Generali Asset Management SPA SGR Acquires Stake in Nucor Co.

Generali Asset Management SPA SGR has made a notable investment by purchasing a new stake in Nucor Co. (NYSE:NUE) during the fourth quarter, as indicated in its recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm acquired a total of 15,945 shares of Nucor, which amounts to an investment valued at approximately $1,861,000.

Other Institutional Investments

In addition to Generali, several other hedge funds and institutional investors have also engaged in trading Nucor shares. For instance, Crews Bank & Trust identified a new stake in Nucor worth $29,000 during the fourth quarter. Similarly, New Wave Wealth Advisors LLC purchased a new stake valued at $33,000. Moreover, Versant Capital Management Inc boosted its stake in Nucor by 60.3% in the same period, now holding 303 shares valued at $35,000 after acquiring an additional 114 shares. Furthermore, Beacon Capital Management LLC increased its stake by 29.1%, owning 417 shares worth $49,000 after adding 94 shares. Lastly, Bank of Jackson Hole Trust secured a new position in Nucor valued at $53,000.

Current Stock Performance

As of Friday, Nucor's stock opened at $129.42. The company's financials reveal a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.27, a current ratio of 2.51, and a quick ratio of 1.48. The total market capitalization stands at $29.84 billion, with a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.39 and a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.96. The stock has seen a significant fluctuation, with a 12-month low of $112.25 and a high of $203.00.

Earnings Report Overview

Nucor recently released its quarterly earnings results, reporting an EPS of $1.22, which exceeded analyst expectations of $0.94 by $0.28. The company recorded a return on equity of 9.85% and a net margin of 6.60%. Comparatively, during the same period last year, Nucor had a considerably higher EPS of $3.16. Analysts now project that the company will achieve an EPS of 7.64 for the current fiscal year.

Dividend Announcement

In addition to its robust financial outlook, Nucor announced a forthcoming quarterly dividend. This dividend of $0.55 per share will be payable on May 12th to stockholders recorded on March 31st, translating to an annualized dividend of $2.20 and a dividend yield of 1.70%. The ex-dividend date is also set for March 31st. Currently, Nucor's payout ratio stands at 26.16%.

Analyst Ratings and Forecasts

Recently, several research analysts have shared their outlook on Nucor stock. Jefferies Financial Group raised their price target from $125.00 to $135.00, designating a "hold" rating. Citigroup reduced their target from $240.00 to $160.00 but maintained a "buy" rating. Similarly, Argus set a price target of $155.00. The Goldman Sachs Group began coverage on Nucor with a "buy" rating and a target price of $190.00. Morgan Stanley also increased their target price from $154.00 to $167.00 while rating the stock as "overweight." A total of four analysts have given hold ratings, five rated it as a buy, and one as a strong buy. Data indicates a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" for Nucor, with an average target price of $164.33.

About Nucor

Nucor Corporation specializes in the manufacture and sale of steel and steel products, operating in three main segments: steel mills, steel products, and raw materials. The Steel Mills segment is involved in the production of hot-rolled, cold-rolled, and galvanized sheet steel products, along with various beams and bar steel products.

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