Nucor - 10-Q quarterly report FY

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Third

Quarter

2003

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF  

THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For quarterly period ended October 4, 2003

Commission file number 1-4119

NUCOR CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

(704) 366-7000

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.  Yes  x.  No  ¨.

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).  Yes  x.  No  ¨.

78,290,522 shares of common stock were outstanding at October 4, 2003.

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Nucor Corporation

Form 10-Q

October 4, 2003

INDEX

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PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Financial Statements

Nucor Corporation Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings (Unaudited)

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

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Nucor Corporation Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited)

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

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Nucor Corporation Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited)

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

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Nucor Corporation – Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

Inventories valued using the last-in, first-out (LIFO) method of accounting represent approximately 76% of total inventories as of October 4, 2003 (77% as of December 31, 2002). If the first-in, first-out (FIFO) method of accounting had been used, inventories would have been $82,133,000 higher at October 4, 2003 ($42,608,000 at December 31, 2002). Use of the lower of cost or market reduced inventories by $1,624,000 at October 4, 2003 ($1,319,000 at December 31, 2002).

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Nucor Corporation – Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited), continued

The assumptions used to calculate the fair value of options granted are evaluated and revised, as necessary, to reflect market conditions and experience.

Other contingent liabilities with respect to product warranties, legal proceedings and other matters arise in the normal course of business. In the opinion of management, no such matters exist which would have a material effect on the consolidated financial statements.

Interest expense (income), minority interests, other income and certain marketing, administrative and other expenses, such as changes in the LIFO reserve and environmental accruals, are shown under Corporate/eliminations/other. Corporate assets primarily include cash and short-term investments, deferred income tax assets and investment in affiliates.

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Nucor Corporation – Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited), continued

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Nucor Corporation – Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited), continued

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Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Certain statements made in this quarterly report are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements reflect the Company’s best judgment based on current information, and although we base these statements on circumstances that we believe to be reasonable when made, there can be no assurance that other factors will not affect the accuracy of such forward-looking information. As such, the forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, and actual results may vary materially from the results and expectations discussed herein. Factors that might cause the Company’s actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: (1) the sensitivity of the results of our operations to prevailing steel prices and the changes in the supply and cost of raw materials, including steel scrap; (2) availability and cost of electricity and natural gas; (3) competitive pressure on sales and pricing, including pressure from imports and substitute materials; (4) uncertainties surrounding the global economy, including excess world capacity for steel production; (5) U.S. and foreign trade policy affecting steel imports or exports, including adjustments, repeals or lapses of existing U.S. tariffs on imported steel and adverse outcomes of pending and future trade cases alleging unlawful practices in connection with the importing of steel into the U.S.; (6) changes in significant government regulations affecting environmental compliance; (7) the cyclical nature of the domestic steel industry; (8) capital investments and their impact on the Company’s performance; (9) our safety performance; and (10) other factors described in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this report, as well as the audited financial statements and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” contained in Nucor’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2002.

Operations

Net sales for the third quarter of 2003 increased 31% from the third quarter of 2002 primarily due to a 37% increase in total tons shipped to outside customers, slightly offset by a decrease in average sales price per ton of 5% from $375 in the third quarter of 2002 to $358 in the third quarter of 2003. The increase in total tons shipped was driven by the additional production capacity we realized from the acquisitions of the assets of Trico Steel Company, LLC in July 2002 and the assets of Birmingham Steel Corporation in December 2002. Excluding the increases resulting from these acquisitions, total tons shipped to outside customers increased 10% from the third quarter of 2002 to the third quarter of 2003 and increased 6% from the first nine months of 2002 to the first nine months of 2003.

Net sales for the first nine months of 2003 increased 31% from the first nine months of 2002. Average sales price per ton remained basically unchanged at $352 in the first nine months of 2003 and $353 in the first nine months of 2002, while total tons shipped to outside customers increased 31%. Nucor established new quarter and nine-month tonnage records for steel production, total steel shipments and steel shipments to outside customers in 2003. In the steel mills segment in the first nine months of 2003, steel production was 13,015,000 tons, compared with 10,034,000 tons produced in the first nine months of 2002. Total steel shipments were 13,189,000 tons in the first nine months of 2003, compared with 9,986,000 tons in the first nine months of last year. Steel shipments to outside customers were 12,155,000 tons in the first nine months of 2003, compared with 9,118,000 tons in the first nine months of 2002. In the steel products segment, steel joist production during the first nine months of 2003 was 378,000 tons, compared with 343,000 tons in the first nine months of 2002. Steel deck sales were 266,000 tons, compared with 235,000 tons in 2002’s first nine months. Cold finished steel sales were 182,000 tons, compared with 169,000 tons in the first nine months of 2002.

