(in thousands, except per share data)

Year Ended December 31, 2015

First Quarter

Second Quarter

Third Quarter

Fourth Quarter

Net sales

4,399,440

4,357,609

4,225,514

3,456,713

Gross margin ⁽¹⁾

288,282

386,306

523,836

382,838

Net earnings (loss) ⁽²⁾

84,292

159,344

267,736

(15,288

)

Net earnings (loss) attributable to Nucor stockholders ⁽²⁾

67,800

124,755

227,126

(62,022

)

Net earnings (loss) per share:

Basic

0.21

0.39

0.71

(0.19

)

Diluted

0.21

0.39

0.71

(0.19

)

(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 ⁽³⁾

377,202

415,867

599,586

513,871

Net earnings ⁽⁴⁾

129,696

166,935

274,201

244,958

Net earnings attributable to Nucor stockholders ⁽⁴⁾

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

(1)

Nucor incurred a LIFO credit of $16.5 million in the first quarter, a LIFO credit of $95.5 million in the second quarter, a LIFO credit of $137.0 million in the third quarter and a LIFO credit of $217.8 million in the fourth quarter.

(2)

Second quarter results include a $9.3 million benefit related to state tax credits. Third quarter results were impacted by an out-of-period non-cash gain of $10.2 million related to a correction of deferred tax balances. Fourth quarter results were impacted by a $153.0 million impairment charge related to our Duferdofin Nucor S.r.l. joint venture and an $84.1 million pre-tax impairment charge on assets related to the blast furnace project at the St. James Parish site.

(3)

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 Gallatin.

(4)

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 $9.2 million out-of-period non-cash gain related to a correction to tax balances.