PKX
POSCO Holdings Inc.
Steel
Market Cap$103.23B
5Y Perf.+131.2%
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Stock Comparison
PKX vs NUE
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
NUE
Nucor Corporation
Steel
Market Cap$52.86B
5Y Perf.+449.1%
PKX vs NUE — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | PKX | NUE |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Steel | Steel |
| Market Cap | $103.23B | $52.86B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $52.26T | $34.16B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $883.00B | $2.33B |
| Gross Margin | 7.9% | 14.0% |
| Operating Margin | 3.8% | 10.0% |
| Forward P/E | 0.0x | 16.5x |
| Total Debt | $28.53T | $7.12B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $7.05T | $2.26B |
PKX vs NUE — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
PKX
NUE
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| POSCO Holdings Inc. (PKX) | 100 | 231.2 | +131.2% |
| Nucor Corporation (NUE) | 100 | 549.1 | +449.1% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: PKX vs NUE
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: NUE leads in 5 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for growth and revenue expansion and profitability and margin quality. POSCO Holdings Inc. is the stronger pick specifically for valuation and capital efficiency and capital preservation and lower volatility. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
PKX
POSCO Holdings Inc.
The Defensive Pick
PKX is the clearest fit if your priority is sleep-well-at-night.
- Lower volatility, beta 0.99, Low D/E 45.7%, current ratio 1.89x
- Lower P/E (0.0x vs 16.5x)
- Beta 0.99 vs NUE's 1.03
Best for: sleep-well-at-night
NUE
Nucor Corporation
The Income Pick
NUE carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and growth exposure.
- Dividend streak 15 yrs, beta 1.03, yield 1.0%
- Rev growth 5.7%, EPS growth -11.1%, 3Y rev CAGR -7.8%
- 416.3% 10Y total return vs PKX's 127.1%
Best for: income & stability and growth exposure
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | NUE | 5.7% revenue growth vs PKX's -5.1% |
| Value | PKX | Lower P/E (0.0x vs 16.5x) |
| Quality / Margins | NUE | 6.8% margin vs PKX's 1.7% |
| Stability / Safety | PKX | Beta 0.99 vs NUE's 1.03 |
| Dividends | NUE | 1.0% yield, 15-year raise streak, vs PKX's 0.6% |
| Momentum (1Y) | NUE | +94.4% vs PKX's +87.2% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | NUE | 6.7% ROA vs PKX's 0.9%, ROIC 7.7% vs 1.7% |
PKX vs NUE — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2024
FY 2025
PKX vs NUE — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLNUELAGGINGPKX
PKXPOSCO Holdings Inc.
1leads
NUENucor Corporation
5leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs PKXMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
NUE6/6
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
NUE4/5
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
NUE9/9
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
NUE5/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
PKX2/2
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
NUE2/2
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
NUE leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
PKX is the larger business by revenue, generating $52.26T annually — 1530.0x NUE's $34.2B. NUE is the more profitable business, keeping 6.8% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to PKX's 1.7%. On growth, NUE holds the edge at +21.3% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | PKXPOSCO Holdings In… | NUENucor Corporation |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $52.26T | $34.2B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $5.07T | $4.9B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $883.0B | $2.3B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | -$1.47T | $532M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +7.9% | +14.0% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +3.8% | +10.0% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +1.7% | +6.8% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | -2.8% | +1.6% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -99.9% | +21.3% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +100.0% | +3.8% |
NUE leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
NUE leads this category, winning 4 of 5 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 30.9x trailing earnings, NUE trades at a 88% valuation discount to PKX's 247.8x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, NUE's 13.9x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than PKX's 28.8x.
