Nucor Corporation engages in manufacture and sale of steel and steel products. It operates in three segments: steel mills, steel products, and raw materials. The Steel Mills segment produces hot-rolled, cold-rolled, and galvanized sheet steel products; plate steel products; wide-flange beams, beam blanks, and H-piling and sheet piling structural steel products; bar steel products, such as blooms, billets, concrete reinforcing and merchant bars, and engineered special bar quality products; and engages in the steel trading and rebar distribution businesses. This segment sells its products to steel service centers, fabricators, and manufacturers in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The Steel Products segment offers steel joists and joist girders, steel decks, and galvanized torque tubes for used in solar arrays, hollow structural section steel tubing, electrical conduit, fabricated concrete reinforcing steel, cold finished steel, steel fasteners, steel grating and expanded metal, wire and wire mesh, metal building systems, insulated metal panels, steel racking, overhead doors, and utility towers and structures for communications and energy transmission. This segment is also involved in the piling distribution business. The Raw Materials segment produces direct reduced iron (DRI); brokers ferrous and nonferrous metals, pig iron, hot briquetted iron, and DRI; supplies ferro-alloys; processes ferrous and nonferrous scrap metal; and engages in the natural gas production and industrial gas business. This segment sells its ferrous scrap to electric arc furnace steel mills and foundries for manufacturing process; and nonferrous scrap metal to aluminum can producers, secondary aluminum smelters, steel mills and other processors, and consumers of various nonferrous metals. It markets its products through in-house sales force; and internal distribution and trading companies. Nucor Corporation was founded in 1905 and is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Nucor appears to be a financially solid company, but the market has already priced in a noticeably improved quality of the business. Revenue, EBITDA, operating profit, and net income have increased compared with earlier periods, confirming a recovery in the operating base and the company’s ability to generate profits in the cyclical materials sector. Liquidity is comfortable: a current ratio of 2.51 and a quick ratio of 1.36 are above industry benchmarks, while a debt/equity ratio of 0.28 indicates moderate leverage and a strong balance sheet cushion. At the same time, profitability remains a weak spot: gross margin, operating margin, and net profit margin are below the industry median, suggesting that pricing power and cost efficiency do not look best-in-class within the sector. ROA and return on tangible equity are above industry levels, while ROE and ROI are around the median or slightly weaker, meaning capital is being used reasonably well, but without a clear advantage over competitors. Valuation on P/S, P/B, and especially P/FCF looks elevated relative to the industry, which limits the potential for further re-rating. P/E is close to the median, so on its own it does not look excessive, but combined with expensive multiples on revenue, book value, and free cash flow, it makes the stock less attractive for aggressive upside. Dividend yield has declined from higher levels in prior periods, so the dividend case is weaker now than before. Growth in net worth, equity, and assets supports the investment profile, but the pace of improvement is already partly reflected in the share price. Overall, NUE’s fundamentals are strong, but not strong enough to justify a meaningful increase in the target; rather, a modest conservative downward adjustment seems appropriate due to the expensive valuation and mixed margin dynamics.

Nucor Corporation

Сильный индекс, без изменений. Быки в растерянности.

Strong index, flat. The bulls are confused.

Средний индекс, значительно вырос. Рынок на стороне быков.

Medium index, significantly up. The market is on the bulls' side.

Средний индекс, значительно упал. Отток средств из лонгов резко увеличился и находится на высоком уровне.

Medium index, significantly down. The outflow of funds from longs has increased sharply and is at a high level.

NUE has a strong balance sheet and profit growth, but expensive P/S, P/B, and P/FCF ratios, together with weak margins, limit revaluation potential.

(RTTNews) - Nucor Corp. (NUE) reported earnings for its third quarter that Increased, from last year
The company's earnings totaled $1.319 billion, or $5.80 per share. This compares with $607 million, or $2.63 per share, last year.
The company's revenue for the period rose 32.0% to $11.249 billion from $8.521 billion last year.
Nucor Corp. earnings at a glance (GAAP) :
-Earnings: $1.319 Bln. vs. $607 Mln. last year. -EPS: $5.80 vs. $2.63 last year. -Revenue: $11.249 Bln vs. $8.521 Bln last year.

