Caterpillar Inc vs Nucor Corporation — how do they compare? Caterpillar Inc trades at $938.91 (market cap $429.89B), while Nucor Corporation trades at $234.51 (market cap $53.33B). The key difference: Caterpillar Inc is far larger — about 8.1× Nucor Corporation's market cap, and Nucor Corporation pays the higher dividend (0.96%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| CAT | NUE | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $429.89B | $53.33B |
Sector | Industrials | Basic Materials |
52-Week High | $1.06K | $266.35 |
52-Week Low | $404.64 | $131.78 |
Enterprise Value | $468.88B | $57.97B |
Dividend Yield | 0.7% | 0.96% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
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Nucor (NUE) trades at $233.00, up 2.48% over the past day, supported by a bullish technical signal and strong earnings beats in recent quarters. The stock benefits from a solid balance sheet with a debt-to-asset ratio of 20.23% (2025 company filing) and a 53-year dividend growth streak. Revenue for 2025 was $32.49 billion, with net income of $1.74 billion, though margins have compressed from peak levels. Recent news highlights a joint venture to address power infrastructure bottlenecks and positive analyst sentiment.
Outlook remains positive with a consensus price target of $262.89 (analyst reports July 2026), implying ~13% upside. Key opportunities include steel price strength and strategic expansions, but risks involve cyclical demand weakness and margin pressure. Institutional ownership trends and buy ratings (62.5% of analysts) support a constructive view, though investors should monitor Q2 2026 earnings for confirmation of guidance.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Latest headlines on both assets
Caterpillar Inc. designs, manufactures, and markets construction, mining, and forestry machinery. The Company also manufactures engines and other related parts for its equipment, and offers financing and insurance. Caterpillar distributes its products through a worldwide organization of dealers.
Read more on CAT →Nucor Corp manufactures steel and steel products. The company also produces direct reduced iron for use in its steel mills. The operations include international trading and sales companies that buy and sell steel and steel products manufactured by the company and others. The operating business segments are: steel mills, steel products and raw materials, the steel mills segment derives maximum revenue.
Read more on NUE →