Metis Global Partners LLC Grows Stock Position in Nucor Co. (NYSE:NUE)

Metis Global Partners LLC boosted its position in Nucor Co. (NYSE:NUE) by 8.8% in the fourth quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 23,449 shares of the basic materials company’s stock after purchasing an additional 1,895 shares during the period. Metis Global Partners LLC’s holdings in Nucor were worth $2,737,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

A number of other large investors have also bought and sold shares of NUE. Ashton Thomas Securities LLC purchased a new stake in Nucor in the third quarter worth $26,000. Coastline Trust Co purchased a new stake in Nucor in the third quarter worth $29,000. Crews Bank & Trust purchased a new stake in Nucor in the fourth quarter worth $29,000. New Wave Wealth Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in Nucor in the fourth quarter worth $33,000. Finally, Versant Capital Management Inc increased its position in Nucor by 60.3% in the fourth quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc now owns 303 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $35,000 after buying an additional 114 shares during the last quarter. 76.48% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Nucor Price Performance

NYSE:NUE opened at $137.52 on Friday. The firm has a market capitalization of $32.29 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.35, a P/E/G ratio of 0.96 and a beta of 1.60. Nucor Co. has a 52-week low of $112.25 and a 52-week high of $203.00. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $126.86 and a 200 day moving average of $139.53. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.27, a quick ratio of 1.48 and a current ratio of 2.51.

Nucor (NYSE:NUE) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Monday, January 27th. The basic materials company reported $1.22 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.94 by $0.28. Nucor had a return on equity of 9.85% and a net margin of 6.60%. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $3.16 earnings per share. On average, research analysts expect that Nucor Co. will post 7.64 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Nucor Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, May 12th. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 31st will be given a dividend of $0.55 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, March 31st. This represents a $2.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.60%. Nucor’s payout ratio is 26.16%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities analysts have recently commented on NUE shares. StockNews.com raised Nucor from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Wednesday, February 12th. Jefferies Financial Group raised their price target on Nucor from $125.00 to $135.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a report on Wednesday, January 29th. Morgan Stanley cut their price target on Nucor from $166.00 to $154.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Monday, February 3rd. UBS Group reaffirmed a “neutral” rating and issued a $156.00 price target (down from $171.00) on shares of Nucor in a report on Thursday, December 12th. Finally, Citigroup cut their price target on Nucor from $240.00 to $160.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Thursday, December 19th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, five have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Nucor currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $163.13.

Nucor Company Profile

Nucor Corporation engages in manufacture and sale of steel and steel products. It operates in three segments: steel mills, steel products, and raw materials. The Steel Mills segment produces hot-rolled, cold-rolled, and galvanized sheet steel products; plate steel products; wide-flange beams, beam blanks, and H-piling and sheet piling structural steel products; bar steel products, such as blooms, billets, concrete reinforcing and merchant bars, and engineered special bar quality products; and engages in the steel trading and rebar distribution businesses.