Nucor Corp. Reports Advance In Q3 Bottom Line

The S&P 500 Index ($SPX) (SPY) closed down by -0.17% on Tuesday, the Dow Jones Industrial Average ($DOWI) (DIA) closed down by -0.26%, and the Nasdaq 100 Index ($IUXX) (QQQ) closed up +0.21%. December E-mini S&P futures (ESZ26) fell -0.15%, and December E-mini Nasdaq futures (NQZ26) rose +0.21%.
Stock indexes settled mixed on Tuesday. The broader market was under pressure Tuesday as soaring bond yields pushed the 10-year T-note yield to a new 19-year high of 5.29%. Weaker-than-expected US economic news also weighed on stocks after Aug JOLTS job openings fell to a 5-month low, and Sep consumer confidence tumbled to a 12-year low.
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However, stock losses were limited after a -3% plunge in WTI crude oil prices eased inflation risks and knocked bond yields from their highs. Strength in chipmakers on Tuesday also helped the overall market. In addition, dovish comments from New York Fed President Williams on Tuesday reduced the chance of a Fed rate hike next month to 52% from 70% when he said the Fed needs only one more rate hike to contain inflation.
The July S&P composite-20 home price index rose +0.3% m/m and +2.47% y/y, stronger than expectations of +0.2% m/m and +2.20% y/y, with the +2.47% y/y gain the largest year-on-year increase in 14 months.
US Aug JOLTS job openings fell -256,000 to a 5-month low of 7.079 million, weaker than expectations of 7.228 million.
The Conference Board US Sep consumer confidence index fell -6.7 to a 12-year low of 81.9, weaker than expectations of 89.0.
New York Fed President John Williams said, "If the economy evolves in a manner broadly consistent with my forecast, one further upward adjustment of the federal funds target range may be appropriate late this year to support a timelier return of inflation to target."
Nov WTI crude oil prices (CLX26) dropped more than -3% on Tuesday as signs of larger oil exports from Saudi Arabia are bearish for prices. Tracking data compiled by Bloomberg show Saudi Arabia's crude exports stood at 5.28 million bpd in September, the highest in seven months. Saudi Arabia also said it restored about 3.5 million bpd of the East-West Pipeline's 7 million bpd capacity on Monday after repairs restored the link damaged by drone strikes earlier this month.
Markets are discounting a 52% chance of a +25 bp Fed rate hike at the next FOMC meeting on October 27-28.
Overseas stock markets settled mixed on Tuesday. The Euro Stoxx 50 rose to a 2.5-week high and closed up +0.30%. China's Shanghai Composite closed up +0.18%. Japan's Nikkei-225 Stock Average closed down -0.60%.
Interest Rates
December 10-year T-notes (ZNZ6) closed down -2 ticks on Tuesday. The 10-year T-note yield rose +1.9 bp to 5.255%. Dec T-notes sank to a 19-year nearest-futures low on Tuesday, and the 10-year T-note yield climbed to a 19-year high of 5.291%. Supply pressures weighed on T-notes Tuesday after Paramount Skydance announced it was offering $32 billion of corporate debt in eight tranches, prompting bond dealers to short T-notes to hedge against the incoming supply.
Losses in T-notes were limited on Tuesday amid weaker-than-expected US economic news on Aug JOLTS job openings and Sep consumer confidence. T-notes recovered most of their losses on Tuesday after WTI crude oil prices fell more than 3%, easing inflation expectations. Also, dovish comments from New York Fed President John Williams supported T-notes when he said he sees only one more Fed rate hike needed to contain inflation.
European government bond yields moved lower on Tuesday. The 10-year German bund yield fell -1.7 bp to 3.626%. The 10-year UK gilt yield fell -1.2 bp to 5.410%.
The Eurozone Sep economic confidence indicator unexpectedly fell -0.5 to 97.9, weaker than expectations of an increase to 99.0.
Spain Sep CPI (EU harmonized) rose +5.0% y/y, stronger than expectations of +4.9% y/y and the largest increase in 3.5 years. Sep core CPI rose +3.1% y/y, stronger than expectations of +3.0% y/y.
Markets are discounting a 32% chance of a +25 bp ECB rate hike at the ECB’s next meeting on October 29.
US Stock Movers
Chipmakers and AI stocks moved higher on Tuesday, a supportive factor for the broader market. The iShares Semiconductor ETF (SOXX)climbed to a 2.5-month high and closed up more than +1%. Applied Materials (AMAT) closed up more than +5%, and Marvell Technology (MRVL) closed up more than +4%. Also, ARM Holdings Plc (ARM), KLA Corp (KLAC), and ASML Holding NV (ASML) closed up more than +3%. In addition, Lam Research (LRCX) closed up more than +2%, and Microchip Technology (MCHP), Micron Technology (MU), Broadcom (AVGO), and Texas Instruments (TXN) closed up more than +1%.
Cruise stocks rallied sharply on Tuesday, led by a +13% jump in Carnival (CCL) to lead gainers in the S&P 500 after boosting its full-year adjusted EPS estimate to $2.24 from a previous estimate of $2.22. Also, Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) closed up more than +7%, and Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings (NCLH) closed up more than +3%.
Fair Isaac (FICO) closed down more than -26% to lead credit reporting agencies lower and losers in the S&P 500 after FHA director Pulte announced a move that makes it easier for lenders to adopt VantageScore, a move that will increase competition that could pressure credit companies’ market share and pricing power. Also, Equifax (EFX) closed down more than -3%, and TransUnion (TRU) closed down more than -2%.
US steel makers fell on Tuesday after President Trump announced plans for a $15 billion Mesabi Metallics steel plant in Iowa that could produce 10 million tons of steel by 2030. Steel Dynamics (STLD), Nucor Corp (NUE), and Commercial Metals (CMC) closed down more than -3%, and Cleveland Cliffs (CLF) closed down more than -1%.
Summit Therapeutics (SMMT) closed up more than +6% after AstraZeneca said it would make a $2 billion strategic equity investment in the company to jointly develop drugs.
CarMax (KMX) closed up more than +4% after reporting Q2 net sales and operating revenue of $7.88 billion, well above the consensus of $7.05 billion.
FuelCell Energy (FCEL) closed up more than +4% after Oppenheimer & Co initiated coverage on the stock with a recommendation of outperform and a price target of $24.
Oracle (ORCL) closed up more than +3% after Axios reported that OpenAI’s annual recurring revenue is nearing $70 billion. OpenAI signed a deal with Oracle last year to support the development of five US data centers.
UniQure NV (QURE) closed down more than -37% after saying the benefits of its Huntington’s disease gene therapy drug AMT-130 were not as good after four years as they were after three years in a small trial, a result that could complicate its bid to get the treatment approved by regulators.
Apple (AAPL) closed down more than -2% to lead losers in the Dow Jones Industrials and Nasdaq 100 after Bank of America said Apple faces risks as the company’s Siri AI lacks the features that Meta Platform’s Muse AI agent has.
Earnings Reports (9/30/2026)
Cal-Maine Foods Inc (CALM), Conagra Brands Inc (CAG), FactSet Research Systems Inc (FDS), Jabil Inc (JBL), Micron Technology Inc (MU), Progress Software Corp (PRGS).
On the date of publication, Rich Asplund did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. For more information please view the Barchart Disclosure Policy here.

