EX-99.1 2 d247887dex991.htm EX-99.1 EX-99.1

 

 

 

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Exhibit 99.1

 

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Nucor Reports Record Quarterly Earnings for the Third Quarter of 2021

 

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – October 21, 2021—Nucor Corporation (NYSE: NUE) today announced record quarterly consolidated net earnings of $2.13 billion, or $7.28 per diluted share, for the third quarter of 2021. By comparison, Nucor reported consolidated net earnings of $1.51 billion, or $5.04 per diluted share, for the second quarter of 2021 and $193.4 million, or $0.63 per diluted share, for the third quarter of 2020.

In the first nine months of 2021, Nucor reported consolidated net earnings of $4.58 billion, or $15.34 per diluted share, compared with consolidated net earnings of $322.6 million, or $1.06 per diluted share, in the first nine months of 2020.

“During the third quarter, we once again achieved record results, with earnings per share of $7.28. Our third quarter performance surpassed our previous record of $5.04 set in the second quarter of this year and almost matched our full year earnings record of $7.42 that we set back in 2018,” said Leon Topalian, Nucor’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “Congratulations to the entire Nucor team for delivering the phenomenal results we have seen so far this year while staying focused on our Safety goals. I am incredibly proud of our team and what we have accomplished.”

Selected Segment Data

Earnings (loss) before income taxes and noncontrolling interests by segment for the third quarter and first nine months of 2021 and 2020 were as follows (in thousands):

 

     Three Months (13 Weeks) Ended      Nine Months (39 Weeks) Ended  
     Oct. 2, 2021      Oct. 3, 2020      Oct. 2, 2021      Oct. 3, 2020  

Steel mills

   $ 3,116,539      $ 205,152      $ 6,606,320      $ 512,082  

Steel products

     368,595        186,976        839,737        502,409  

Raw materials

     161,870        6,232        505,248        (3,068

Corporate/eliminations

     (777,897      (107,942      (1,758,204      (393,651
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
   $ 2,869,107      $ 290,418      $ 6,193,101      $ 617,772  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

The steel mills segment and the steel products segment both set a record for the highest quarterly earnings before income taxes and noncontrolling interests in the third quarter of 2021.

Financial Review

Nucor’s consolidated net sales increased 17% to $10.31 billion in the third quarter of 2021 compared with $8.79 billion in the second quarter of 2021 and increased 109% compared with $4.93 billion in the third quarter of 2020. Average sales price per ton in the third quarter of 2021 increased 22% compared with the second quarter of 2021 and increased 86% compared with the third quarter of 2020. A total of 7,172,000 tons were shipped to outside customers in the third quarter of 2021, a 4% decrease from the second quarter of 2021 and a 13% increase from the third quarter of 2020. Total steel mill shipments in the third quarter of 2021 decreased 3% as compared to the second quarter of 2021 and increased 16% as compared to the third quarter

 

Page 1 of 9

Nucor Executive Offices: 1915 Rexford Road, Charlotte, North Carolina 28211

Phone 704-366-7000 Fax 704-362-4208 www.nucor.com


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Nucor Reports Record Quarterly Earnings for the Third Quarter of 2021 (Continued)

 

of 2020. Steel mill shipments to internal customers represented 21% of total steel mill shipments in the third quarter of 2021, compared with 20% in the second quarter of 2021 and 21% in the third quarter of 2020. Downstream steel product shipments to outside customers in the third quarter of 2021 was consistent with the second quarter of 2021 and increased 3% from the third quarter of 2020.

In the first nine months of 2021, Nucor’s consolidated net sales of $26.12 billion were an increase of 76% compared with consolidated net sales of $14.88 billion reported in the first nine months of 2020. Total tons shipped to outside customers in the first nine months of 2021 were 21,830,000, an increase of 15% from the first nine months of 2020, while the average sales price per ton in the first nine months of 2021 increased 53% from the first nine months of 2020.

The average scrap and scrap substitute cost per gross ton used in the third quarter of 2021 was $511, a 12% increase compared to $457 in the second quarter of 2021 and an 84% increase compared to $277 in the third quarter of 2020. The average scrap and scrap substitute cost per gross ton used in the first nine months of 2021 was $457, a 60% increase compared to $285 in the first nine months of 2020.

