CMC vs NUE

For growth investors, Nucor Corporation (NUE) is the stronger pick with 5.

7% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -1. 6% for Commercial Metals Company (CMC). Nucor Corporation (NUE) offers the better valuation at 31. 1x trailing P/E (16. 7x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Commercial Metals Company (CMC) a "Buy" — based on 26 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.

On trailing P/E, Nucor Corporation (NUE) is the cheapest at 31.

1x versus Commercial Metals Company at 97. 5x. On forward P/E, Commercial Metals Company is actually cheaper at 11. 0x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Nucor Corporation (NUE) delivered a total return of +155.

6%, compared to +134. 1% for Commercial Metals Company (CMC). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: NUE returned +416. 6% versus CMC's +345. 8%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Nucor Corporation (NUE) is the lower-risk stock at 1.

03β versus Commercial Metals Company's 1. 53β — meaning CMC is approximately 49% more volatile than NUE relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Nucor Corporation (NUE) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 32% versus 32% for Commercial Metals Company — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Nucor Corporation (NUE) is pulling ahead at 5.

7% versus -1. 6% for Commercial Metals Company (CMC). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Nucor Corporation grew EPS -11. 1% year-over-year, compared to -82. 1% for Commercial Metals Company. Over a 3-year CAGR, CMC leads at -4. 4% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.

Nucor Corporation (NUE) is the more profitable company, earning 5.

4% net margin versus 1. 1% for Commercial Metals Company — meaning it keeps 5. 4% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: NUE leads at 8. 2% versus 6. 7% for CMC. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — CMC leads at 15. 6%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.

On forward earnings alone, Commercial Metals Company (CMC) trades at 11.

0x forward P/E versus 16. 7x for Nucor Corporation — 5. 7x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for CMC: 14. 7% to $82. 75.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Commercial Metals Company (CMC) offers the highest yield at 1. 0%, versus 0. 9% for Nucor Corporation (NUE).

For long-horizon retirement investors, Nucor Corporation (NUE) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1.

03), 0. 9% yield, +416. 6% 10Y return). Commercial Metals Company (CMC) carries a higher beta of 1. 53 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (NUE: +416. 6%, CMC: +345. 8%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.

Both stocks operate in the Basic Materials sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.

These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.