MTX vs NUE

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

7% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -2. 2% for Minerals Technologies Inc. (MTX). 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 Minerals Technologies Inc. (MTX) a "Buy" — based on 10 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 forward P/E, Minerals Technologies Inc.

is actually cheaper at 12. 8x — 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 -2. 0% for Minerals Technologies Inc. (MTX). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: NUE returned +416. 6% versus MTX's +38. 1%. 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), Minerals Technologies Inc.

(MTX) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 94β versus Nucor Corporation's 1. 03β — meaning NUE is approximately 9% more volatile than MTX relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Nucor Corporation (NUE) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 32% versus 60% for Minerals Technologies 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 -2. 2% for Minerals Technologies Inc. (MTX). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Nucor Corporation grew EPS -11. 1% year-over-year, compared to -111. 4% for Minerals Technologies Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, MTX leads at -0. 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 -0. 9% for Minerals Technologies Inc. — meaning it keeps 5. 4% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: MTX leads at 13. 9% versus 8. 2% for NUE. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — MTX leads at 24. 4%, 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, Minerals Technologies Inc.

(MTX) trades at 12. 8x forward P/E versus 16. 7x for Nucor Corporation — 3. 9x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for NUE: -4. 9% to $222. 83.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Nucor Corporation (NUE) offers the highest yield at 0. 9%, versus 0. 6% for Minerals Technologies Inc. (MTX).

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). Both have compounded well over 10 years (NUE: +416. 6%, MTX: +38. 1%), 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.