Included in the second quarter of 2021 earnings is a $42.0 million, or $0.11 per diluted share, non-cash impairment charge related to our leasehold interest in unproved oil and natural gas properties. This charge is included in the raw materials segment. Included in earnings for the third quarter of 2020 is a restructuring charge of $16.4 million, or $0.04 per diluted share, related to the realignment of Nucor’s metal buildings business. This charge is included in the steel products segment.

Pre-operating and start-up costs related to the Company’s growth projects were approximately $36 million, or $0.09 per diluted share, in the third quarter of 2021, compared with approximately $22 million, or $0.06 per diluted share, in the second quarter of 2021 and approximately $22 million, or $0.06 per diluted share, in the third quarter of 2020.

In the first nine months of 2021, pre-operating and start-up costs related to the Company’s growth projects were approximately $76 million, or $0.19 per diluted share, compared with approximately $73 million, or $0.18 per diluted share, in the first nine months of 2020.

Overall operating rates at the Company’s steel mills decreased to 96% in the third quarter of 2021 as compared to 97% in the second quarter of 2021 and increased from 83% in the third quarter of 2020. Operating rates in the first nine months of 2021 increased to 96% as compared to 80% in the first nine months of 2020.

 

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Nucor Executive Offices: 1915 Rexford Road, Charlotte, North Carolina 28211

Phone 704-366-7000 Fax 704-362-4208 www.nucor.com


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Nucor Reports Record Quarterly Earnings for the Third Quarter of 2021 (Continued)

 

Financial Strength

At the end of the third quarter of 2021, we had $2.29 billion in cash and cash equivalents, short-term investments and restricted cash and cash equivalents on hand. Our significant cash flow generation has allowed us to maintain our strong liquidity position all while funding two strategic acquisitions and continuing to execute our share repurchase program during the third quarter.

The Company’s $1.50 billion revolving credit facility remains undrawn and does not expire until April 2023. Nucor continues to have the strongest credit rating in the North American steel sector (Baa1/A-) with stable outlooks at both Moody’s and Standard & Poor’s.

Commitment to Returning Capital to Stockholders

During the third quarter of 2021, Nucor repurchased approximately 8.2 million shares of its common stock at an average price of $104.60 per share (20.3 million shares year-to-date at an average price of $87.19 per share). As of October 2, 2021, Nucor had approximately 285,799,000 shares outstanding and approximately $1.9 billion remaining for repurchases under its newly authorized share repurchase program.

On September 17, 2021, Nucor’s board of directors declared a cash dividend of $0.405 per share. This cash dividend is payable on November 10, 2021 to stockholders of record as of September 30, 2021 and is Nucor’s 194th consecutive quarterly cash dividend.

Third Quarter of 2021 Analysis

All three operating segments continued to generate robust profitability in the third quarter of 2021. Earnings of the steel mills segment increased significantly in the third quarter of 2021 as compared to the second quarter of 2021, mainly driven by higher realized selling prices. The steel products segment generated significantly increased earnings in the third quarter of 2021 due to margin expansion caused by higher average selling prices. The raw materials segment’s earnings in the third quarter of 2021 were comparable to the second quarter of 2021, excluding the impairment charge recorded in the second quarter of 2021.

Fourth Quarter of 2021 Outlook

We expect continued strong results for the fourth quarter of 2021, potentially exceeding the net earnings record set in the third quarter of 2021. Demand remains robust across most end-use markets, a trend we expect will continue well into 2022. Backlogs in our steel mills and steel products segments remain elevated compared to historical levels.

We expect the profitability of the steel mills segment to improve in the fourth quarter of 2021 as compared to the third quarter of 2021, driven by additional earnings growth at our sheet and plate mills. We expect the profitability of the steel products segment to increase in the fourth quarter of 2021 compared to the third quarter of 2021. The raw materials segment’s earnings in the fourth quarter of 2021 are expected to decrease compared to the third quarter of 2021 due primarily to margin compression at our direct reduced iron facilities.

