Based on the aggregated intelligence of 115,000-plus investors participating in Motley Fool CAPS, the Fool's free investing community, steel maker Nucor (NYSE:NUE) has earned a coveted five-star ranking. Our data has shown that five-star stocks outperform the market by a significant margin; conversely, one-star stocks have woefully lagged the market average.

With that in mind, let's take a closer look at Nucor's business, and see what CAPS investors are saying about the stock right now.

Nucor facts

Headquarters (Founded)

Charlotte, North Carolina (1940)

Market Cap

$14.01 billion

Industry

Steel

TTM Revenue

$20.72 billion

Management

CEO Daniel DiMicco (since 2000)

CFO Terry Lisenby (since 2000)

Return on Equity (average last three years)

31.5%

Close Competitors

United States Steel (NYSE:X)
Steel Dynamics (NASDAQ:STLD)

CAPS members bullish on NUE also bullish on

Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold (NYSE:FCX)
Chesapeake Energy (NYSE:CHK)

CAPS members bearish on NUE also bearish on

AK Steel (NYSE:AKS)
ArcelorMittal (NYSE:MT)

Sources: Capital IQ, a division of Standard & Poor's, and Motley Fool CAPS. TTM = trailing 12 months.

Over on CAPS, fully 213 of the 225 All-Star members who have rated Nucor -- some 95% -- believe the stock will outperform the S&P 500 going forward. These All-Star bulls include lemma and MBLacey, both of whom are ranked in the top 10% of our community.

In March, lemma kept it concise for our community: "well-run steel company, low p/e, consistent dividend increases. It's a pretty simple investing thesis, but then why get all complicated?"

A more recent (and detailed) pitch from MBLacey in late July shares that bullish sentiment, writing:

Nucor is the low-cost provider of steel in many areas. It is the only US steel producer that has consistently remained profitable through good times and bad, has an employee friendly management, as well as a shareholder friendly one. The firm emphasizes technological innovation, does not make stupid acquisitions and keeps a healthy balance sheet. Steel is cyclical, but Nucor has been able to mute the cycles by remaining smart, expanding into scrap metal supply (muting input costs). In good times, Nucor has returned cash to shareholders in the form of special dividends, and has continued to raise its regular dividend each year for 35 years.

What do you think about Nucor, or any other stock for that matter? Make your voice heard on Motley Fool CAPS today. More than 115,000 investors are waiting to hear what you have to say. CAPS is 100% free, so why not get started?