Stocks Settle Mixed as Bond Yields Rise

Looking at the universe of stocks we cover at Dividend Channel, on 9/30/26, Nucor Corp. (Symbol: NUE) will trade ex-dividend, for its quarterly dividend of $0.56, payable on 11/10/26. As a percentage of NUE's recent stock price of $241.88, this dividend works out to approximately 0.23%.
In general, dividends are not always predictable; but looking at the history above can help in judging whether the most recent dividend from NUE is likely to continue, and whether the current estimated yield of 0.93% on annualized basis is a reasonable expectation of annual yield going forward. The chart below shows the one year performance of NUE shares, versus its 200 day moving average:
Looking at the chart above, NUE's low point in its 52 week range is $131.32 per share, with $280.11 as the 52 week high point — that compares with a last trade of $244.77.
According to the ETF Finder at ETF Channel, NUE makes up 6.36% of the VanEck Steel ETF (Symbol: SLX) which is trading lower by about 1% on the day Monday. (see other ETFs holding NUE).
In Monday trading, Nucor Corp. shares are currently off about 2.2% on the day.
Click here to learn which 25 S.A.F.E. dividend stocks should be on your radar screen »
Further NUE Research:

Nucor About To Put More Money In Your Pocket (NUE)

Nucor Corporation’s NUE shares have gained 50.1% in the past six months. The company has also outperformed the Zacks Steel Producers industry’s 41% rise over the same time frame.
The gains partly reflect Nucor’s strong earnings in the second quarter on Steel Mills segment’s strength and an upbeat outlook for the third quarter. NUE is benefiting from healthy demand in key markets, actions to expand its production capabilities and higher steel prices.
Let’s take a look into the factors that are driving NUE stock.
Expansion Actions & Acquisitions Aid Nucor Stock
Nucor remains committed to boosting production capacity, which should drive profitable growth and strengthen its position as a low-cost producer. It is executing a series of growth projects to tap significant end-market demand. Nucor is seeing strong demand from non-residential construction & infrastructure, military & defense, and energy end markets and has a healthy order backlog. The company has already commissioned some of its growth projects with Gallatin and Brandenburg mills, showing strong production and shipment performance.
The construction of the 3,000,000 tons per annum (tpa) sheet mill with a low-cost profile in West Virginia, the company’s biggest ongoing project, is expected to be completed in late 2026 within production expected in 2027. The new 500,000 tpa galvanizing line at the Berkeley County sheet mill in South Carolina is also on track. Its third greenfield project in Utah is also on course for production commencement in 2027.
The company has been focusing on growth through strategic acquisitions over the past several years. The recent acquisition of Southwest Data Products expanded its growing portfolio of solutions for data center customers. The buyout of Rytec Corporation will also allow Nucor to further expand beyond its core steelmaking businesses into related downstream businesses. Adding high-performance doors is expected to create cross-selling opportunities with other Nucor businesses and significantly expand its product portfolio for the commercial space.
Higher Steel Prices Drive NUE’s Margins
Higher U.S. steel prices have created a favorable landscape for American steel producers. U.S. steel prices recovered in the fourth quarter of 2025, following the lows seen in the third quarter, and the momentum continues so far this year. Overall demand weakness and abundant steel mill output dragged benchmark hot-rolled coil (“HRC”) prices below $800 per short ton in late August 2025 and continued through early September.
HRC prices rebounded on major steel mills' price increases, extending lead times and tightening supply, partly due to plant outages and reduced imports driven by tariffs. The recovery, which has been more pronounced since November, has led to HRC prices surging to above $1,300 per short ton lately. With end-market demand remaining high, steel prices will likely continue to climb, benefiting U.S. steelmakers, including NUE, with higher profit margins.
Upbeat Outlook Adds to Optimism
NUE recently announced its guidance for the third quarter of 2026. Earnings are projected to increase sequentially, supported by higher selling prices in the Steel Mills segment and higher volumes and higher average realized pricing in the Steel Products segment.
The company projects earnings for the quarter to range between $5.55 and $5.65 per share. Nucor reported net earnings per share of $5.04 and adjusted net earnings of $4.84 in the second quarter of 2026. Earnings were $2.63 per share in the third quarter of 2025.
Nucor anticipates improved sequential results due to higher earnings in its Steel Mills and Steel Products segments, partially offset by weaker performance in Raw Materials. The Steel Mills segment is expected to benefit from higher average selling prices and stable volumes.
Nucor Corporation Price and Consensus
NUE’s Zacks Rank & Key Picks
NUE currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
Better-ranked stocks in the Basic Materials space are Ternium S.A. TX, Innospec Inc. IOSP and Avient Corporation AVNT. TX currently carries a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), while IOSP and AVNT carry a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Ternium’s current-year earnings stands at $6.54 per share, implying a 201.4% year-over-year increase. The consensus estimate for TX’s current-year earnings has moved up 14.5% over the past 60 days.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for IOSP’s current-year earnings has moved up 3.9% over the past 60 days. Its earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in all of the trailing four quarters, with the average surprise being 12.9%.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for AVNT’s current-year earnings is pegged at $3.2 per share, indicating a 13.5% year-over-year increase. Its earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in all of the trailing four quarters, with the average surprise being 3.4%.
Beyond Nvidia: AI's Second Wave Is Here
The AI revolution has already minted millionaires. But the stocks everyone knows about aren't likely to keep delivering the biggest profits. AI’s second wave is moving from infrastructure to implementation and these companies are at the forefront of this transition, positioned to become what Amazon and Google were to the internet era.
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This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com).

