GEF vs NUE

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

7% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -1. 0% for Greif, Inc. (GEF). Greif, Inc. (GEF) offers the better valuation at 4. 5x trailing P/E (17. 3x 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.

On trailing P/E, Greif, Inc.

(GEF) is the cheapest at 4. 5x versus Nucor Corporation at 30. 1x. On forward P/E, Nucor Corporation is actually cheaper at 16. 2x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Greif, Inc. wins at 0. 38x versus Nucor Corporation's 0. 62x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Nucor Corporation (NUE) delivered a total return of +140.

0%, compared to +19. 6% for Greif, Inc. (GEF). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: NUE returned +426. 7% versus GEF's +153. 7%. 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), Greif, Inc.

(GEF) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 65β versus Nucor Corporation's 1. 03β — meaning NUE is approximately 59% more volatile than GEF relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Nucor Corporation (NUE) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 32% versus 52% for Greif, Inc. — 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. 0% for Greif, Inc. (GEF). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Greif, Inc. grew EPS 223. 3% year-over-year, compared to -11. 1% for Nucor Corporation. 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.

Greif, Inc.

(GEF) is the more profitable company, earning 19. 6% net margin versus 5. 4% for Nucor Corporation — meaning it keeps 19. 6% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: NUE leads at 8. 2% versus 6. 9% for GEF. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — GEF leads at 22. 2%, 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.

The PEG ratio (forward P/E divided by expected earnings growth rate) is the most precise measure of undervaluation relative to growth potential.

By this metric, Greif, Inc. (GEF) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 38x versus Nucor Corporation's 0. 62x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Nucor Corporation (NUE) trades at 16. 2x forward P/E versus 17. 3x for Greif, Inc. — 1. 2x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for GEF: 10. 8% to $75. 33.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Greif, Inc. (GEF) offers the highest yield at 3. 1%, versus 1. 0% for Nucor Corporation (NUE).

For long-horizon retirement investors, Greif, Inc.

(GEF) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 65), 3. 1% yield, +153. 7% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (GEF: +153. 7%, NUE: +426. 7%), 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 (GEF (Consumer Cyclical) and NUE (Basic Materials)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: GEF is a small-cap deep-value stock; NUE is a mid-cap quality compounder stock. 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.