Nucor(NUE) - 2024 Q4 - Annual Results

Financial Performance - Nucor reported consolidated net earnings of $287 million, or$1.22 per diluted share, for Q4 2024, an increase from $250 million, or$1.05 per diluted share, in Q3 2024[2]. - For the full year 2024, consolidated net earnings were $2.03 billion, or$8.46 per diluted share, down from $4.53 billion, or$18.00 per diluted share, in 2023[3]. - Nucor's net sales for Q4 2024 were $7,076 million, a decrease of 8$7,705 million in Q4 2023[38]. - The net earnings attributable to Nucor stockholders for the full year 2024 were $2,027 million, down 55$4,525 million in 2023[38]. - Nucor's average diluted earnings per share for 2024 was $8.46, a decline of 53$18.00 in 2023[38]. Sales and Shipments - Consolidated net sales for Q4 2024 were $7.08 billion, a decrease of 5$7.44 billion in Q3 2024 and an 8% decrease from $7.71 billion in Q4 2023[8]. - Total tons shipped to outside customers in 2024 were approximately 24,767,000 tons, a decrease of 2$381, a 1% increase from Q3 2024 and a 4% decrease from Q4 2023[10]. - Capital expenditures for 2024 were $3,173 million, an increase from$2,214 million in 2023[44]. Cash and Debt - Nucor had $4.14 billion in cash and cash equivalents at the end of Q4 2024, with a$1.75 billion undrawn revolving credit facility[15]. - Cash and cash equivalents at the end of 2024 were $3,558 million, down from$6,387 million at the end of 2023[44]. - Nucor's long-term debt decreased to $5,683 million in 2024 from$6,649 million in 2023[40]. Dividends and Shareholder Returns - The company returned approximately $2.74 billion to stockholders in 2024 through share repurchases and dividends[18]. - Nucor's Board declared a cash dividend of$0.55 per share, marking the 207th consecutive quarterly cash dividend[16]. Future Outlook - Nucor expects earnings in the steel mills and steel products segments to remain similar in Q1 2025 compared to Q4 2024, while raw materials segment earnings are expected to decrease[20]. Operational Metrics - Nucor's operating rates for Q4 2024 were 74%, unchanged from Q4 2023, while the full year 2024 rate decreased to 76% from 78% in 2023[13]. - Nucor's total assets decreased to $33,940 million in 2024 from$35,340 million in 2023[40].