EN DE
STOCK COMPARISON

Nucor vs Steel Dynamics: Fair Value & Quality

Both stocks run through our valuation models. Here is how Nucor (NUE) and Steel Dynamics (STLD) compare, as of Sep 5, 2026.

As of Sep 5, 2026, Fair Value Calculator sees Steel Dynamics as the less overvalued of the two: Nucor trades at $262 versus a fair value of $116 (-56%), while Steel Dynamics trades at $246 versus $127 (-48%).
Nucor
NUE · USD · Materials
-56%
upside to fair value
overvalued
Price$262
Fair Value$116
Quality60/100
Steel Dynamics
STLD · USD · Materials
-48%
upside to fair value
overvalued
Price$246
Fair Value$127
Quality58/100
Get comparisons like this free by email every month: the most undervalued quality stocks.

Head-to-head numbers

Green value = the better side for that row (for valuation multiples: lower = cheaper).

NucorSteel Dynamics
Valuation
23.1×P/E (TTM)24.5×
1.56×P/S (TTM)1.73×
2.55×P/B3.68×
11.7×EV/EBITDA15.7×
5.21×PEG10.91×
−55.8%Fair value upside−48.3%
0.8%Dividend yield0.8%
$2.22Dividend per share$2.03
Profitability
12%Operating margin10%
1.00×EBIT margin trend (5Y)0.92×
12%Return on equity15%
6%Return on assets7%
Growth
21%Revenue growth (YoY)19%
-7.8%Avg. growth/yr (3Y)-6.5%
10.0%Avg. growth/yr (5Y)13.6%
+12.7%Value creation/yr+22.1%
Balance & size
45.1×Interest coverage (EBIT/interest)21.1×
0.32×Debt / equity0.47×
$53BMarket cap$33B
weakGrowth qualityweak

Nucor leads: 9 to 5 metric wins.

Dash = not meaningfully computable, for example with negative equity.

Quality in detail

The quality score, broken down into the same factor families as on the stock page, 0 to 100 per family.

Nucorof which business quality 58 · market factors 72 Steel Dynamicsof which business quality 57 · market factors 65
ProfitabilityMargins and returns on capital today
40
50
Quality GrowthAre margins and returns improving?
40
22
CashflowEarnings quality: real cash, not paper profit
37
28
Fin. StrengthBalance sheet, leverage, solvency risk
75
75
InvestmentDisciplined investing over empire-building
73
80
Low VolatilityCalm price path (market factor)
31
36
MomentumPrice trend over the last 3–12 months (market factor)
84
71
52W MomentumDistance to the 52-week high (market factor)
97
88
Net IssuanceBuybacks instead of dilution
100
100

What the models say

How far the median fair value (base case) per model family sits from the current price, in percent. The amount in the currency of the trading venue is shown underneath.

above the price, more than 15% above close to the price, 85% to 115% of the price below the price, more than 15% below

Model familyNucorPrice $262Steel DynamicsPrice $246
DCF Modelsn/a-28%below the price$176
Earnings-Based-70%below the price$79.61+17%above the price$288
Dividend Discount-85%below the price$39.56-86%below the price$35.53
Multiples-50%below the price$131-47%below the price$130
Asset-Based-77%below the price$61.59-83%below the price$41.61
Growth DCFn/a-48%below the price$129
Economic Profit-68%below the price$83.92-70%below the price$74.17
Growth Earnings-56%below the price$116+44%above the price$354
Minimum-85%below the price$39.56-86%below the price$35.53
Maximum-50%below the price$131+44%above the price$354
Median-69%below the price$81.77-47%below the price$129
Geometric mean-70%below the price$79.26-53%below the price$116

Minimum, maximum, median and geometric mean refer to the family values in this table. Geometric because deviations are ratios: half the price and twice the price average to 100%, not 125%.

Nucor: 16 of 16 models see the stock below the current price.

Steel Dynamics: 22 of 26 models see the stock below the current price.

Scenario ranges

From our cautious bear case to the optimistic bull case. The white tick is the current price: left of fair value means room to run.

Nucor
Bear $81.24Fair Value $116Bull $151
$262 = current price (white tick)
Steel Dynamics
Bear $56.68Fair Value $127Bull $159
$246 = current price (white tick)

Compare two other stocks

Tap a field and type again, ticker or company name.

Free, no sign-up

Ranked within their sector

Where each stock sits within its sector peer group. Band = middle 50% of peers, tick = median, dot = this stock.

Nucor · Materials

Quality score60 · Top 25%
Fair value upside-56% · below median

Steel Dynamics · Materials

Quality score58 · above median
Fair value upside-48% · below median

Bottom line

As of Sep 5, 2026, Fair Value Calculator sees Steel Dynamics as the less overvalued of the two: Nucor trades at $262 versus a fair value of $116 (-56%), while Steel Dynamics trades at $246 versus $127 (-48%).

Nucor has the higher quality score (60/100).

See the full analysis →
Nucor · Steel Dynamics

More comparisons

Popular match-ups from the same sectors, all with fair value and quality score.

Related to Nucor

Alphabet Inc Class C vs Verizon CommunicationsAlphabet Inc Class C vs At&tAlphabet Inc Class C vs NetEaseAmazon.com vs PDD Holdings

Related to Steel Dynamics

Amazon.com vs Sony GroupMeta Platforms vs Verizon CommunicationsMeta Platforms vs At&tMeta Platforms vs NetEase
Free · Top-25 report

See the undervalued quality stocks every month

Just your email for the monthly Top-25 report of the most undervalued quality stocks, with fair value, quality and price target. Plus 14 days of Pro to try, no card.

Free. You confirm by email (double opt-in) and can unsubscribe anytime in one click. Not financial advice.

A model-based valuation snapshot from 26 models. Values change with price and fundamentals; the date shown above applies.