Stock-Based Compensation (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2013

Summary of Stock Option Plans Activity

A summary of activity under Nucor’s stock option plans is as follows:

	(shares in thousands)
	2013				2012					2011
	Shares		Weighted - Average Exercise Price		Shares			Weighted - Average Exercise Price		Shares			Weighted - Average Exercise Price
Number of shares under option:
Outstanding at beginning of year		1,543	$	39.03		1,156		$	38.26		983		$	29.14
Granted		546	$	44.51		741		$	35.76		560		$	42.34
Exercised		—		—		(354	)	$	29.67		(387	)	$	20.96
Canceled		—		—		—			—		—			—
Outstanding at end of year		2,089	$	40.47		1,543		$	39.03		1,156		$	38.26
Options exercisable at end of year		1,012	$	39.75		—			—		354		$	29.67

Summary of Stock Options Outstanding

The following table summarizes information about stock options outstanding at December 31, 2013:

					(shares in thousands)
Exercise Price	Options Outstanding		Options Exercisable		Weighted- Average Remaining Contractual Life
$35.76		741		391		8.4 years
$41.43		242		242		6.4 years
$42.34		560		299		7.4 years
$44.51		546		80		9.4 years
$35.76 - $44.51		2,089		1,012		8.2 years

Schedule of Grant Date Fair Value Black-Scholes Option-Pricing Model Assumptions

The fair value was estimated using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model with the following assumptions:

	2013			2012			2011
Exercise price	$	44.51		$	35.76		$	42.34
Expected dividend yield		3.30	%		4.08	%		3.42	%
Expected stock price volatility		46.94	%		48.99	%		49.40	%
Risk-free interest rate		1.51	%		1.06	%		2.39	%
Expected life (in years)		6.5			6.5			6.5

Summary of Nucor's Restricted Stock Unit Activity

The fair value of the RSUs is determined based on the closing stock price of Nucor’s common stock on the day before the grant. A summary of Nucor’s restricted stock unit activity is as follows:

	(shares in thousands)
	2013					2012					2011
	Shares			Grant Date Fair Value		Shares			Grant Date Fair Value		Shares			Grant Date Fair Value
Restricted stock units:
Unvested at beginning of year		1,106		$	40.80		962		$	46.09		1,203		$	49.96
Granted		789		$	44.51		1,101		$	35.76		490		$	42.34
Vested		(762	)	$	42.15		(915	)	$	40.36		(713	)	$	50.04
Canceled		(11	)	$	39.08		(42	)	$	39.41		(18	)	$	46.06
Unvested at end of year		1,122		$	42.51		1,106		$	40.80		962		$	46.09
Shares reserved for future grants (stock options and RSUs)		10,486					11,839					13,695

Summary of Nucor's Restricted Stock Awards and Units Under AIP and LTIP

A summary of Nucor’s restricted stock activity under the AIP and LTIP is as follows:

	(shares in thousands)
	2013					2012					2011
	Shares			Grant Date Fair Value		Shares			Grant Date Fair Value		Shares			Grant Date Fair Value
Restricted stock awards and units:
Unvested at beginning of year		72		$	43.72		94		$	42.46		141		$	44.62
Granted		122		$	47.36		122		$	42.20		118		$	46.41
Vested		(121	)	$	46.32		(144	)	$	41.62		(165	)	$	47.13
Canceled		—			—		—			—		—			—
Unvested at end of year		73		$	45.49		72		$	43.72		94		$	42.46
Shares reserved for future grants		1,238					1,360					1,482