NUE vs STLD Comparison: AI Score, Valuation, Performance and Upside
Compare Nucor and Steel Dynamics by flat-rolled vs structural steel capacity, mini-mill cost advantages over integrated peers, downstream fabrication margins, dividend growth track record, and long-term US infrastructure demand exposure.
Use this Nucor vs Steel Dynamics comparison to evaluate the key differences across valuation, growth, profitability, and risk before making an investment decision.
STLD holds the edge across 4 of 5 key metrics in this comparison. STLD leads on both 1-year return (+94.84%) and forward P/E quality (12.48x vs 13.59x for NUE), a relatively favorable combination of momentum and valuation. NUE leads on both revenue growth (21.30%) and operating margin (11.83%), suggesting a stronger fundamental setup on both dimensions. Analyst consensus implies similar upside for both: +12.90% for NUE and +15.21% for STLD.
| Metric | NUE | STLD |
|---|---|---|
| AI score | 56.5 | 66.5 |
| AI rank | #265 | #57 |
| Latest close | $247.56 | $247.11 |
| 1M return | +2.93% | +2.35% |
| 6M return | +36.28% | +36.28% |
| 1Y return | +75.04% | +94.84% |
How much would $10,000 be worth today if invested at the start of each period, with all dividends reinvested?
| Period | NUE | STLD |
|---|---|---|
| 1Y ago | $16.98K (+69.8%) started 2025-07-25 | $18.89K (+88.9%) started 2025-07-25 |
| 5Y ago | $28.41K (+184.1%) started 2021-07-26 | $45.67K (+356.7%) started 2021-07-26 |
| 10Y ago | $71.83K (+618.3%) started 2016-07-25 | $137.06K (+1270.6%) started 2016-07-25 |
Hypothetical — past performance does not guarantee future results.
| Metric | NUE | STLD |
|---|---|---|
| Market cap | $53.89B | $33.96B |
| Trailing P/E | 23.47 | 25.27 |
| Forward P/E | 13.59 | 12.48 |
| Price/Sales | 0.92 | N/A |
| EV/Revenue | 1.75 | 1.99 |
| Analyst target | $267.13 | $271.33 |
| Target upside | +12.90% | +15.21% |
| Metric | NUE | STLD |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue growth | 21.30% | 19.10% |
| Earnings growth | 382.10% | 93.10% |
| EPS growth | +382.10% | +93.10% |
| FCF margin | -1.12% | -0.17% |
| Operating margin | 11.83% | 10.34% |
| Profit margin | 6.82% | 7.22% |
| ROIC proxy | 12.29% | 15.25% |
| Return on equity | 12.29% | 15.25% |
| Dividend yield | 0.95% | 0.90% |
| Beta | 1.92 | 1.54 |
| Debt/equity | 31.59 | 48.12 |
| Current ratio | 2.90 | 3.13 |
| Quick ratio | 1.45 | 1.20 |
Lower drawdown and smaller single-period drops generally indicate a smoother ride, though they do not guarantee lower future risk.
| Period | Metric | NUE | STLD |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Y | Growth | +69.76% | +88.88% |
| CAGR | +70.03% | +89.24% | |
| Sharpe ratio | 1.78 | 1.89 | |
| Max drawdown | 18.43% | 22.06% | |
| Max daily drop | 5.95% | 7.49% | |
| Max wkly drop | 11.31% | 12.20% | |
| 5Y | Growth | +168.04% | +329.54% |
| CAGR | +21.82% | +33.88% | |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.59 | 0.84 | |
| Max drawdown | 47.79% | 32.20% | |
| Max daily drop | 11.31% | 12.50% | |
| Max wkly drop | 18.48% | 23.27% | |
| 10Y | Growth | +476.94% | +1025.09% |
| CAGR | +19.16% | +27.39% | |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.54 | 0.70 | |
| Max drawdown | 57.21% | 68.46% | |
| Max daily drop | 14.51% | 18.17% | |
| Max wkly drop | 22.08% | 26.94% |
| Category | NUE | STLD |
|---|---|---|
| Company | NUE | STLD |
| Sector | Basic Materials | Basic Materials |
| Industry | Steel | N/A |
| Core business | N/A | N/A |
| Investor focus | N/A | N/A |
Want deeper AI forecasts?
This comparison page is public and free forever. Subscribers can unlock saved watchlists, full AI rankings, detailed forecasts, and interactive analysis tools.