Cleveland-Cliffs (CLF) vs Nucor (NUE)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 7, 2026.
Summary
Nucor (NUE) has outperformed Cleveland-Cliffs (CLF) over the past year, gaining 83.1% versus a loss of 5.9%. Over five years, NUE leads with a +142.1% price change compared with -43.8% for CLF. Nucor is the larger company by market cap ($55.91 billion vs $6.88 billion), about 8.1 times the size.
On valuation, Nucor trades at a lower forward P/E (12.2x vs 14.1x for Cleveland-Cliffs). Nucor pays a dividend yielding 0.90%, while Cleveland-Cliffs does not currently pay one. Nucor converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 5.4% versus -7.9%.
Summary generated from market data by MetaCap's automated system. Methodology
Relative performance
Percent change in share price from the first common trading day shown; excludes dividends.
Head-to-head
| Metric | CLF | NUE |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $12.06 | $246.44 |
| Market cap | $6.88B | $55.91B |
| 1-day change | -1.55% | -1.84% |
| YTD return | -9.19% | +52.41% |
| 1-year return | -5.85% | +83.06% |
| 5-year return | -43.80% | +142.13% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | — | 19.65 |
| Forward P/E | 14.06 | 12.24 |
| EPS (TTM) | $-1.61 | $12.54 |
| Dividend yield | 0.00% | 0.90% |
| Annual dividend | $0.00 | $2.23 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $18.61B | $32.49B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | -3.00% | +5.73% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $-1.48B | $1.74B |
| Gross margin | -4.62% | 11.93% |
| Operating margin | -8.48% | — |
| Net margin | -7.94% | 5.37% |
| 52-week high | $16.70 | $280.11 |
| 52-week low | $7.73 | $131.32 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -27.78% | -12.02% |
| Analyst consensus | hold | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +4.48% | +15.16% |
| Average volume | 18.62M | 1.35M |
| Shares outstanding | 570.54M | 226.88M |
| Employees | 25,000 | 33,000 |
| Sector | Basic Materials | Industrials |
| Industry | Metal Mining | Steel/Iron Ore |
Highlighted cells mark the higher value for growth, returns, margins and yield, and the lower value for P/E ratios. Highlighting is a mechanical comparison, not a recommendation.
Key differences
- Nucor is about 8.1 times larger than Cleveland-Cliffs by market value ($55.91B vs $6.88B).
- NUE has outperformed CLF by 88.9 percentage points over the past year.
- Nucor is more profitable, keeping 5.4 cents of every revenue dollar as net income versus -7.9 cents for Cleveland-Cliffs.
- Nucor grew revenue faster in its latest fiscal year (+5.73% vs -3.00%).
- The two companies sit in different sectors: Cleveland-Cliffs in Basic Materials and Nucor in Industrials.
About Cleveland-Cliffs
CLF stock →Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. operates as a steel producer in the United States and Canada.
Basic Materials · Metal Mining · 25,000 employees
About Nucor
NUE stock →Nucor Corporation engages in the manufacture and sale of steel and steel products. The company operates in three segments: Steel Mills, Steel Products, and Raw Materials.
Industrials · Steel/Iron Ore · 33,000 employees
CLF vs NUE FAQ
Which is bigger, Cleveland-Cliffs or Nucor?
Nucor (NUE) is larger, with a market capitalization of $55.91B compared with $6.88B for Cleveland-Cliffs (CLF).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, CLF or NUE?
NUE returned +83.06% over the past 12 months, compared with -5.85% for CLF (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which pays a higher dividend, Cleveland-Cliffs or Nucor?
Nucor pays a dividend yielding 0.90%, while Cleveland-Cliffs does not currently pay a regular dividend.
Are Cleveland-Cliffs and Nucor in the same industry?
No. Cleveland-Cliffs is in the Basic Materials sector, while Nucor is in Industrials.