Nucor's Shares Rally 50% in 6 Months: What's Driving the Momentum?

A study of analyst recommendations at the major brokerages shows that Nucor Corp. (Symbol: NUE) is the #35 broker analyst pick, on average, out of the 50 stocks making up the Metals Channel Global Mining Titans Index, according to Metals Channel. The Metals Channel Global Mining Titans Index is comprised of the top fifty global leaders from the metals and mining sector. The companies listed in the Metals Channel Global Mining Titans Index are not fixed, but instead variable — updating on a continuous basis to reflect the changing market environment with respect to commodity prices, government policy and market volatility.
In forming this rank, the analyst opinions from the major brokerage houses were tallied, and averaged; then, the underlying components of the Metals Channel Global Mining Titans Index were ranked according to those averages. Investors often interpret analyst opinions from different angles — when companies have a low rank among analysts, it isn't necessarily the case that investors should conclude that the stock will perform poorly. It can, of course, but a bullish investor could also take the contrarian angle and read into the data that there is lots of room for upside because the stock is so out of favor.
NUE operates in the Non-Precious Metals & Non-Metallic Mining sector, among companies like Southern Copper Corp (SCCO) which is off about 2.3% today, and Ternium S A (TX) trading lower by about 0.1%. Below is a three month price history chart comparing the stock performance of NUE, versus SCCO and TX.
NUE is currently trading up about 1.1% midday Wednesday.
Further NUE Research:

See How Nucor Corp. Ranks Among Analysts' Top Metals Picks

Nucor Corporation NUE announced its guidance for the third quarter of 2026. For the quarter ending on Oct. 3, earnings are expected to increase sequentially, supported by higher selling prices in the Steel Mills segment and higher volumes and higher average realized pricing in the Steel Products segment.The company projects earnings for the quarter to range between $5.55 and $5.65 per share.
Nucor reported net earnings per share of $5.04 and adjusted net earnings of $4.84 in the second quarter of 2026. Earnings were $2.63 per share in the third quarter of 2025.
Nucor anticipates improved sequential results due to higher earnings in its Steel Mills and Steel Products segments, partially offset by weaker performance in Raw Materials. The Steel Mills segment is expected to benefit from higher average selling prices and stable volumes. Increased costs of products sold and the absence of its prior-period’s benefit derived from $130 million in cash refunds related to raw material procurement costs will weigh on the comparative performance. Meanwhile, higher volumes and pricing are expected to support the Steel Products segment. Raw Materials earnings are projected to decline due to lower pricing and shipments.
Nucor continues to return capital to shareholders by repurchasing shares during the third quarter. It repurchased approximately 2.03 million shares at an average price of $247.04 per share. Year to date, it has returned approximately $1.36 billion through share repurchases and dividend payments. Nucor plans to release its third-quarter results on Oct. 26, 2026.
NUE’s shares have gained 84.4% in the past year compared with the industry’s 69.2% rise in the same period.
NUE’s Zacks Rank & Key Picks
NUE currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
Some better-ranked stocks in the Basic Materials space are Reliance, Inc. RS, Kronos Worldwide, Inc. KRO and Avient Corporation AVNT.
While RS currently sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), KRO and AVNT carry a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) each. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for RS’ 2026 earnings is pegged at $22.23 per share, indicating a 55.89% year-over-year increase. RS’shares have gained 36.7% over the past year.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for KRO’s 2026 earnings is pegged at 35 cents per share, indicating a rise of 136.46% year over year. Its earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in two of the trailing four quarters while missing it in the rest, with an average surprise of 33.99%.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for AVNT’s current-year earnings is pinned at $3.2 per share, indicating a 13.48% year-over-year increase. Its earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the trailing four quarters, with an average surprise of 3.4%. AVNT’s shares have gained 16.2% over the past year.
Beyond Nvidia: AI's Second Wave Is Here
The AI revolution has already minted millionaires. But the stocks everyone knows about aren't likely to keep delivering the biggest profits. AI’s second wave is moving from infrastructure to implementation and these companies are at the forefront of this transition, positioned to become what Amazon and Google were to the internet era.
See Stocks Now >>
Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report
This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com).

