Earnings Preview: Nucor EPS, Revenue Expected to Rise from Previous Quarter

It's time to gear up for Nucor NUE earnings! Keep your head in the game: The company releases its next round of earnings this Thursday, July 21, 2011.

Want to skip the homework and get all the facts in one place? We thought so. Here is your everything-that-matters guide for this Thursday's second quarter earnings announcement.

Let's Do the Numbers:

Based on estimates, investors are readying for a positive EPS reading of 81 cents per share and revenues of $5.17 billion. Can Nucor manage the estimated 350% rise in EPS and 123% increase in revenues as analysts are predicting? We'll have to wait until Thursday to find out.

Here's how the company's reported EPS has stacked up against analyst estimates in the past:

Quarter	Q1	Q4	Q3	Q2
EPS Estimate	$0.35	$-0.10	$0.11	$0.26
EPS Actual	$0.5	$-0.02	$0.07	$0.29

Stock Performance:

Shares of Nucor were trading at $39.49 as of July 15, 2011. Since January 1st, shares of Nucor have declined 8.3%. For a full 12 months, the return has risen by 2%. Given that these returns are generally positive, long-term shareholders are probably satisfied going into this earnings release.

• Long-term shareholders are already enjoying 12-month gains prior to the announcement

Average Stock Rating:

The average rating by analysts for Nucor is a Hold. This rating has strengthened slightly over the past ninety days.

Competitors:

Looking for a sympathy stock to trade or interested in the performance of other companies in the same sector? Take a look at some of Nucor's peers.

• AK Steel AKS: Hold with a $0.08 recent quarter EPS
• Gerdau S.A. GGB: Moderate Buy with a $0.16 recent quarter EPS
• Schnitzer Steel Industries SCHN: Moderate Buy with a $1.17 recent quarter EPS

Finally, a description of the main business areas of the company, in case you need a little refresher: Nucor and its affiliates manufacture steel and steel products for customers mainly located in North America.

Take Action:

Now that you've gotten an advanced peak at Nucor's upcoming earnings numbers, keep an eye out for any surprises in the report and be ready to take action. Also, check back in with us after the announcement for a full recap and a guide to your next steps.

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