Nucor (NUE) vs Reliance (RS)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 8, 2026.
Summary
Nucor (NUE) has outperformed Reliance (RS) over the past year, gaining 81.5% versus a gain of 41.3%. Over five years, RS leads with a +168.5% price change compared with +142.1% for NUE. Nucor is the larger company by market cap ($55.91 billion vs $20.23 billion), about 2.8 times the size.
On valuation, Nucor trades at a lower forward P/E (12.2x vs 16.8x for Reliance). Reliance offers the higher dividend yield (1.24% vs 0.90%). Nucor converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 5.4% versus 5.2%.
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 | NUE | RS |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $246.44 | $396.22 |
| Market cap | $55.91B | $20.23B |
| 1-day change | -1.84% | -1.31% |
| YTD return | +51.09% | +37.16% |
| 1-year return | +81.47% | +41.29% |
| 5-year return | +142.13% | +168.48% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 20.02 | 23.02 |
| Forward P/E | 12.24 | 16.78 |
| EPS (TTM) | $12.31 | $17.21 |
| Dividend yield | 0.90% | 1.24% |
| Annual dividend | $2.23 | $4.90 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $32.49B | $14.29B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +5.73% | +3.32% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $1.74B | $739.40M |
| Gross margin | 11.93% | 28.74% |
| Operating margin | — | 7.08% |
| Net margin | 5.37% | 5.17% |
| 52-week high | $280.11 | $433.02 |
| 52-week low | $131.32 | $260.31 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -12.02% | -8.50% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | hold |
| Avg. price target upside | +15.16% | +3.29% |
| Average volume | 1.35M | 318.90K |
| Shares outstanding | 226.88M | 51.05M |
| Employees | 33,000 | 15,700 |
| Sector | Industrials | Industrials |
| Industry | Steel/Iron Ore | Metal Fabrications |
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 2.8 times larger than Reliance by market value ($55.91B vs $20.23B).
- NUE has outperformed RS by 40.2 percentage points over the past year.
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
About Reliance
RS stock →Reliance, Inc. operates as a diversified metal solutions provider and metals service center company primarily in the United States and Canada.
Industrials · Metal Fabrications · 15,700 employees
NUE vs RS FAQ
Which is bigger, Nucor or Reliance?
Nucor (NUE) is larger, with a market capitalization of $55.91B compared with $20.23B for Reliance (RS).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, NUE or RS?
NUE returned +81.47% over the past 12 months, compared with +41.29% for RS (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, NUE or RS?
NUE has the lower trailing P/E at 20.0, versus 23.0 for RS. A lower P/E is not by itself a sign of a better investment; it can reflect slower expected growth or higher risk.
Which pays a higher dividend, Nucor or Reliance?
Reliance has the higher yield at 1.24%, compared with 0.90% for Nucor.
Are Nucor and Reliance in the same industry?
Both are in the Industrials sector, but in different industries: Steel/Iron Ore for Nucor and Metal Fabrications for Reliance.