Nucor Projects Higher Q3 Earnings on Improved Steel Pricing

The S&P 500 Index ($SPX) (SPY) closed up by +0.17% on Friday, the Dow Jones Industrial Average ($DOWI) (DIA) closed down by -0.18%, and the Nasdaq 100 Index ($IUXX) (QQQ) closed up +0.67%. December E-mini S&P futures (ESZ26) rose +0.20%, and December E-mini Nasdaq futures (NQZ26) rose +0.70%.
Stock indexes settled mixed on Friday, with the broader market recovering from early losses as short covering emerged after crude oil prices gave up an early advance and fell more than -1% on hopes that diplomacy could resume crude flows from the Middle East. Stock indexes also found support from strength in chipmakers and AI-infrastructure stocks, along with a rally in cryptocurrency-exposed stocks.
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Higher bond yields on Friday initially weighed on stocks as the 10-year T-note yield rose +6 bp to 5.00% on expectations for the Fed to raise interest rates at least one more time this year.
Friday’s weaker-than-expected US economic news also weighed on stocks. Aug manufacturing production unexpectedly fell -0.3% m/m, weaker than expectations of +0.3% m/m and the largest decline in 10 months. Also, US Aug leading indicators unexpectedly fell -0,1%, weaker than expectations of a +0.1% increase and the first decline in 5 months.
Kansas City Fed President Jeff Schmid said, "The Fed has work to do on inflation and this week's action was a step in that direction." He added that "higher oil prices have been an important driver of elevated inflation, but it is important to acknowledge that our inflation problem is not just about energy."
Bitcoin (^BTCUSD) rose more than +5% on Friday to a 2-week high after the SEC moved forward with a plan to allow digital versions of securities to start trading in the US.
Stock volatility on Friday was higher than usual due to the quarterly event known as triple witching, when equity options, futures, and derivatives expire. According to Citadel Securities, about $7 trillion of options are set to expire today, one of the largest ever. Index rebalancing may also lead to market turbulence, with Bloom Energy, Illumina, and Everpure added to the S&P 500 after the close, while SpaceX will get a weighting boost from a Nasdaq 100 rebalance.
Oct WTI crude oil prices (CLV26) fell more than -1% on Friday in hopes that diplomacy can end hostilities in the Middle East and resume crude flows from the region. Reuters reported that China privately asked Iran to help rein in Houthi militants in Yemen. The militants have attacked energy facilities in Saudi Arabia and advanced toward the Bab-el-Mandeb strait, the chokepoint at the southern end of the Red Sea.
Some crude supplies from the Middle East are getting through, easing supply concerns. On Wednesday, US Energy Secretary Wright said 18 million bbl of crude oil and refined products went through the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday, easing global supply concerns.
Also, Saudi Arabia said it seeks to return about half the capacity of the East-West pipeline within days following a shutdown last week because of drone strikes. The East-West pipeline, which carries 7 million bpd of crude, was closed late last week after threats from Houthi rebels. The pipeline moves oil away from the Persian Gulf toward the Red Sea, where it can be loaded on tankers. Saudi Arabia told OPEC last Thursday that its crude production in August fell to 6.238 million bpd, the lowest since 1990.
Markets are discounting a 55% chance of a +25 bp Fed rate hike at the next FOMC meeting on October 27-28.
Overseas stock markets settled mixed on Friday. The Euro Stoxx 50 closed down -1.37%. China's Shanghai Composite rose to a 1-week high and closed up +0.94%. Japan's Nikkei-225 Stock Average climbed t a 1-week high and closed up +1.38%.
Interest Rates
December 10-year T-notes (ZNZ6) closed down by -11 ticks on Friday. The 10-year T-note yield rose +6.6 bp to 4.996%. T-notes were under pressure Friday on negative carryover from Wednesday, when the Fed raised interest rates by 25 bp and signaled another rate hike later this year. Also, hawkish comments from Kansas City Fed President Jeff Schmid weighed on T-ntes when he said, "The Fed has work to do on inflation,” signaling he favors additional Fed rate hikes.
