Key Takeaways From Nucor Corporation's Third Quarter Earnings

Pipe sales to energy companies are weak, but nonresidential construction demand is growing. Image source: Getty Images.

SteelmakerNucor Corporation(NYSE: NUE) reported third quarter financial and operating results on Oct. 20, delivering a big jump in profits and cash flows. The company also expanded on its expansion plans, even as the overall steel market remains challenging.

Here's a closer look at Nucor's results, and key takeaways for investors.

The numbers

Revenue in billions. Net earnings in millions. Source: Nucor Corporation.

For the first nine months of the year, Nucor reported earnings per share of $1.79, up 38% from the $1.30 per share delivered in the first nine months of 2015.

What happened in the quarter

  • Revenue, total tonnage, and price-per-ton sold were all up only slightly year over year, while energy costs fell and operating rates at mills improved from last year.
  • This resulted in lower product costs, driving higher earnings in the quarter.
  • Nucor's strong operating results so far this year have driven strong cash flows. The company has nearly $500 million more in working capital than it did at the beginning of the year.
  • This includes $2.35 billion in cash and short-term investments. Nucor also has $1.5 billion in an undrawn line of credit.
  • Nucor announced two major expansion investments in the quarter; the acquisition of Independence Tube, the second-largest maker of HSS steel tubing in the U.S. for $435 million, and plans to invest $230 million to build an additional cold mill at its Arkansas division.
  • Both investments will add new products that Nucor doesn't currently manufacture, expanding its offerings in both the automotive and nonresidential construction industries.
  • Nucor also reworked its natural gas agreements with partnerEncana. The revised deal includes selling Encana its interest in a production partnership and drilling agreements with the company, while instead buying a portion of Encana's leaseholder interest covering 54,000 acres of natural gas-producing acreage. Management said this agreement better-positions its strategy for raw materials and gives both companies better capital flexibility.

What management said

Nucor saw strong results versus the year-ago quarter, but they were well off the second quarter's results. CFO Jim Frias, on why:

Management sees the weakness carrying over -- and intensifying -- in the fourth quarter. Frias again:

But these are expected to be short-term things, and management sees a lot of positive momentum heading into next year. Once more from Frias:

Nucor (and every American Steelmaker) has dealt with a flood of illegally subsidized imports over the past few years. And while recent tariffs have started having an impact on reducing imports, CEO John Ferriola is resolute that more must be done:

Looking ahead

Nucor has consistently shown that its flexible (and low) cost structure positions it to ride out the ups-and-downs of the steel cycle better than any other steelmaker. At the same time, management continues to show its chops when it comes to allocating capital, with two big investments in the quarter that expand the products Nucor will be able to provide to the automotive and nonresidential construction industries.

Yet as Ferriola pointed out, there's still work to be done, and there remains massive global production overcapacity and will likely take further trade enforcement action to keep the playing field level. While its competitors struggle to stay afloat in these challenging times, Nucor continues investing in up-market growth, positioning it to come out of the weak cycle even stronger.

A secret billion-dollar stock opportunity The world's biggest tech company forgot to show you something, but a few Wall Street analysts and the Fool didn't miss a beat: There's a small company that's powering their brand-new gadgets and the coming revolution in technology. And we think its stock price has nearly unlimited room to run for early in-the-know investors! To be one of them, just click here.

Jason Hall has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Nucor. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.