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Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, continued

The major component of cost of products sold is raw material costs. In the third quarter of 2003, the average price of raw materials increased approximately 15% from the third quarter of 2002, and increased approximately 19% in the first nine months of 2003 compared with the first nine months of 2002. The average prices of raw materials used in the steel mills segment and the steel products segment increased approximately 17% and 3%, respectively, from the third quarter of 2002 and increased approximately 20% and 6%, respectively, from the first nine months of 2002. The average scrap and scrap substitute cost per ton used in our steel mills segment was $137 in the third quarter of 2003, an increase of 16% from $118 in the third quarter of 2002, and was $130 in the first nine months of 2003, an increase of 21% from $107 in the first nine months of 2002. As a result of these increases, Nucor incurred a charge to value inventories using the last-in, first-out (LIFO) method of accounting of $26,600,000 in the third quarter of 2003 (including a LIFO charge of $6,200,000 for Nucor-Yamato Steel Company, of which Nucor owns 51%), compared with a charge of $7,700,000 in the third quarter of 2002 (including a LIFO charge of $500,000 for Nucor-Yamato Steel Company). In the first nine months of 2003, the LIFO charge was $39,500,000 (including a LIFO charge of $8,700,000 for Nucor-Yamato Steel Company), compared with a charge of $18,700,000 in the first nine months of 2002 (including a LIFO charge of $1,500,000 for Nucor-Yamato Steel Company). Another component of costs of products sold is energy costs. Total energy costs increased approximately $4 per ton from the third quarter of 2002 to the third quarter of 2003 and from the first nine months of 2002 to the first nine months of 2003.

Pre-operating and start-up costs of new facilities increased to $31,300,000 in the third quarter of 2003, compared with $20,800,000 in the third quarter of 2002. For the first nine months of 2003, pre-operating and start-up costs increased to $91,500,000, compared with $53,200,000 in the first nine months of 2002. In 2003, these costs primarily related to the start-up of the Nucor Steel Decatur, LLC sheet mill in Decatur, Alabama (formerly Trico Steel Company, LLC) and the Castrip^® facility at our sheet mill in Crawfordsville, Indiana. In 2002, these costs primarily related to the start-up of the Castrip facility, the Vulcraft facility in Chemung, New York and Nucor Steel Decatur. The operating performance of Nucor Steel Decatur has improved significantly during the third quarter, and the impact of this mill on start-up costs is expected to continue to decline in the fourth quarter.

During the third quarter and first nine months of 2003, Nucor revised estimates for environmental reserves as additional information was obtained, reducing environmental reserves by $5,066,000 and $8,133,000, respectively. In the third quarter and first nine months of 2002, Nucor reduced estimates for environmental reserves by $10,300,000 and $24,313.000, respectively.

Gross margins were approximately 4% for the third quarter of 2003 and approximately 5% for the first nine months of 2003, compared with approximately 10% for the third quarter and first nine months of 2002 due to the aforementioned factors.

The major components of marketing, administrative and other expenses are freight and profit sharing costs. Unit freight costs increased approximately 1% from the third quarter of 2002 to the third quarter of 2003, and decreased approximately 1% in the first nine months of 2003 compared with the first nine months of 2002.

Profit sharing costs, which are based upon and generally fluctuate with pre-tax earnings, decreased approximately 30% from the third quarter of 2002 to the third quarter of 2003, and decreased approximately 23% in the first nine months of 2003 compared with the first nine months of 2002. Nucor accrued $2,300,000 and $9,000,000 during the third quarter of 2003 and the first nine months of 2003, respectively, in compensation expense anticipated to be paid under the new incentive compensation plans that Nucor’s stockholders approved at the Company’s annual meeting of stockholders in May 2003.

Interest expense, net of interest income, increased from the third quarter of 2002 to the third quarter of 2003, and increased from the first nine months of 2002 to the first nine months of 2003, primarily due to an increase in long-term debt and a decrease in short-term investments.