T-notes recovered from their worst level after WTI crude oil prices fell more than -1%, lowering inflation expectations. Also, Friday’s weaker-than-expected US economic news on Aug manufacturing production and Aug leading indicators supported T-notes.
European government bond yields moved higher on Friday. The 10-year German bund yield rose +4.3 bp to 3.519%. The 10-year UK gilt rose +7.3 bp to 5.295%.
The ECB Aug 1-year CPI expectations rose to +3.0% from +2.9% in July, weaker than expectations of +3.1%. The Aug 3-year CPI expectations rose to +2.9% from +2.7% in July, stronger than expectations of +2.8%.
German Aug PPI rose +1.1% m/m and +4.6% y/y, stronger than expectations of +0.6% m/m and +3.9% y/y, with the +4.6% y/y increase the largest in 3.25 years.
ECB President Christine Lagarde said economic growth in the Eurozone is a bit more promising than we thought, and we're not seeing second-round effects on inflation yet.
UK Aug retail sales ex-auto fuel unexpectedly rose +0.6% m/m, stronger than expectations of a -0.2% m/m decline.
Markets are discounting a 62% chance of a +25 bp ECB rate hike at the ECB’s next meeting on October 29.
US Stock Movers
Chipmakers and AI stocks moved higher on Friday, supporting gains in the broader market. The iShares Semiconductor ETF (SOXX) closed up more than +2%. SanDisk (SNDK) closed up more than +10%, and Lam Research (LRCX), Applied Materials (AMAT), and Seagate Technology Holdings Plc (STX) closed up more than +6%. Also, ARM Holdings Plc (ARM), Western Digital (WDC) and KLA Corp (KLAC) closed up more than +4%, and Micron Technology (MU), Analog Devices (ADI), Microchip Technology (MCHP), ASML Holding NV (ASML), and Texas Instruments (TXN) closed up more than +3%. In addition, Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) and Broadcom (AVGO) closed up more than +2%.
Cryptocurrency-exposed stocks rallied sharply on Friday, as Bitcoin (^BTCUSD) soared more than +5% to a 2-week high after the SEC moved forward with a plan to allow digital versions of securities to start trading in the US. Strategy (MSTR) closed up more than +16% to lead gainers in the Nasdaq 100, and Coinbase Global (COIN) closed up more than +11% to lead gainers in the S&P 500. Also, MARA Holdings (MARA) closed up more than +14%, and Galaxy Digital Holdings (GLXY) closed up more than +10%. In addition, Bullish (BLSH) and Robinhood Markets (HOOD) closed up more than +9%, Riot Platforms (RIOT) closed up more than +8%, and Circle Internet Group (CRCL) and Iren Ltd (IREN) closed up more than +7%.
Software stocks were under pressure on Friday, weighing on the broader market. Thomson Reuters (TRI) closed down more than -5%, and IBM (IBM) closed down more than -3% to lead losers in the Dow Jones Industrials. Intuit (INTU) also fell more than 3%, and Datadog (DDOG), Workday (WDAY), Salesforce (CRM), and ServiceNow (NOW) fell more than 2%. In addition, Oracle (ORCL) and Adobe Systems (ADBE) closed down more than -1%.
Cybersecurity stocks were weaker on Friday, pressuring the overall market. CrowdStrike Holdings (CRWD), Cloudflare (NET), and Okta (OKTA) closed down more than -3%, and Palo Alto Networks (PANW) and SentinelOne (S) closed down more than -2%. Also, Fortinet (FTNT) closed down more than -1%.
Macom Technology Solutions Holdings (MTSI) closed up more than +4% after BMO Capital Markets upgraded the stock to outperform from market perform with a price target of $335.
Yeti Holdings (YETI) closed up more than +2% after Stifel upgraded the stock to buy from hold with a price target of $50.
Xenon Pharmaceuticals (XENE) closed down more than -30% after it paused enrollment in clinical studies of major depressive disorder and bipolar depression.
Nucor (NUE) closed down more than -6% to lead losers in the S&P 500 after forecasting Q3 EPS of $5.55 to $5.65, weaker than the consensus of $5.99.
Netflix (NFLX) closed down more than -4% after Wells Fargo Securities downgraded the stock to underweight from equal weight with a price target of $57.
Steel Dynamics (STLD) closed down more than -4% after forecasting Q3 EPS of $5.34 to $5.38, below the consensus of $5.55.
Earnings Reports (9/21/2026)
BRT Apartments Corp (BRT).
On the date of publication, Rich Asplund did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. For more information please view the Barchart Disclosure Policy here.

