Nucor Corporation (NYSE: NUE) today announced consolidated net earnings of $193.4 million, or $0.63 per diluted share, for the third quarter of 2020. By comparison, Nucor reported consolidated net earnings of $108.9 million, or $0.36 per diluted share, for the second quarter of 2020 and $275.0 million, or $0.90 per diluted share, for the third quarter of 2019.
In the first nine months of 2020, Nucor generated consolidated net earnings of $322.6 million, or $1.06 per diluted share, compared with consolidated net earnings of $1.16 billion, or $3.78 per diluted share, in the first nine months of 2019.
"I am incredibly proud of how our team has responded to the many challenges of 2020 beginning with the health, safety and well-being of our entire Nucor family. Our third quarter results were better than we expected, reflecting continued strength in nonresidential construction. We expect improved performance in the fourth quarter due to positive pricing momentum in sheet and plate markets. Our teammates across the company continue to find unique ways to serve our customers while bringing innovative product solutions into the market," said Leon Topalian, Nucor's President and Chief Executive Officer.
Financial StrengthAt the end of the third quarter of 2020, Nucor had $3.41 billion in cash and cash equivalents, short-term investments and restricted cash and cash equivalents on hand. 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.
Selected Segment DataEarnings (loss) before income taxes and noncontrolling interests by segment for the third quarter and first nine months of 2020 and 2019 were as follows (in thousands):
| Three Months (13 Weeks) Ended | Nine Months (39 Weeks) Ended | Oct. 3, 2020 | Sept. 28, 2019 | Oct. 3, 2020 | Sept. 28, 2019 | ||||||||||||||
| Steel mills | $ | 205,152 | $ | 309,939 | $ | 512,082 | $ | 1,578,257 | |||||||||||
| Steel products | 186,976 | 170,214 | 502,409 | 363,731 | |||||||||||||||
| Raw materials | 6,232 | (10,599) | (3,068) | 64,333 | |||||||||||||||
| Corporate/eliminations | (107,942) | (89,215) | (393,651) | (401,744) | |||||||||||||||
| $ | 290,418 | $ | 380,339 | $ | 617,772 | $ | 1,604,577 | ||||||||||||
Financial ReviewIncluded in earnings for the third quarter of 2020 was a restructuring charge of $16.4 million, or $0.04 per diluted share, related to the realignment of Nucor's metal buildings business.
Nucor's consolidated net sales increased 14% to $4.93 billion in the third quarter of 2020 compared with $4.33 billion in the second quarter of 2020 and decreased 10% compared with $5.46 billion in the third quarter of 2019. Average sales price per ton in the third quarter of 2020 decreased 2% compared with the second quarter of 2020 and decreased 7% compared with the third quarter of 2019. A total of 6,367,000 tons was shipped to outside customers in the third quarter of 2020, a 16% increase from the second quarter of 2020 and a 3% decrease from the third quarter of 2019. Total steel mill shipments in the third quarter of 2020 increased 18% as compared to the second quarter of 2020 and decreased 3% as compared to the third quarter of 2019. Steel mill shipments to internal customers represented 21% of total steel mill shipments in each of the third quarter of 2020, the second quarter of 2020 and the third quarter of 2019. Downstream steel product shipments to outside customers in the third quarter of 2020 increased 14% from the second quarter of 2020 and remained flat compared to the third quarter of 2019.
In the first nine months of 2020, Nucor's consolidated net sales of $14.88 billion decreased 15% compared with consolidated net sales of $17.46 billion reported in the first nine months of 2019. Total tons shipped to outside customers in the first nine months of 2020 were 19,033,000, a decrease of 5% from the first nine months of 2019, while the average sales price per ton in the first nine months of 2020 decreased 10% from the first nine months of 2019.
The average scrap and scrap substitute cost per gross ton used in the third quarter of 2020 was $277, a 2% decrease compared to $284 in the second quarter of 2020 and a 7% decrease compared to $299 in the third quarter of 2019. The average scrap and scrap substitute cost per gross ton used in the first nine months of 2020 was $285, a 13% decrease compared to $328 in the first nine months of 2019.
Pre-operating and start-up costs related to the Company's growth projects were approximately $22 million, or $0.06 per diluted share, in the third quarter of 2020, compared with approximately $22 million, or $0.06 per diluted share, in the second quarter of 2020 and approximately $28 million, or $0.07 per diluted share, in the third quarter of 2019.
In the first nine months of 2020, pre-operating and start-up costs related to the Company's growth projects were approximately $73 million, or $0.18 per diluted share, compared with approximately $68 million, or $0.17 per diluted share, in the first nine months of 2019.
Overall operating rates at the Company's steel mills increased to 83% in the third quarter of 2020 as compared to 68% in the second quarter of 2020 and were flat relative to the third quarter of 2019. Operating rates in the first nine months of 2020 decreased to 80% as compared to 85% in the first nine months of 2019.
Third Quarter of 2020 AnalysisNonresidential construction market conditions remained strong throughout the quarter, while the automotive market's recovery accelerated. The results of the steel mills segment improved in the third quarter of 2020 as compared to the second quarter of 2020, led by Nucor's bar and structural mills. Market conditions for the Company's sheet and plate mills remained challenged. The Company's steel products segment had another strong quarter due to the continued resiliency of nonresidential construction markets, and, as expected, earnings for the third quarter of 2020 increased compared with the second quarter of 2020 for this segment. Third quarter of 2020 earnings in Nucor's raw materials segment increased as compared to the second quarter of 2020 due to improved pricing reflecting stronger steel demand.
Fourth Quarter of 2020 OutlookThe ongoing COVID-19 pandemic continues to cause uncertainty, making it difficult to accurately forecast future market conditions and demand trends. While many of the markets Nucor serves have typically experienced a seasonal slowdown in the fourth quarter, the Company expects higher earnings in the fourth quarter of 2020 as compared to the third quarter of 2020 due primarily to improved pricing at its sheet and plate mills. Nucor also expects the raw materials segment's earnings to increase in the fourth quarter of 2020 as compared to the third quarter of 2020 due to the improved margins at the Company's direct reduced iron facilities.
Cash DividendOn September 10, 2020, Nucor's board of directors declared a cash dividend of $0.4025 per share. This cash dividend is payable on November 10, 2020 to stockholders of record as of September 30, 2020 and is Nucor's 190th consecutive quarterly cash dividend.
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 piling; steel joists and joist girders; steel deck; fabricated concrete reinforcing steel; cold finished steel; precision castings; steel fasteners; metal building systems; 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.
