NucorMEX:NUE 81 Operating Margin % is 11.83% as of Mar. 2026, which is 25% above its 10-year median of 9.49. GuruFocus rates MEX:NUE with a GF Score™ of 81/100 and a GF Value™ of MXN2,857.55 (Significantly Overvalued). The stock has 10 warning signs investors should review. Among 616 Steel companies, Nucor ranks better than 83.44% on this metric.
Operating Margin % is calculated as Operating Income divided by its Revenue. Nucor's Operating Income for the
three
months ended in Mar. 2026 was MXN20,251 Mil. Nucor's Revenue for the
three
months ended in Mar. 2026 was MXN171,239 Mil. Therefore, Nucor's Operating Margin % for the quarter that ended in Mar. 2026 was 11.83%.
Warning Sign:
Nucor Corp operating margin has been in a 5-year decline. The average rate of decline per year is -8.6%.
The historical rank and industry rank for Nucor's Operating Margin % or its related term are showing as below:
MEX:NUE'
s Operating Margin % Range Over the Past 10 Years
Min: 8.01 Med: 9.49 Max: 25.54
Current: 10.12
MEX:NUE's Operating Margin % is ranked better than 83.44% of 616
companies
in the Steel industry
Industry Median: 3
vs MEX:NUE: 10.12
Nucor's 5-Year Average Operating Margin % Growth Rate was -8.60% per year.
Nucor's Operating Income for the
three
months ended in Mar. 2026 was MXN20,251 Mil.
Its Operating Income for the trailing twelve months (TTM) ended in Mar. 2026 was MXN63,351 Mil.
Nucor (MEX:NUE) Operating Margin % Explanation
Just like Gross Margin %, it is important to see a company maintains its operating margin over time. Among the same industry, a company with higher operating margin is more efficient in its operation. It is also more stable during industry slowdown or recessions. Peter Lynch prefers those with higher margins than those with lower margins.
Be Aware
Operating Margin % can be manipulated by adjusting the rate of depreciation, depletion and amortization (DDA).
If a company is facing competition, its Operating Margin % may decline. Often the Operating Margin % declines well before the company's Revenue or even profit decline. Therefore, Operating Margin % is a very important indicator of whether the company is facing problems.
For instance, by 2012, Nokia (NOK)'s problems were well known and its stock had lost more than 90% of its market value since 2007. But Nokias Operating Margin % had already been in decline since 2002, although its Earnings per Share (Diluted) were still rising. Investors who paid attention to Operating Margin % would have avoided this huge loss. The same can be said for Research-in-Motion (RIMM).
Therefore, Operating Margin % is a very important screening filter for GuruFocus. GuruFocus's Buffett-Munger screener requires that the profit margin is either consistent or expanding. The Model Portfolio of the Buffett-Munger screener has outperformed the market every year since inception in 2009.
Nucor Operating Margin % Related Terms
Nucor Operating Margin % Historical Data
* Premium members only.
The historical data trend for Nucor's Operating Margin % can be seen below:
* For Operating Data section: All numbers are indicated by the unit behind each term and all currency related amount are in USD. * For other sections: All numbers are in millions except for per share data, ratio, and percentage. All currency related amount are indicated in the company's associated stock exchange currency.
MEX:NUE vs STLD, RS, TX: Operating Margin % Comparison
For the Steel subindustry, Nucor's Operating Margin %, along with its competitors' market caps and Operating Margin % data, can be viewed below:
* Competitive companies are chosen from companies within the same industry, with headquarter located in same country, with closest market capitalization; x-axis shows the market cap, and y-axis shows the term value; the bigger the dot, the larger the market cap. Note that "N/A" values will not show up in the chart.
Nucor Operating Margin % vs Steel Industry
For the Steel industry and Basic Materials sector, Nucor's Operating Margin % distribution charts can be found below:
* The bar in red indicates where Nucor's Operating Margin % falls into.
Operating Margin % - also known as operating income margin, operating profit margin and return on sales (ROS) - is the ratio of Operating Income divided by net sales or Revenue, usually presented in percent.
Nucor's Operating Margin % for the fiscal year that ended in Dec. 2025 is calculated as
* For Operating Data section: All numbers are indicated by the unit behind each term and all currency related amount are in USD. * For other sections: All numbers are in millions except for per share data, ratio, and percentage. All currency related amount are indicated in the company's associated stock exchange currency.
Nucor (MEX:NUE) has a Operating Margin % of 11.83% as of Mar. 2026. Operating margin is the ratio of total operating income to net sales. View historical data on Nucor and its competitors. This is 25% above median its historical median of 9.49. Over the past decade, Nucor's Operating Margin % has ranged from 8.01 to 25.54. According to the industry distribution chart, Nucor ranks #102 out of 616 companies in the Steel industry, placing it in the top 16.6%.