| Metric | PKXPOSCO Holdings In… | NUENucor Corporation |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $103.2B | $52.9B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $117.8B | $57.7B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 247.79x | 30.86x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 0.01x | 16.54x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 1.18x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 28.84x | 13.95x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 2.21x | 1.63x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 2.61x | 2.42x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | — | — |
NUE leads this category, winning 4 of 5 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
NUE leads this category, winning 9 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
NUE delivers a 10.6% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $11 in annual profit, vs $1 for PKX. NUE carries lower financial leverage with a 0.32x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to PKX's 0.46x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), NUE scores 7/9 vs PKX's 4/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | PKXPOSCO Holdings In… | NUENucor Corporation |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +1.4% | +10.6% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +0.9% | +6.7% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +1.7% | +7.7% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +2.3% | +8.9% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 4 | 7 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.46x | 0.32x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $21.48T | $4.9B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $7.05T | $2.3B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $28.53T | $7.1B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 2.39x | 29.72x |
NUE leads this category, winning 9 of 9 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
NUE leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in NUE five years ago would be worth $26,112 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $11,186 for PKX. Over the past 12 months, NUE leads with a +94.4% total return vs PKX's +87.2%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors NUE at 18.8% vs PKX's 7.6% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | PKXPOSCO Holdings In… | NUENucor Corporation |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +60.2% | +37.3% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +87.2% | +94.4% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +24.5% | +67.6% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +11.9% | +161.1% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +127.1% | +416.3% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +7.6% | +18.8% |
NUE leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
PKX leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
PKX is the less volatile stock with a 0.99 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than NUE's 1.03 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500.
| Metric | PKXPOSCO Holdings In… | NUENucor Corporation |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.99x | 1.03x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $85.55 | $233.63 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $42.35 | $106.21 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +99.7% | +99.3% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 82.3 | 82.7 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 198K | 1.4M |
PKX leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
NUE leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates PKX as "Buy" and NUE as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply -4.0% upside for NUE (target: $223) vs -9.8% for PKX (target: $77). For income investors, NUE offers the higher dividend yield at 0.96% vs PKX's 0.56%.
| Metric | PKXPOSCO Holdings In… | NUENucor Corporation |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $77.00 | $222.83 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 9 | 32 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +0.6% | +1.0% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 0 | 15 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $706.77 | $2.22 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | +1.3% |
NUE leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Key Takeaway
NUE leads in 5 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Valuation Metrics). PKX leads in 1 (Risk & Volatility).
Best OverallNucor Corporation (NUE)Leads 5 of 6 categories
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PKX vs NUE: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is PKX or NUE a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Nucor Corporation (NUE) is the stronger pick with 5.
7% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -5. 1% for POSCO Holdings Inc. (PKX). Nucor Corporation (NUE) offers the better valuation at 30. 9x trailing P/E (16. 5x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate POSCO Holdings Inc. (PKX) a "Buy" — based on 9 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.
02Which has the better valuation — PKX or NUE?
On trailing P/E, Nucor Corporation (NUE) is the cheapest at 30.
9x versus POSCO Holdings Inc. at 247. 8x. On forward P/E, POSCO Holdings Inc. is actually cheaper at 0. 0x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.
03Which is the better long-term investment — PKX or NUE?
Over the past 5 years, Nucor Corporation (NUE) delivered a total return of +161.
1%, compared to +11. 9% for POSCO Holdings Inc. (PKX). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: NUE returned +416. 3% versus PKX's +127. 1%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
04Which is safer — PKX or NUE?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), POSCO Holdings Inc.
(PKX) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 99β versus Nucor Corporation's 1. 03β — meaning NUE is approximately 5% more volatile than PKX relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Nucor Corporation (NUE) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 32% versus 46% for POSCO Holdings Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — PKX or NUE?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Nucor Corporation (NUE) is pulling ahead at 5.
7% versus -5. 1% for POSCO Holdings Inc. (PKX). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Nucor Corporation grew EPS -11. 1% year-over-year, compared to -83. 4% for POSCO Holdings Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, PKX leads at -6. 6% 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.
06Which has better profit margins — PKX or NUE?
Nucor Corporation (NUE) is the more profitable company, earning 5.
4% net margin versus 1. 0% for POSCO Holdings Inc. — 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 2. 7% for PKX. 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.
07Is PKX or NUE more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, POSCO Holdings Inc.
(PKX) trades at 0. 0x forward P/E versus 16. 5x for Nucor Corporation — 16. 5x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for NUE: -4. 0% to $222. 83.
08Which pays a better dividend — PKX or NUE?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
Nucor Corporation (NUE) offers the highest yield at 1. 0%, versus 0. 6% for POSCO Holdings Inc. (PKX).
09Is PKX or NUE better for a retirement portfolio?
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), 1. 0% yield, +416. 3% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (NUE: +416. 3%, PKX: +127. 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.
10What are the main differences between PKX and NUE?
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.
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(PKX: -99.9% · NUE: 21.3%)P/E Ratio<
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