Stocks Finish Mostly Higher as Crude Prices Fall

The S&P 500 Index ($SPX) (SPY) is down by -0.11% today, the Dow Jones Industrial Average ($DOWI) (DIA) is down by -0.39%, and the Nasdaq 100 Index ($IUXX) (QQQ) is up +0.09%. December E-mini S&P futures (ESZ26) are down -0.15%, and December E-mini Nasdaq futures (NQZ26) are up +0.04%.
Stock indexes are mixed today, with the broader market under pressure as stronger crude oil prices fuel inflation concerns and boost bond yields. WTI crude oil is up nearly +1% today, boosting inflation expectations and weighing on market sentiment. The 10-year T-note yield is up +6 bp to 5.00%. However, strength in chipmakers and AI-infrastructure stocks is limiting losses in the broader market, along with a rally in cryptocurrency-exposed stocks.
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Today’s weaker-than-expected US economic news is also weighing on stocks. Aug manufacturing production unexpectedly fell -0.3% m/m, weaker than expectations of +0.3% m/m and the largest decline in 10 months. Also, US Aug leading indicators unexpectedly fell -0,1%, weaker than expectations of a +0.1% increase and the first decline in 5 months.
Bitcoin (^BTCUSD) is up more than +5% today at a 2-week high after the SEC moved forward with a plan to allow digital versions of securities to start trading in the US.
Stock volatility today may be higher than usual due to the quarterly event known as triple witching, when equity options, futures, and derivatives expire. According to Citadel Securities, about $7 trillion of options are set to expire today, one of the largest ever. Index rebalancing may also lead to market turbulence, with Bloom Energy, Illumina, and Everpure added to the S&P 500 after the close, while SpaceX will get a weighting boost from a Nasdaq 100 rebalance.
Oct WTI crude oil prices (CLV26) are up nearly +1% today as Middle East tensions continue to disrupt crude supplies. Crude gains are limited on hopes that diplomacy can end hostilities in the Middle East and resume crude flows from the region. Reuters reported that China privately asked Iran to help rein in Houthi militants in Yemen. The militants have attacked energy facilities in Saudi Arabia and advanced toward the Bab-el-Mandeb strait, the chokepoint at the southern end of the Red Sea.
Some crude supplies from the Middle East are getting through, easing supply concerns. On Wednesday, US Energy Secretary Wright said 18 million bbl of crude oil and refined products went through the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday, easing global supply concerns.
Also, Saudi Arabia said it seeks to return about half the capacity of the East-West pipeline within days following a shutdown last week because of drone strikes. The East-West pipeline, which carries 7 million bpd of crude, was closed late last week after threats from Houthi rebels. The pipeline moves oil away from the Persian Gulf toward the Red Sea, where it can be loaded on tankers. Saudi Arabia told OPEC last Thursday that its crude production in August fell to 6.238 million bpd, the lowest since 1990.
Markets are discounting a 58% chance of a +25 bp Fed rate hike at the next FOMC meeting on October 27-28.
Overseas stock markets are mixed today. The Euro Stoxx 50 is down -1.30%. China's Shanghai Composite rose to a 1-week high and closed up +0.94%. Japan's Nikkei-225 Stock Average climbed t a 1-week high and closed up +1.38%.
Interest Rates
December 10-year T-notes (ZNZ6) are down by -12 ticks today. The 10-year T-note yield is up +6.6 bp to 4.996%. T-notes are under pressure today from today’s rally in WTI crude oil prices, which is boosting inflation expectations. T-notes are also under pressure on negative carryover from Wednesday when the Fed raised interest rates by 25 bp and signaled another rate hike later this year.
European government bond yields are moving higher today. The 10-year German bund yield is up +4.6 bp to 3.523%. The 10-year UK gilt is up +8.2 bp to 5.304%.
The ECB Aug 1-year CPI expectations rose to +3.0% from +2.9% in July, weaker than expectations of +3.1%. The Aug 3-year CPI expectations rose to +2.9% from +2.7% in July, stronger than expectations of +2.8%.
German Aug PPI rose +1.1% m/m and +4.6% y/y, stronger than expectations of +0.6% m/m and +3.9% y/y, with the +4.6% y/y increase the largest in 3.25 years.
ECB President Christine Lagarde said economic growth in the Eurozone is a bit more promising than we thought, and we're not seeing second-round effects on inflation yet.
UK Aug retail sales ex-auto fuel unexpectedly rose +0.6% m/m, stronger than expectations of a -0.2% m/m decline.
Markets are discounting a 62% chance of a +25 bp ECB rate hike at the ECB’s next meeting on October 29.
US Stock Movers
Software stocks are under pressure today, a negative factor for the broader market. Thomson Reuters (TRI) and Oracle (ORCL) are down more than -3%, and IBM (IBM) is down more than -3% to lead losers in the Dow Jones Industrials. Also, Datadog (DDOG) and Workday (WDAY) are down more than -2%, and Intuit (INTU), Adobe Systems (ADBE), Salesforce (CRM), and ServiceNow (NOW) are down more than -1%.
Cybersecurity stocks are weaker today, pressuring the overall market. Cloudflare (NET) is down more than -5%, and Palo Alto Networks (PANW) and SentinelOne (S) are down more than -4%. Also, CrowdStrike Holdings (CRWD), Fortinet (FTNT), and Okta (OKTA) are down more than -3%, and Zscaler (ZS) is down more than -1%.
Chipmakers and AI stocks are climbing today, supporting gains in the broader market. The iShares Semiconductor ETF (SOXX) is up more than +1%. SanDisk (SNDK) is up more than +6%, and Lam Research (LRCX) and Applied Materials (AMAT) are up more than +4%. Also, Seagate Technology Holdings Plc (STX) and Broadcom (AVGO) are up more than +3%, and Western Digital (WDC), KLA Corp (KLAC), and Texas Instruments (TXN) are up more than +2%. In addition, ARM Holding Plc (ARM), ASML Holding NV (ASML), Micron Technology (MU), and Analog Devices(ADI) are up more than +1%.
Cryptocurrency-exposed stocks are moving higher today, with Bitcoin (^BTCUSD) up more than +5% at a 2-week high after the SEC moved forward with a plan to allow digital versions of securities to start trading in the US. Strategy (MSTR) is up more than +11% to lead gainers in the Nasdaq 100, and Coinbase Global (COIN) is up more than +10% to lead gainers in the S&P 500. Also, MARA Holdings (MARA), Circle Internet Group (CRCL), Bullish (BLSH), and Robinhood Markets (HOOD) are up more than +7%. In addition, Galaxy Digital Holdings (GLXY) is up more than +6%, Riot Platforms (RIOT) is up more than +3%, and Iren Ltd (IREN) is up more than +1%.
Xenon Pharmaceuticals (XENE) is down more than -29% after it paused enrollment in clinical studies of major depressive disorder and bipolar depression.
Nucor (NUE) is down more than -5% to lead losers in the S&P 500 after forecasting Q3 EPS of $5.55 to $5.65, weaker than the consensus of $5.99.
Netflix (NFLX) is down more than -4% after Wells Fargo Securities downgraded the stock to underweight from equal weight with a price target of $57.
Macom Technology Solutions Holdings (MTSI) is up more than +4% after BMO Capital Markets upgraded the stock to outperform from market perform with a price target of $335.
Yeti Holdings (YETI) is up more than +3% after Stifel upgraded the stock to buy from hold with a price target of $50.
Earnings Reports (9/18/2026)
AnaptysBio Inc (ANAB) and Rezolute Inc (RZLT).
On the date of publication, Rich Asplund did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. For more information please view the Barchart Disclosure Policy here.