Is Nucor's Operating Margin % too high?
Nucor's current Operating Margin % of 11.83% is 25% above median its 10-year median of 9.49. Over the past 10 years, this metric has ranged from a low of 8.01 to a high of 25.54. The Steel industry median Operating Margin % is 3.00. Nucor's value of 11.83% is 294.3% above this industry median. Based on the distribution chart, Nucor ranks #102 out of 616 companies in the Steel industry, which is in the top quartile — a strong position relative to peers. Overall, Nucor has a GF Score™ of 81/100 and is considered Significantly Overvalued, reflecting its overall financial health beyond just this single metric.
How does Nucor's Operating Margin % compare to STLD and RS?
According to the Steel industry distribution chart, Nucor ranks #102 out of 616 companies for Operating Margin %. This places Nucor in the top 17% of its industry — outperforming the majority of peers. The industry median Operating Margin % is 3.00. Nucor's value of 11.83% is 294.3% above this benchmark. Historically, Nucor's own Operating Margin % has ranged from 8.01 to 25.54 over the past decade. While the company's 10-year median is 9.49 vs. the industry median of 3.00, Nucor has consistently been above the industry average. See the competitive comparison table and distribution chart on this page for a detailed peer-by-peer breakdown.
What is a good Operating Margin % for a Steel company?
The median Operating Margin % among Steel companies is 3.00, based on 616 companies in the industry. Companies in the top quartile (top 25%) have a Operating Margin % significantly above this median, while those in the bottom quartile fall well below. However, Operating Margin % should not be evaluated in isolation — investors should consider it alongside profitability, growth, and financial strength metrics. Nucor's current Operating Margin % of 11.83% is 294.3% above the industry median. Use the industry distribution chart on this page to see where any company falls relative to its peers.
What does a high Operating Margin % mean?
A high Operating Margin % can signal that a stock is expensive relative to its fundamentals. Operating margin is the ratio of total operating income to net sales. View historical data on Nucor and its competitors. For the Steel industry, the median Operating Margin % is 3.00 — values significantly above this may indicate overvaluation, while values below may suggest a bargain or underlying issues. Nucor's current Operating Margin % is 11.83%, which is 25% above median its own 10-year median of 9.49. However, context matters — high-growth companies often justify higher valuations. Always evaluate alongside other metrics like GF Score™ and GF Value™.
Is Nucor stock overvalued right now?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Nucor (MEX:NUE) is currently considered Significantly Overvalued. The stock's GF Value™ is MXN2,857.55, compared to a current price of MXN4,005.00 — trading 40.2% above its estimated fair value. The current Operating Margin % is 11.83%, which is 25% above median its 10-year median of 9.49 and 294.3% above the Steel industry median of 3.00. Nucor's overall GF Score™ is 81/100 with 10 warning signs to review. Investors should evaluate multiple metrics — including profitability, growth, and financial strength — before making a decision.
How is Operating Margin % calculated?
Operating Margin % is calculated from a company's financial statements. For Nucor (MEX:NUE), the current Operating Margin % is 11.83% as of Mar. 2026. GuruFocus calculates this using data sourced from SEC filings and annual reports. See the calculation section and 30-year financial data on this page for the full breakdown.
Is Nucor (MEX:NUE) Overvalued in 2026?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Nucor stock appears to be overvalued.
The current stock price of MXN4,005.00 is trading 40.2% above its estimated GF Value™ of MXN2,857.55.
GuruFocus considers Nucor to be Significantly Overvalued.
Key valuation signals for MEX:NUE:
Operating Margin %: 11.83% (25% above median its 10-year median of 9.49)
GF Value™: MXN2,857.55 vs. price of MXN4,005.00 (40.2% above fair value)
Industry Position: 294.3% above the Steel median (#102 of 616)
No single metric tells the full story. See the MEX:NUE stock analysis page for a complete view including 30-year financials, guru trades, and insider activity.
Nucor Corp manufactures steel and steel products. The company's reportable segments are steel mills, steel products, and raw materials. The majority of its revenue is derived from the steel mills segment, which is engaged in producing sheet steel (hot-rolled, cold-rolled, and galvanized), plate steel, structural steel (wide-flange beams, beam blanks, H-piling, and sheet piling), and bar steel products. Nucor manufactures steel principally from scrap steel and scrap steel substitutes using electric arc furnaces (EAFs), along with continuous casting and automated rolling mills. The steel mills segment sells its products mainly to steel service centers, fabricators, and manufacturers located in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
81GF Score
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