Nucor (NYSE: NUE) reported earnings on Jan. 26. Here are the numbers you need to know.

The 10-second takeaway
For the quarter ended Dec. 31 (Q4), Nucor beat slightly on revenues and beat expectations on earnings per share.

Compared to the prior-year quarter, revenue improved significantly, and earnings per share expanded.

Margins expanded across the board.

Revenue details
Nucor logged revenue of $4.83 billion. The 13 analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ predicted revenue of $4.77 billion. Sales were 25% higher than the prior-year quarter's $3.85 billion.

Source: S&P Capital IQ. Quarterly periods. Dollar amounts in millions.

EPS details
Non-GAAP EPS came in at $0.37. The 16 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ predicted $0.27 per share on the same basis. GAAP EPS were $0.43 for Q4 compared to -$0.04 per share for the prior-year quarter.

Source: S&P Capital IQ. Quarterly periods. Figures may be non-GAAP to maintain comparability with estimates.

Margin details
For the quarter, gross margin was 7.6%, 420 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 5.4%, 460 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 2.8%, 310 basis points better than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $5.18 billion. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.69.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $20.96 billion. The average EPS estimate is $3.14.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a five-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 2,150 members out of 2,231 rating the stock outperform, and 81 members rating it underperform. Among 646 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 631 give Nucor a green thumbs-up, and 15 give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Nucor is outperform, with an average price target of $44.92.

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