Nucor Reports Results for First Nine Months and Third Quarter of 2001

CHARLOTTE, N.C., Oct. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- Nucor Corporation (NYSE: NUE) today issued the following earnings report:

Consolidated sales for the first nine months of 2001 decreased 12% to $3,160,000,000, compared with $3,577,000,000 in the first nine months of 2000, primarily due to an 18% decrease in composite sales price per ton. Nucor's consolidated net earnings for the current year's first nine months were $86,000,000 ($1.11 per share), compared with $231,000,000 ($2.78 per share) in the first nine months of 2000.

In the third quarter of 2001, Nucor's consolidated sales decreased 9% to $1,053,000,000, compared with $1,163,000,000 in last year's third quarter, primarily due to a 16% decrease in composite sales price per ton. Net earnings for this year's third quarter were $20,000,000 ($.26 per share), compared with $68,000,000 ($.85 per share) in the third quarter of 2000.

Pre-operating and start-up costs of new facilities increased to $66,800,000 in the first nine months of 2001, compared with $30,000,000 in the first nine months of 2000. For the third quarter of 2001, pre-operating and start-up costs increased to $26,800,000, compared with $13,400,000 in the third quarter of 2000.

Nucor established new third quarter and nine-month tonnage records for steel production, total steel shipments and steel shipments to outside customers in 2001. In the first nine months of 2001, steel production was 9,313,000 tons, compared with 8,646,000 tons produced in the first nine months of 2000. Total steel shipments were 9,252,000 tons in the first nine months of 2001, compared with 8,509,000 tons a year earlier. Steel sales to outside customers were 8,347,000 tons in the first nine months of 2001, compared with 7,555,000 tons in 2000's first nine months. Steel joist production during the first nine months was 404,000 tons, compared with 459,000 tons a year earlier. Steel deck sales were 260,000 tons, compared with 262,000 tons in 2000's first nine months. Cold finished steel sales were 161,000 tons, compared with 198,000 tons in the first nine months of 2000. Construction is nearly complete and start-up has begun at the Vulcraft facility in Chemung, New York. Construction continues on Nucor's new facility using the Castrip(TM) technology in Crawfordsville, Indiana. Start-up of this facility to cast steel strip is expected to be late in the first quarter or early in the second quarter of 2002.

Nucor is the largest recycler in the United States. Nucor and affiliates are manufacturers of steel products, with operating facilities in nine states. Products produced are: carbon and alloy steel -- in bars, beams, sheet and plate; steel joists and joist girders; steel deck; cold finished steel; steel fasteners; and metal building systems.

    Unaudited figures are as follows:


                                     Nine Months (39 Weeks)
                                              Ended
                                 Sept. 29, 2001   Sept. 30, 2000

    NET SALES                    $3,159,680,631   $3,576,668,220
    COSTS AND EXPENSES:
     Cost of products sold        2,900,511,722    3,077,555,191
     Marketing, administrative
      and other expenses            121,795,461      141,458,570
    Interest expense (income)         4,378,332         (633,551)
                                  3,026,685,515    3,218,380,210
    EARNINGS BEFORE
     FEDERAL INCOME TAXES           132,995,116      358,288,010
     Federal income taxes            46,500,000      127,200,000
      NET EARNINGS                  $86,495,116     $231,088,010
    NET EARNINGS PER SHARE                $1.11            $2.78
    Average shares outstanding       77,679,151       83,149,261


                                    Three Months (13 Weeks)
                                              Ended
                                 Sept. 29, 2001  Sept. 30, 2000

    NET SALES                    $1,053,088,039   $1,163,088,140
    COSTS AND EXPENSES:
     Cost of products sold          978,176,197    1,008,734,266
     Marketing, administrative
      and other expenses             41,575,307       47,950,645
    Interest expense (income)         1,973,258        1,208,757
                                  1,021,724,762    1,057,893,668
    EARNINGS BEFORE
     FEDERAL INCOME TAXES            31,363,277      105,194,472
     Federal income taxes            10,900,000       37,400,000
      NET EARNINGS                  $20,463,277      $67,794,472
    NET EARNINGS PER SHARE                $0.26            $0.85
    Average shares outstanding       77,774,788       79,686,001


                    MAKE YOUR OPINION COUNT -  Click Here
              http://tbutton.prnewswire.com/prn/11690X29408174

SOURCE Nucor Corporation
Web site: http: //www.nucor.com
CONTACT: Nucor Corporation, +1-704-366-7000, or fax, +1-704-362-4208