Nucor Announces 212th Dividend, New Buyback Program
What happened
Steel producer Nucor Corporation declared its 212th consecutive quarterly cash dividend of $0.56 per share. The dividend is payable on May 11, 2026, to stockholders of record on March 31, 2026. In addition to the dividend, the company's Board of Directors also authorized a new share repurchase program.
Why it matters
- Nucor has increased its base dividend for 53 consecutive years, classifying it as a "Dividend Aristocrat" and "Dividend King," a distinction held by S&P 500 companies with at least 25 years of consecutive dividend increases. - The new share repurchase program follows a previous $3 billion authorization from May 2021, which had replaced a $2 billion program from 2018. - In the full year 2025, Nucor returned approximately $1.2 billion to shareholders through a combination of share repurchases and dividend payments. - For the full year 2024, the company repurchased about 13.1 million shares and returned a total of approximately $2.74 billion to stockholders via buybacks and dividends. - The company's dividend payout ratio, the percentage of earnings paid to shareholders, is approximately 29-31%, suggesting earnings cover the dividend payments comfortably. - Nucor's full-year 2024 net earnings were $2.03 billion, a decrease from the $4.53 billion reported in 2023. - The company maintains the strongest credit ratings in the North American steel sector, with stable outlooks from Moody's (Baa1), Standard & Poor's (A-), and Fitch Ratings (A-). - As of the end of the fourth quarter of 2025, Nucor had $2.70 billion in cash and cash equivalents on hand and a $2.25 billion revolving credit facility that remains undrawn.
Key numbers
- Steel producer Nucor Corporation declared its 212th consecutive quarterly cash dividend of $0.56 per share.
- The dividend is payable on May 11, 2026, to stockholders of record on March 31, 2026.
- - Nucor has increased its base dividend for 53 consecutive years, classifying it as a "Dividend Aristocrat" and "Dividend King," a distinction held by S&P 500 companies with at least 25 years of consecutive dividend increases.
- The new share repurchase program follows a previous $3 billion authorization from May 2021, which had replaced a $2 billion program from 2018.
What happens next
- The new share repurchase program follows a previous $3 billion authorization from May 2021, which had replaced a $2 billion program from 2018.
- The dividend is payable on May 11, 2026, to stockholders of record on March 31, 2026.
Quick answers
What happened in Nucor Announces 212th Dividend, New Buyback Program?
Steel producer Nucor Corporation declared its 212th consecutive quarterly cash dividend of $0.56 per share. The dividend is payable on May 11, 2026, to stockholders of record on March 31, 2026. In addition to the dividend, the company's Board of Directors also authorized a new share repurchase program.
Why does Nucor Announces 212th Dividend, New Buyback Program matter?
Nucor has increased its base dividend for 53 consecutive years, classifying it as a "Dividend Aristocrat" and "Dividend King," a distinction held by S&P 500 companies with at least 25 years of consecutive dividend increases. The new share repurchase program follows a previous $3 billion authorization from May 2021, which had replaced a $2 billion program from 2018. In the full year 2025, Nucor returned approximately $1.2 billion to shareholders through a combination of share repurchases and dividend payments. For the full year 2024, the company repurchased about 13.1 million shares and returned a total of approximately $2.74 billion to stockholders via buybacks and dividends. The company's dividend payout ratio, the percentage of earnings paid to shareholders, is approximately 29-31%, suggesting earnings cover the dividend payments comfortably. Nucor's full-year 2024 net earnings were $2.03 billion, a decrease from the $4.53 billion reported in 2023. The company maintains the strongest credit ratings in the North American steel sector, with stable outlooks from Moody's (Baa1), Standard & Poor's (A-), and Fitch Ratings (A-). As of the end of the fourth quarter of 2025, Nucor had $2.70 billion in cash and cash equivalents on hand and a $2.25 billion revolving credit facility that remains undrawn.