 

Page 3 of 9

Nucor Executive Offices: 1915 Rexford Road, Charlotte, North Carolina 28211

Phone 704-366-7000 Fax 704-362-4208 www.nucor.com


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Nucor Reports Record Quarterly Earnings for the Third Quarter of 2021 (Continued)

 

Earnings Conference Call

You are invited to listen to the live broadcast of Nucor’s conference call during which management will discuss Nucor’s third quarter results on October 21, 2021 at 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time. The conference call will be available over the Internet at www.nucor.com, under Investors.

About Nucor

Nucor and its affiliates are manufacturers of steel and steel products, with operating facilities in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Products produced include: carbon and alloy steel — in bars, beams, sheet and plate; hollow structural section tubing; electrical conduit; steel racking; steel piling; steel joists and joist girders; steel deck; fabricated concrete reinforcing steel; cold finished steel; precision castings; steel fasteners; metal building systems; insulated metal panels; steel grating; and wire and wire mesh. Nucor, through The David J. Joseph Company, also brokers ferrous and nonferrous metals, pig iron and hot briquetted iron / direct reduced iron; supplies ferro-alloys; and processes ferrous and nonferrous scrap. Nucor is North America’s largest recycler.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements contained in this news release are “forward-looking statements” that involve risks and uncertainties. The words “anticipate,” “believe,” “expect,” “intend,” “project,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “could” and similar expressions are intended to identify those forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements reflect the Company’s best judgment based on current information, and, although we base these statements on circumstances that we believe to be reasonable when made, there can be no assurance that future events will not affect the accuracy of such forward-looking information. As such, the forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, and actual results may vary materially from the projected results and expectations discussed in this news release. Factors that might cause the Company’s actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: (1) competitive pressure on sales and pricing, including pressure from imports and substitute materials; (2) U.S. and foreign trade policies affecting steel imports or exports; (3) the sensitivity of the results of our operations to prevailing market steel prices and changes in the supply and cost of raw materials, including pig iron, iron ore and scrap steel; (4) the availability and cost of electricity and natural gas, which could negatively affect our cost of steel production or result in a delay or cancellation of existing or future drilling within our natural gas drilling programs; (5) critical equipment failures and business interruptions; (6) market demand for steel products, which, in the case of many of our products, is driven by the level of nonresidential construction activity in the United States; (7) impairment in the recorded value of inventory, equity investments, fixed assets, goodwill or other long-lived assets; (8) uncertainties surrounding the global economy, including excess world capacity for steel production; (9) fluctuations in currency conversion rates;

 

Page 4 of 9

Nucor Executive Offices: 1915 Rexford Road, Charlotte, North Carolina 28211

Phone 704-366-7000 Fax 704-362-4208 www.nucor.com


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Nucor Reports Record Quarterly Earnings for the Third Quarter of 2021 (Continued)

 

(10) significant changes in laws or government regulations affecting environmental compliance, including legislation and regulations that result in greater regulation of greenhouse gas emissions that could increase our energy costs, capital expenditures and operating costs or cause one or more of our permits to be revoked or make it more difficult to obtain permit modifications; (11) the cyclical nature of the steel industry; (12) capital investments and their impact on our performance; (13) our safety performance; and (14) the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and any variants of the virus. These and other factors are discussed in Nucor’s regulatory filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including those in “Item 1A. Risk Factors” of Nucor’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release speak only as of this date, and Nucor does not assume any obligation to update them, except as may be required by applicable law.

Contact Information

For Investor/Analyst Inquiries—Paul Donnelly, 704-264-8807, or Gregg Lucas, 704-972-1841

For Media Inquiries—Katherine Miller, 704-353-9015

 

Page 5 of 9

Nucor Executive Offices: 1915 Rexford Road, Charlotte, North Carolina 28211

Phone 704-366-7000 Fax 704-362-4208 www.nucor.com


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Nucor Reports Record Quarterly Earnings for the Third Quarter of 2021 (Continued)

 

Tonnage Data  

(In thousands)

 

