two separate but consecutive statements. The adoption of this guidance impacts the presentation of comprehensive income, but does not impact Nucor’s consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

Also in January 2012, Nucor adopted accounting guidance that amends the existing requirements for fair value measurement and disclosure. The guidance expands the disclosure requirements around transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy and around the sensitivity to changes in inputs of fair value measurements categorized in Level 3 of the hierarchy. It also requires disclosure of the level in the fair value hierarchy of items that are not measured at fair value in the statement of financial position but whose fair value must be disclosed. The guidance also clarifies and expands upon existing requirements for measurement of the fair value of financial assets and liabilities as well as instruments classified in stockholders’ equity. The adoption of this guidance did not have an impact on the condensed consolidated financial statements.