(In thousands, except per share data)
Year Ended December 31, 2012

First Quarter

Second Quarter

Third Quarter

Fourth Quarter

Net sales

5,072,594

5,104,199

4,801,206

4,451,274

Gross margin ⁽¹⁾

380,527

399,930

348,733

384,348

Net earnings ⁽²⁾

163,412

139,567

129,892

160,255

Net earnings attributable to Nucor stockholders ⁽²⁾

145,104

112,299

110,308

136,908

Net earnings per share:

Basic

0.46

0.35

0.43

Diluted

0.46

0.35

0.43

(In thousands, except per share data)
Year Ended December 31, 2011

First Quarter

Second Quarter

Third Quarter

Fourth Quarter

Net sales

4,833,934

5,107,809

5,252,144

4,829,677

Gross margin ⁽³⁾

423,735

649,450

458,130

350,105

Net earnings ⁽⁴⁾

181,122

321,578

200,111

158,173

Net earnings attributable to Nucor stockholders ⁽⁴⁾

159,841

299,773

181,518

137,056

Net earnings per share:

Basic

0.50

0.94

0.57

0.43

Diluted

0.50

0.94

0.57

0.43

(1)

Nucor incurred a LIFO charge of $14.5 million in the first quarter and recorded LIFO credits of $14.5 million, $84.0 million and $71.9 million in the second, third and fourth quarters, respectively. Inventory related purchase accounting adjustments, associated with the acquisition of Skyline, of $8.6 million, $28.2 million, and $12.0 million were recorded in the second, third and fourth quarters, respectively.

(2)

The second quarter includes a pre-tax charge of $30.0 million for impairment of Nucor’s equity investment in Nucor Duferdofin S.r.l. The third quarter includes a pre-tax charge of $17.6 million related to the loss on the sale of the assets of Nucor Wire Products Pennsylvania, Inc.

(3)

Nucor incurred LIFO charges of $31.0 million, $32.0 million, $28.0 million and $51.8 million in the first, second, third and fourth quarters, respectively. In the fourth quarter, Nucor recognized a gain of $29.0 million related to the correction of an error in the actuarial calculation associated with the medical plan covering certain eligible early retirees.

(4)

The third quarter includes a pre-tax charge of $13.9 million for impairment of Nucor’s equity investment in a dust recycling project.