Aaron McDade

Wed, Jun 18, 2025, 6:32 AM1 min read

• Nucor shares rose Wednesday after the steelmaker forecast better second-quarter profits than expected.

• Profits are projected between $2.55 and $2.65 per share, well above the $2.21 analyst consensus.

• Tariffs are expected to raise prices in the steel industry, leading to higher profits for American steelmakers like Nucor.

Nucor (NUE) shares are rising Wednesday after the steelmaker outlined better second-quarter profit projections than analysts had forecast.

The company said Wednesday morning that it expects second-quarter earnings per share to come in between $2.55 to $2.65, well above the current analyst consensus compiled by Visible Alpha of $2.21. In its first-quarter report in April, Nucor said it expected earnings to increase from the $0.67 per share it posted at the time, with improving profits across all three of its segments.

Nucor's steel mills had a higher average selling price in the second quarter, while its division selling steel products is projected to report higher profits "due to a combination of stable overall pricing, higher volumes and lower average costs per ton."

Nucor said it will release its second-quarter results after the bell on July 28, and hold an earnings call the next morning.

Analysts have grown more bullish on American steelmakers like Nucor this year, expecting the Trump administration's tariffs to raise prices in the industry and lead to higher profits in the sector.

Nucor shares were up more than 3% shortly after the opening bell, and entered the day up nearly 5% since the start of the year.

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