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Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, continued

Minority interests represent the income attributable to the minority partners of Nucor’s less than 100% owned joint venture, Nucor-Yamato Steel Company. Under the partnership agreement, the minimum amount of cash to be distributed each year to the partners of Nucor-Yamato Steel Company is the amount needed by each partner to pay applicable U.S. federal and state income taxes. In the first nine months of 2003 and 2002, the amount of cash distributed to minority interest holders exceeded amounts allocated to minority interests based on mutual agreement of the general partners; however, the cumulative amount of cash distributed to partners was less than the cumulative net earnings of the partnership.

In the third quarter of 2003, Nucor received $4,800,000, related to a graphite electrodes anti-trust settlement. Nucor received graphite electrodes anti-trust settlements of $7,100,000 in the first nine months of 2003 and $29,900,000 in the first nine months of 2002.

Nucor had an effective tax rate of 15.3% and 17.3% in the third quarter and first nine months of 2003, respectively, compared with 34.3% and 33.8% in the third quarter and first nine months of 2002, respectively. The decrease in the effective tax rate is primarily due to state income tax credits, resolution of certain tax issues and the effect of reduced pre-tax earnings.

Net earnings decreased during the third quarter of 2003 compared with the third quarter of 2002 due to decreased margins, increased LIFO charges, increased pre-operating and start-up costs, decreased reduction in environmental reserves and increased interest expense. The decrease in net earnings was partially offset by decreased profit-sharing costs and a decrease in the effective tax rate. The decrease in net earnings from the first nine months of 2002 to the first nine months of 2003 was due to the same factors, as well as to decreased income from graphite electrodes anti-trust settlements.

Liquidity and capital resources

The current ratio was 2.3 at the end of the first nine months of 2003 and 2.4 at year-end 2002. The percentage of long-term debt to total capital was 27% at the end of the first nine months of 2003 and 26% at year-end 2002. Nucor has a simple capital structure with no off-balance sheet arrangements or relationships with unconsolidated special purpose entities.

Capital expenditures increased approximately 4% from the first nine months of 2002 to the first nine months of 2003. In addition, during the first quarter of 2003, Nucor Steel Kingman, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Nucor Corporation, purchased substantially all of the assets of the Kingman, Arizona steel facility of North Star Steel for approximately $35,000,000. During the third quarter of 2002, Nucor’s wholly owned subsidiary, Nucor Steel Decatur, LLC, purchased substantially all of the assets of Trico for a purchase price of $117,700,000. The purchase price included approximately $86,604,000 of Trico’s debt and other current liabilities that were assumed by Nucor. These acquisitions were not material to the consolidated financial statements and did not result in goodwill or other intangible assets. Capital expenditures are projected to be approximately $210,000,000 for all of 2003.

Funds provided from operations, existing credit facilities and new borrowings are expected to be sufficient to meet future capital expenditure and working capital requirements for existing operations for at least the next 24 months. Nucor has the financial ability to borrow additional funds to finance major acquisitions and still maintain reasonable leverage.

Nucor’s directors have previously approved the purchase of up to 15,000,000 outstanding shares of Nucor common stock. There were no repurchases during the first nine months of 2003 or 2002. Since the inception of the stock repurchase program in 1998, Nucor has repurchased approximately 10,800,000 shares at a cost of approximately $445,000,000.

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Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

Management does not believe Nucor’s exposure to market risk has significantly changed since December 31, 2002 and does not believe that market risks will result in significant adverse impacts to our financial condition or results of operations.

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

Our management, including our principal executive and principal financial officers, has evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this report. Our disclosure controls and procedures are designed to provide reasonable assurance that the information required to be disclosed in this Form 10-Q quarterly report has been appropriately recorded, processed, summarized and reported. Based on that evaluation, our principal executive and principal financial officers have concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures are effective at the reasonable assurance level of achieving Nucor’s disclosure control objectives.

Our management, including our principal executive and principal financial officers, has evaluated any changes in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the quarterly period covered by this report, and has concluded that there was no change that occurred during the quarterly period covered by this report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

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PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

Item 6. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K

a. List of Exhibits:

b. Reports on Form 8-K:

On July 25, 2003, Nucor filed a current report on Form 8-K under Item 9, pursuant to Item 12, furnishing the issuance of the news release reporting its financial results for the fiscal quarter ended July 5, 2003.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Nucor Corporation has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

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NUCOR CORPORATION

List of Exhibits to Form 10-Q – October 4, 2003

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