SXC vs NUE

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

7% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -5. 1% for SunCoke Energy, Inc. (SXC). Nucor Corporation (NUE) offers the better valuation at 30. 1x trailing P/E (16. 2x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate SunCoke Energy, Inc. (SXC) a "Buy" — based on 17 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, Nucor Corporation is actually cheaper at 16.

2x.

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

0%, compared to +19. 8% for SunCoke Energy, Inc. (SXC). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: NUE returned +426. 7% versus SXC's +68. 0%. 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), SunCoke Energy, Inc.

(SXC) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 91β versus Nucor Corporation's 1. 03β — meaning NUE is approximately 14% more volatile than SXC relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Nucor Corporation (NUE) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 32% versus 109% for SunCoke Energy, 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 -5. 1% for SunCoke Energy, Inc. (SXC). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Nucor Corporation grew EPS -11. 1% year-over-year, compared to -146. 4% for SunCoke Energy, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, SXC leads at -2. 3% 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 -2. 4% for SunCoke Energy, 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 3. 5% for SXC. 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.

On forward earnings alone, Nucor Corporation (NUE) trades at 16.

2x forward P/E versus 20. 1x for SunCoke Energy, Inc. — 3. 9x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for SXC: 23. 0% to $9. 00.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

SunCoke Energy, Inc. (SXC) offers the highest yield at 6. 6%, versus 1. 0% 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), 1. 0% yield, +426. 7% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (NUE: +426. 7%, SXC: +68. 0%), 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 (SXC (Energy) 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: SXC is a small-cap income-oriented 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.