Lockheed Martin Corporation vs Nucor Corporation — how do they compare? Lockheed Martin Corporation trades at $596.59 (market cap $139.20B), while Nucor Corporation trades at $273.88 (market cap $62.54B). The key difference: Lockheed Martin Corporation is far larger — about 2.2× Nucor Corporation's market cap, and Lockheed Martin Corporation pays the higher dividend (2.29%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| LMT | NUE | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $139.20B | $62.54B |
Sector | Industrials | Basic Materials |
52-Week High | $676.70 | $274.74 |
52-Week Low | $431.56 | $131.78 |
Enterprise Value | $155.95B | $66.95B |
Dividend Yield | 2.29% | 0.82% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Lockheed Martin (LMT) trades at $587.95, up 0.9% with bullish technical signals and strong institutional support. The company reported mixed Q2 2026 earnings with a beat on EPS ($7.94 vs. $7.22 expected) but maintains a record $230B backlog. Valuation metrics show a P/E of 21.68 and ROE of 89.16%, though recent quarters saw earnings misses. Technical indicators suggest bullish momentum with key resistance at $592.
Outlook remains positive driven by defense contract wins and production expansion, but risks include execution on massive backlog and debt levels. Analyst consensus is bullish with $608 price target representing 3.4% upside. The stock offers stability through dividends ($3.45 quarterly) amid geopolitical demand for defense systems.
Nucor (NUE) trades at $272.63, up 0.23% on the day, with a bullish technical outlook supported by moving averages and strong resistance near $280. Recent Q2 2026 earnings beat expectations with EPS of $4.84 versus $4.46, driven by record steel shipments and higher prices. Revenue trends show recovery from 2024 lows, with 2026 projections at $36.1B. The stock is near its consensus price target of $279.63, with analyst sentiment leaning bullish (59% buy ratings).
Outlook: Nucor benefits from resilient steel demand and operational efficiency, but faces risks from tariff policies and cyclical industry pressures. The current P/E of 21.76 is reasonable given earnings growth, though net margins have compressed from 2022 peaks. Investors should monitor Q3 2026 results against the $5.72 EPS estimate for continued momentum.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Latest headlines on both assets
Lockheed Martin is the largest defense contractor globally and has dominated the Western market for high-end fighter aircraft since the F-35 program was awarded in 2001. Lockheed's largest segment is aeronautics, which is dominated by the massive F-35 program. Lockheed's remaining segments are rotary and mission systems, which is mainly the Sikorsky helicopter business.
Read more on LMT →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 →