 
     Three Months (13 Weeks) Ended     Nine Months (39 Weeks) Ended  
     Oct. 2, 2021      Oct. 3, 2020      Percent
Change
    Oct. 2, 2021      Oct. 3, 2020      Percent
Change
 

Steel mills total shipments:

                

Sheet

     2,789        2,469        13     8,629        7,345        17

Bars

     2,350        2,119        11     7,092        6,092        16

Structural

     738        553        33     2,042        1,754        16

Plate

     605        424        43     1,800        1,472        22

Other

     61        61        —         258        230        12
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
     6,543        5,626        16     19,821        16,893        17
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Sales tons to outside customers:

                

Steel mills

     5,144        4,442        16     15,690        13,382        17

Joist

     190        153        24     529        406        30

Deck

     139        129        8     404        365        11

Cold finished

     123        99        24     383        300        28

Rebar fabrication products

     323        328        -2     943        948        —    

Piling

     144        186        -23     451        522        -14

Tubular products

     272        280        -3     791        816        -3

Other steel products

     116        92        26     325        278        17

Raw materials

     721        658        10     2,314        2,016        15
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
     7,172        6,367        13     21,830        19,033        15
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

Page 6 of 9

Nucor Executive Offices: 1915 Rexford Road, Charlotte, North Carolina 28211

Phone 704-366-7000 Fax 704-362-4208 www.nucor.com


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Nucor Reports Record Quarterly Earnings for the Third Quarter of 2021 (Continued)

 

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings (Unaudited)

(In thousands, except per share data)

 

     Three Months (13 Weeks) Ended     Nine Months (39 Weeks) Ended  
     Oct. 2, 2021     Oct. 3, 2020     Oct. 2, 2021     Oct. 3, 2020  

Net sales

   $ 10,313,223     $ 4,927,960     $ 26,119,527     $ 14,879,603  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Costs, expenses and other:

        

Cost of products sold

     6,906,950       4,425,765       18,617,314       13,370,181  

Marketing, administrative and other expenses

     526,345       165,513       1,204,539       460,922  

Equity in (earnings) losses of unconsolidated affiliates

     (32,464     (479     (65,106     14,422  

Losses on assets

     —         6,604       50,970       299,450  

Interest expense, net

     43,285       40,139       118,709       116,856  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
     7,444,116     4,637,542     19,926,426     14,261,831  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Earnings before income taxes and noncontrolling interests

     2,869,107       290,418       6,193,101       617,772  

Provision for income taxes

     645,842       67,788       1,410,863       207,610  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net earnings

     2,223,265       222,630       4,782,238       410,162  

Earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests

     95,522       29,215       205,195       87,535  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net earnings attributable to Nucor stockholders

   $ 2,127,743     $ 193,415     $ 4,577,043     $ 322,627  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net earnings per share:

        

Basic

   $ 7.29     $ 0.63     $ 15.37     $ 1.06  

Diluted

   $ 7.28     $ 0.63     $ 15.34     $ 1.06  

Average shares outstanding:

        

Basic

     290,510       303,394       296,431       303,072  

Diluted

     291,152       303,441       296,928       303,099  

 

Page 7 of 9

Nucor Executive Offices: 1915 Rexford Road, Charlotte, North Carolina 28211

Phone 704-366-7000 Fax 704-362-4208 www.nucor.com


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Nucor Reports Record Quarterly Earnings for the Third Quarter of 2021 (Continued)

 

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited)

(In thousands)

 

     Oct. 2, 2021     Dec. 31, 2020  

ASSETS

    

Current assets:

    

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 1,764,293     $ 2,639,671  

Short-term investments

     247,247       408,004  

Accounts receivable, net

     4,087,293       2,298,850  

Inventories, net

     5,678,715       3,569,089  

Other current assets

     346,277       573,048  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current assets

     12,123,825       9,488,662  

Property, plant and equipment, net

     7,777,277       6,899,110  

Restricted cash and cash equivalents

     281,345       115,258  

Goodwill

     2,787,992       2,229,672  

Other intangible assets, net

     1,171,292       668,021  

Other assets

     807,748       724,671  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total assets

   $ 24,949,479     $ 20,125,394  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

LIABILITIES

    

