Nucor Reports Results for First Quarter of 2017
CHARLOTTE, N.C., April 20, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Nucor Corporation (NYSE: NUE) announced today consolidated net earnings of $356.9 million, or $1.11 per diluted share, for the first quarter of 2017. By comparison, Nucor reported net earnings of $159.6 million, or $0.50 per diluted share, for the fourth quarter of 2016 and net earnings of $87.6 million, or $0.27 per diluted share, for the first quarter of 2016.
Earnings (loss) before income taxes and noncontrolling interests by segment were as follows for the first quarters of 2017 and 2016 (in thousands):
Three Months (13 Weeks) Ended
April 1, 2017
April 2, 2016
Steel mills
$ 684,161
$ 280,372
Steel products
26,922
42,367
Raw materials
26,391
(63,372)
Corporate/eliminations
(188,499)
(89,804)
Totals
$ 548,975
$ 169,563
Included in the first quarter of 2017 results were inventory related purchase accounting charges of $9.8 million, or $0.02 per diluted share, associated with the recent acquisitions of Southland Tube and Republic Conduit. Included in the fourth quarter of 2016 results were the effects of a change in estimate related to the cost of certain inventories that resulted in a benefit of $77.6 million, or $0.16 per diluted share. Included in the first quarter of 2016 earnings were out-of-period non-cash gains totaling $13.4 million ($0.04 per diluted share) related to a noncontrolling interest adjustment and to tax adjustments.
Nucor's consolidated net sales increased 22% to $4.82 billion in the first quarter of 2017 from $3.96 billion in the fourth quarter of 2016 and increased 30% compared with $3.72 billion in the first quarter of 2016. Average sales price per ton in the first quarter of 2017 increased 8% compared to the fourth quarter of 2016 and increased 21% from the first quarter of 2016. Total tons shipped to outside customers were 6,584,000 tons in the first quarter of 2017, a 13% increase from the fourth quarter of 2016 and a 7% increase from the first quarter of 2016. Total steel mill shipments in the first quarter of 2017 increased 19% from the fourth quarter of 2016 and increased 9% from the first quarter of 2016. Downstream steel products shipments to outside customers in the first quarter of 2017 decreased 3% from the fourth quarter of 2016 and increased 3% from the first quarter of 2016.