(in thousands, except per share data)
Year Ended December 31, 2014

First Quarter

Second Quarter

Third Quarter

Fourth Quarter

Net sales

5,108,444

5,291,075

5,701,869

5,003,753

Gross margin ⁽¹⁾

377,202

415,867

599,586

513,871

Net earnings ⁽²⁾

129,696

166,935

274,201

244,958

Net earnings attributable to Nucor stockholders ⁽²⁾

111,031

147,041

245,447

210,427

Net earnings per share:

Basic

0.35

0.46

0.76

0.66

Diluted

0.35

0.46

0.76

0.65

(in thousands, except per share data)
Year Ended December 31, 2013

First Quarter

Second Quarter

Third Quarter

Fourth Quarter

Net sales

4,550,772

4,665,588

4,940,936

4,894,750

Gross margin ⁽³⁾

303,216

313,125

408,543

385,741

Net earnings ⁽⁴⁾

110,728

106,270

178,115

190,416

Net earnings attributable to Nucor stockholders ⁽⁴⁾

84,789

85,145

147,597

170,494

Net earnings per share:

Basic

0.26

0.27

0.46

0.53

Diluted

0.26

0.27

0.46

0.53

(1)

Nucor incurred a LIFO charge of $14.5 million in the first quarter, no charge or credit recorded in the second quarter, a LIFO credit of $14.5 million in the third quarter and a LIFO credit of $57.3 million in the fourth quarter. Nucor incurred $8.9 million in inventory-related purchase accounting adjustments in the fourth quarter associated with the acquisition of Nucor Steel Gallatin. Also included in the fourth quarter results was Nucor Steel Louisiana’s operating loss of approximately $35 million that was classified as start-up costs, as that facility experienced an equipment failure that suspended production for almost the entire fourth quarter.

(2)

First quarter results include a $12.8 million charge related to tax legislation changes in the state of New York and a $9.0 million pre-tax charge related to the disposal of assets within the steel mills segment. Third quarter results include a $12.5 million pre-tax charge related to the partial write down of assets within the steel mills segment. Fourth quarter results include a $13.2 million out-of-period non-cash gain related to a correction to tax balances.

(3)

Nucor incurred a LIFO charge of $18.0 million in the first quarter, no charge or credit recorded in the second quarter, a LIFO credit of $18.0 million in the third quarter and a LIFO charge of $17.4 million in the fourth quarter.

(4)

Third quarter results included a net $14.0 million pre-tax charge related to a partial write down of inventory and fixed asset balances associated with the collapse of a storage dome at Nucor Steel Louisiana in St. James Parish. The fourth quarter was impacted by an out-of-period non-cash gain of $21.3 million related to a correction to deferred tax balances.