Nucor (NYSE: NUE) reported Q4 EPS of $2.07, $0.13 better than the analyst estimate of $1.94. Revenue for the quarter came in at $6.3 billion versus the consensus estimate of $6.31 billion.

Outlook

Following 2018's record-setting earnings performance, we believe that 2019 will be another strong year as we expect the earnings performance to be one of the best in Nucor's history. As we enter 2019, we have a positive outlook on end-use demand and general economic conditions.

We expect another strong quarter for earnings in the first quarter of 2019. Although sheet pricing and margins are expected to decrease in the first quarter of 2019 as compared to the fourth quarter of 2018, this will be partially offset by expected increases in profitability of our bar mills and structural mills. The performance of the raw materials segment is expected to decrease in the first quarter of 2019 as compared to the fourth quarter of 2018 due to the decreased performance of our DRI businesses, which continue to be negatively impacted by declining average selling prices for raw materials that began in the fourth quarter of 2018. The profitability of our steel products segment in the first quarter of 2019 is expected to be similar to the fourth quarter of 2018. We expect first quarter of 2019 earnings to be much stronger than the first quarter of 2018.

For earnings history and earnings-related data on Nucor (NUE) click here.