EAF vs NUE

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

7% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -6. 4% for GrafTech International Ltd. (EAF). Nucor Corporation (NUE) offers the better valuation at 30. 3x trailing P/E (15. 9x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Nucor Corporation (NUE) a "Buy" — based on 32 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.

Over the past 5 years, Nucor Corporation (NUE) delivered a total return of +134.

8%, compared to -91. 8% for GrafTech International Ltd. (EAF). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: NUE returned +428. 5% versus EAF's -83. 3%. 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.

01β versus GrafTech International Ltd. 's 1. 99β — meaning EAF is approximately 96% more volatile than NUE relative to the S&P 500.

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

7% versus -6. 4% for GrafTech International Ltd. (EAF). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Nucor Corporation grew EPS -11. 1% year-over-year, compared to -66. 7% for GrafTech International Ltd.. Over a 3-year CAGR, NUE leads at -7. 8% 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 -43. 6% for GrafTech International Ltd. — 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 -15. 3% for EAF. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — NUE leads at 11. 9%, 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.

Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for EAF: 7.

6% to $10. 00.

In this comparison, NUE (1.

0% yield) pays a dividend. EAF does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

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.

01), 1. 0% yield, +428. 5% 10Y return). GrafTech International Ltd. (EAF) carries a higher beta of 1. 99 — 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: +428. 5%, EAF: -83. 3%), 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.

These companies operate in different sectors (EAF (Industrials) and NUE (Basic Materials)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

NUE pays a dividend while EAF does not, making them suitable for different income and tax situations. 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.