Current liabilities:

    

Short-term debt

   $ 102,737     $ 57,906  

Current portion of long-term debt and finance lease obligations

     615,130       10,885  

Accounts payable

     1,870,035       1,432,159  

Salaries, wages and related accruals

     1,323,365       462,727  

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities

     886,332       664,183  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current liabilities

     4,797,599       2,627,860  

Long-term debt and finance lease obligations due after one year

     4,949,945       5,271,789  

Deferred credits and other liabilities

     1,251,643       993,884  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities

     10,999,187       8,893,533  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

EQUITY

    

Nucor stockholders’ equity:

    

Common stock

     152,061       152,061  

Additional paid-in capital

     2,131,514       2,121,288  

Retained earnings

     15,561,261       11,343,852  

Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of income taxes

     (85,901     (118,861

Treasury stock

     (4,336,415     (2,709,675
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Nucor stockholders’ equity

     13,422,520       10,788,665  

Noncontrolling interests

     527,772       443,196  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total equity

     13,950,292       11,231,861  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities and equity

   $ 24,949,479     $ 20,125,394  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

Page 8 of 9

Nucor Executive Offices: 1915 Rexford Road, Charlotte, North Carolina 28211

Phone 704-366-7000 Fax 704-362-4208 www.nucor.com


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Nucor Reports Record Quarterly Earnings for the Third Quarter of 2021 (Continued)

 

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited)

(In thousands)

     Nine Months (39 Weeks) Ended  
     Oct. 2, 2021     Oct. 3, 2020  

Operating activities:

    

Net earnings

   $ 4,782,238     $ 410,162  

Adjustments:

    

Depreciation

     546,619       525,688  

Amortization

     76,656       62,877  

Stock-based compensation

     97,652       56,122  

Deferred income taxes

     166,748       140,606  

Distributions from affiliates

     200       3,021  

Equity in (earnings) losses of unconsolidated affiliates

     (65,106     14,422  

Losses on assets

     50,970       299,450  

Changes in assets and liabilities (exclusive of acquisitions and dispositions):

    

Accounts receivable

     (1,622,668     37,547  

Inventories

     (1,976,738     590,434  

Accounts payable

     343,014       15,366  

Federal income taxes

     262,195       18,848  

Salaries, wages and related accruals

     835,381       (69,235

Other operating activities

     123,202       100,283  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash provided by operating activities

     3,620,363       2,205,591  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Investing activities:

    

Capital expenditures

     (1,207,088     (1,179,081

Investment in and advances to affiliates

     (193     (16,542

Disposition of plant and equipment

     15,581       19,492  

Acquisitions (net of cash acquired)

     (1,346,608     (20,368

Purchase of investments

     (394,141     (401,986

Proceeds from the sale of investments

     554,898       301,249  

Other investing activities

     1,042       (33,536
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash used in investing activities

     (2,376,509     (1,330,772
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Financing activities:

    

Net change in short-term debt

     44,831       1,334  

Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt, net of discount

     196,990       1,237,635  

Repayment of long-term debt

     —         (97,150

Bond issuance related costs

     —         (6,250

Proceeds from exercise of stock options

     143,874       —    

Payment of tax withholdings on certain stock-based compensation

     (71,494     (17,691

Distributions to noncontrolling interests

     (120,619     (106,193

Cash dividends

     (366,606     (368,636

Acquisition of treasury stock

     (1,773,848     (39,499

Other financing activities

     (7,993     (6,983
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash (used in) provided by financing activities

     (1,954,865     596,567  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash

     1,720       (7,790
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Increase in cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash and cash equivalents

     (709,291     1,463,596  

Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash and cash equivalents—beginning of year

     2,754,929       1,534,605  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash and cash equivalents—end of nine months

   $ 2,045,638     $ 2,998,201  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Non-cash investing activity:

    

Change in accrued plant and equipment purchases

   $ 14,997     $ —    
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

Page 9 of 9

Nucor Executive Offices: 1915 Rexford Road, Charlotte, North Carolina 28211

Phone 704-366-7000 Fax 704-362-4208 www.nucor.com