Stocks Waver as Bond Yields Climb

In trading on Friday, television & radio shares were relative laggards, down on the day by about 2.5%. Helping drag down the group were shares of Paradium.AI, down about 36.8% and shares of AMC Global Media off about 3.4% on the day.
Also lagging the market Friday are non-precious metals & non-metallic mining shares, down on the day by about 2.5% as a group, led down by Nucor, trading lower by about 5.8% and Alpha Metallurgical Resources, trading lower by about 5.1%.

Friday Sector Laggards: Television & Radio, Non-Precious Metals & Non-Metallic Mining Stocks

The S&P 500 Index ($SPX) (SPY) is down by -0.03% today, the Dow Jones Industrial Average ($DOWI) (DIA) is down by -0.23%, and the Nasdaq 100 Index ($IUXX) (QQQ) is up +0.20%. December E-mini S&P futures (ESZ26) are down -0.05%, and December E-mini Nasdaq futures (NQZ26) are up +0.17%.
Stock indexes are mixed today, with the Nasdaq 100 posting a 1-week high. Strength in crude oil prices today is boosting bond yields and is weighing on the broader market. WTI crude oil is up more than +1% today, boosting inflation expectations and weighing on market sentiment. The 10-year T-note yield is up +5 bp to 4.99%. However, strength in chipmakers and AI-infrastructure stocks is limiting losses in the broader market and keeping the Nasdaq 100 in positive territory.
Join 200K+ Subscribers: Find out why the midday Barchart Brief newsletter is a must-read for thousands daily.
Weaker-than-expected US economic news is also bearish for stocks after Aug manufacturing production unexpectedly fell -0.3% m/m, weaker than expectations of +0.3% m/m and the largest decline in 10 months.
Stock volatility today may be higher than usual due to the quarterly event known as triple witching, when equity options, futures, and derivatives expire. According to Citadel Securities, about $7 trillion of options are set to expire today, one of the largest ever. Index rebalancing may also lead to market turbulence, with Bloom Energy, Illumina, and Everpure added to the S&P 500 after the close, while SpaceX will get a weighting boost from a Nasdaq 100 rebalance.
Oct WTI crude oil prices (CLV26) are up by more than +1% today as Middle East tensions continue to disrupt crude supplies. Crude gains are limited on hopes that diplomacy can end hostilities in the Middle East and resume crude flows from the region. Reuters reported that China privately asked Iran to help rein in Houthi militants in Yemen. The militants have attacked energy facilities in Saudi Arabia and advanced toward the Bab-el-Mandeb strait, the chokepoint at the southern end of the Red Sea.
Some crude supplies from the Middle East are getting through, easing supply concerns. On Wednesday, US Energy Secretary Wright said 18 million bbl of crude oil and refined products went through the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday, easing global supply concerns.
Also, Saudi Arabia said it seeks to return about half the capacity of the East-West pipeline within days following a shutdown last week because of drone strikes. The East-West pipeline, which carries 7 million bpd of crude, was closed late last week after threats from Houthi rebels. The pipeline moves oil away from the Persian Gulf toward the Red Sea, where it can be loaded on tankers. Saudi Arabia told OPEC last Thursday that its crude production in August fell to 6.238 million bpd, the lowest since 1990.
Markets are discounting a 58% chance of a +25 bp Fed rate hike at the next FOMC meeting on October 27-28.
Overseas stock markets are mixed today. The Euro Stoxx 50 is down -1.26%. China's Shanghai Composite rose to a 1-week high and closed up +0.94%. Japan's Nikkei-225 Stock Average climbed t a 1-week high and closed up +1.38%.
Interest Rates
December 10-year T-notes (ZNZ6) are down by -8 ticks today. The 10-year T-note yield is up +5.6 bp to 4.986%. T-notes are under pressure today from strength in crude oil prices, which is boosting inflation expectations. Losses in T-notes are contained after US Aug manufacturing production unexpectedly declined, a dovish factor for Fed policy.
European government bond yields moved lower on Thursday. The 10-year German bund yield is up +3.5 bp to 3.512%. The 10-year UK gilt is up +6.8 bp to 5.291%.
The ECB Aug 1-year CPI expectations rose to +3.0% from +2.9% in July, weaker than expectations of +3.1%. The Aug 3-year CPI expectations rose to +2.9% from +2.7% in July, stronger than expectations of +2.8%.
German Aug PPI rose +1.1% m/m and +4.6% y/y, stronger than expectations of +0.6% m/m and +3.9% y/y, with the +4.6% y/y increase the largest in 3.25 years.
ECB President Christine Lagarde said economic growth in the Eurozone is a bit more promising than we thought, and we're not seeing second-round effects on inflation yet.
UK Aug retail sales ex-auto fuel unexpectedly rose +0.6% m/m, stronger than expectations of a -0.2% m/m decline.
Markets are discounting a 56% chance of a +25 bp ECB rate hike at the ECB’s next meeting on October 29.
US Stock Movers
Software stocks are under pressure today, a negative factor for the broader market. Thomson Reuters (TRI) is down more than -3%, and Intuit (INTU), Oracle (ORCL), Palantir Technologies (PLTR), Workday (WDAY), and IBM (IBM) are down more than -2%. Also, Adobe Systems (ADBE), Datadog (DDOG), Salesforce (CRM), and ServiceNow (NOW) are down more than -1%.
Cybersecurity stocks are weaker today, pressuring the overall market. Palo Alto Networks (PANW) and Cloudflare (NET) are down more than -3%, and CrowdStrike Holdings (CRWD), Fortinet (FTNT), Okta (OKTA), and SentinelOne (S) are down more than -2%. Also, Zscaler (ZS) is down more than -1%.
Chipmakers and AI stocks are climbing today, supporting gains in the broader market. The iShares Semiconductor ETF (SOXX) is up more than +1%. Broadcom (AVGO) is up more than +4%, and Lam Research (LRCX) and SanDisk (SNDK) are up more than +3%. Also, Applied Materials (AMAT) and Seagate Technology Holdings Plc (STX) are up more than +2%, and Western Digital (WDC), KLA Corp (KLAC), Micron Technology (MU), Analog Devices (ADI), and Texas Instruments (TXN) are up more than +1%.
Cryptocurrency-exposed stocks are moving higher today, with Bitcoin (^BTCUSD) up more than +2% after the SEC moved forward with a plan to allow digital versions of securities to start trading in the US. Strategy (MSTR) is up more than +9% to lead gainers in the Nasdaq 100, and MARA Holdings (MARA) is up more than +8%. Also, Coinbase Global (COIN) is up more than +6% to lead gainers in the S&P 500, and Circle Internet Group (CRCL), Bullish (BLSH), Galaxy Digital Holdings (GLXY), and Robinhood Markets (HOOD) are up more than +5%. In addition, Riot Platforms (RIOT) is up more than +4%, and Iren Ltd (IREN) is up more than +2%.
Xenon Pharmaceuticals (XENE) is down more than -25% after it paused enrollment in clinical studies of major depressive disorder and bipolar depression.
Netflix (NFLX) is down more than -4% to lead losers in the S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 after Wells Fargo Securities downgraded the stock to underweight from equal weight with a price target of $57.
Nucor (NUE) is down more than -4% after forecasting Q3 EPS of $5.55 to $5.65, weaker than the consensus of $5.99.
Macom Technology Solutions Holdings (MTSI) is up more than +3% after BMO Capital Markets upgraded the stock to outperform from market perform with a price target of $335.
Yeti Holdings (YETI) is up more than +1% after Stifel upgraded the stock to buy from hold with a price target of $50.
Earnings Reports (9/18/2026)
AnaptysBio Inc (ANAB) and Rezolute Inc (RZLT).
On the date of publication, Rich Asplund did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. For more information please view the Barchart Disclosure Policy here.

Nucor Corporation

Options Strategies