Nucor reports record second-quarter earnings and raises Q3 outlook

Nucor reported second-quarter 2026 net earnings of $1.16 billion, or $5.04 per diluted share, on $10.40 billion in sales, compared with $603 million and $8.46 billion in the year-earlier quarter; adjusted earnings were $1.11 billion, or $4.84 per share, excluding a $61 million pretax non-cash benefit from its Helion investment. The company expects higher consolidated earnings in the third quarter, driven by higher steel pricing and volumes, while returning $479 million to shareholders in Q2 through $350 million of repurchases and $129 million of dividends.