Nucor (NUE) vs Worthington Steel (WS)
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 Worthington Steel (WS) over the past year, gaining 81.5% versus a gain of 14.9%. Nucor is the larger company by market cap ($55.91 billion vs $1.81 billion), about 30.9 times the size. On valuation, Worthington Steel trades at a lower forward P/E (7.3x vs 12.2x for Nucor).
Worthington Steel offers the higher dividend yield (1.80% vs 0.90%).
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 | WS |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $246.44 | $35.56 |
| Market cap | $55.91B | $1.81B |
| 1-day change | -1.84% | -6.89% |
| YTD return | +51.09% | +2.72% |
| 1-year return | +81.47% | +14.93% |
| 5-year return | +142.13% | — |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 20.02 | 209.18 |
| Forward P/E | 12.24 | 7.30 |
| EPS (TTM) | $12.31 | $0.17 |
| Dividend yield | 0.90% | 1.80% |
| Annual dividend | $2.23 | $0.64 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $32.49B | — |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +5.73% | — |
| Net income (latest FY) | $1.74B | — |
| Gross margin | 11.93% | — |
| Net margin | 5.37% | — |
| 52-week high | $280.11 | $49.17 |
| 52-week low | $131.32 | $27.22 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -12.02% | -27.68% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +15.16% | +29.36% |
| Average volume | 1.35M | 273.00K |
| Shares outstanding | 226.88M | 50.95M |
| Employees | 33,000 | 5,400 |
| Sector | Industrials | Industrials |
| Industry | Steel/Iron Ore | 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 30.9 times larger than Worthington Steel by market value ($55.91B vs $1.81B).
- NUE has outperformed WS by 66.5 percentage points over the past year.
- Worthington Steel trades at a higher earnings multiple (209.2x vs 20.0x trailing P/E).
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 Worthington Steel
WS stock →Worthington Steel, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, operates as a steel processor in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and internationally. The company offers carbon flat-rolled steel processing services, including pickling, specialty re-rolling, hot dip galvanizing, blanking, slitting, and cutting-to-length; laser welded solutions; precision magnetic steel laminations for the automotive, industrial motor, generator, and transformer industries; tailor and aluminum tailor welded blanks; steel toll processing services for steel mills, large end-users, and service centers; and automotive and electrical steel lamination stampings.
Industrials · Steel/Iron Ore · 5,400 employees
NUE vs WS FAQ
Which is bigger, Nucor or Worthington Steel?
Nucor (NUE) is larger, with a market capitalization of $55.91B compared with $1.81B for Worthington Steel (WS).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, NUE or WS?
NUE returned +81.47% over the past 12 months, compared with +14.93% for WS (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, NUE or WS?
NUE has the lower trailing P/E at 20.0, versus 209.2 for WS. 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 Worthington Steel?
Worthington Steel has the higher yield at 1.80%, compared with 0.90% for Nucor.
Are Nucor and Worthington Steel in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Steel/Iron Ore industry within the Industrials sector.