Fair Value Measurements

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2019

15. Fair Value Measurements

The following table summarizes information regarding Nucor’s financial assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value as of December 31, 2019 and 2018. Nucor does not have any non-financial assets or liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis.

				(in thousands)
				Fair Value Measurements at Reporting Date Using
				Quoted Prices
				in Active		Significant
	Carrying			Markets for		Other			Significant
	Amount in			Identical		Observable			Unobservable
	Consolidated			Assets		Inputs			Inputs
Description	Balance Sheets			(Level 1)		(Level 2)			(Level 3)
As of December 31, 2019
Assets:
Cash equivalents	$	1,229,000		$	1,229,000	$	—		$	—
Short-term investments	$	300,040		$	300,040	$	—		$	—
Total assets	$	1,529,040		$	1,529,040	$	—		$	—
Liabilities:
Derivative contracts	$	(19,599	)	$	—	$	(19,599	)	$	—
As of December 31, 2018
Assets:
Cash equivalents	$	1,084,319		$	1,084,319	$	—		$	—
Derivative contracts		4,772			—		4,772			—
Total assets	$	1,089,091		$	1,084,319	$	4,772		$	—
Liabilities:
Derivative contracts	$	(8,600	)	$	—	$	(8,600	)	$	—

Fair value measurements for Nucor’s cash equivalents and short-term investments are classified under Level 1 because such measurements are based on quoted market prices in active markets for identical assets. Fair value measurements for Nucor’s derivatives, which are typically commodity or foreign exchange contracts, are classified under Level 2 because such measurements are based on published market prices for similar assets or are estimated based on observable inputs such as interest rates, yield curves, credit risks, spot and future commodity prices, and spot and future exchange rates. There were no transfers between levels in the fair value hierarchy for the periods presented.

The fair value of short-term and long-term debt, including current maturities, was approximately $4.81 billion at December 31, 2019 (approximately $4.45 billion at December 31, 2018). The debt fair value estimates are classified under Level 2 because such estimates are based on readily available market prices of our debt at December 31, 2019 and 2018, or similar debt with the same maturities, ratings and interest rates.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for the fair value of financial instruments (as defined), including financial assets and financial liabilities (collectively, as defined), and the measurements of those instruments as well as disclosures related to the fair value of non-financial assets and liabilities. Such disclosures about the financial instruments, assets, and liabilities would include: (1) the fair value of the required items together with their carrying amounts (as appropriate); (2) for items for which it is not practicable to estimate fair value, disclosure would include: (a) information pertinent to estimating fair value (including, carrying amount, effective interest rate, and maturity, and (b) the reasons why it is not practicable to estimate fair value; (3) significant concentrations of credit risk including: (a) information about the activity, region, or economic characteristics identifying a concentration, (b) the maximum amount of loss the entity is exposed to based on the gross fair value of the related item, (c) policy for requiring collateral or other security and information as to accessing such collateral or security, and (d) the nature and brief description of such collateral or security; (4) quantitative information about market risks and how such risks are managed; (5) for items measured on both a recurring and nonrecurring basis information regarding the inputs used to develop the fair value measurement; and (6) for items presented in the financial statement for which fair value measurement is elected: (a) information necessary to understand the reasons for the election, (b) discussion of the effect of fair value changes on earnings, (c) a description of [similar groups] items for which the election is made and the relation thereof to the balance sheet, the aggregate carrying value of items included in the balance sheet that are not eligible for the election; (7) all other required (as defined) and desired information.

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