Market analysts are expressing renewed confidence in Nucor Corporation, even as the steelmaker’s stock closed Friday’s session down 1.90% at $159.45. Investors are currently weighing a significant upgrade from a major bank against recent insider selling activity and an upcoming change in executive leadership.
Robust Fundamentals Underpin Valuation
The company’s latest quarterly report, for the period ending October 4, 2025, revealed a net profit of $607 million. Nucor surpassed Wall Street estimates for both revenue and earnings per share (EPS). Third-quarter revenue reached $8.52 billion, beating the $8.27 billion forecast, while Q3 EPS came in at $2.63, above
JPMorgan Lifts Price Target Substantially
A key development occurred on December 5th, when JPMorgan Chase analyst Bill Peterson revised his stance on the steel giant. Peterson raised his price target from $175 to $200 per share, implying an upside potential of approximately 25.45% from the last closing price. He reaffirmed his “Overweight” rating on the equity, signaling confidence in the company’s relative performance. This bullish position exceeds the broader analyst consensus, where the average price target sits between $169 and $174.63, with most experts maintaining “Strong Buy” or “Moderate Buy” recommendations.
Should investors sell immediately? Or is it worth buying Nucor?
- Current Market Capitalization: $36.49 billion
- JPMorgan’s New Target: $200.00
- Recent Close: $159.45
Leadership Shift and Insider Activity Present Contrast
Concurrent with the analyst optimism, Nucor is undergoing a planned leadership transition. The company confirmed that Chief Financial Officer Stephen D. Laxton will be promoted to President and Chief Operating Officer, effective January 1, 2026. He is slated to succeed David A. Sumoski, who will retire in June 2026.
However, capital flow data presents a contrasting signal. Several large institutional investors reduced their holdings in Nucor during the second quarter of 2025. Furthermore, insider sentiment over the past 90 days has been negative. Executive Vice President John J. Hollatz sold over $1 million worth of shares in November. Including other activity, corporate insiders have been net sellers of 18,045 shares over the last three months.
The discrepancy between analyst upgrades and institutional selling activity currently defines the trading landscape for Nucor. Market participants are now looking ahead to the next quarterly earnings release, expected in January.
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